Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters 1)

The six of them stood there, waiting on Duke’s final command. Their team was all back together again, plus a couple new additions. It’d been a while since Duke was in the field with Judge. He had no doubt they’d prevail. Then he had a heck of a reward to claim when he was done.

Eyes were trained on him. Duke fastened his bulletproof vest and the others started to check their weapons and making final preparations to leave. Judge laid a map on the hood of Dana’s car since it was the lowest; everyone else had huge trucks taking up most of the parking lot.

“We’ve already been through this, but once more won’t hurt.” Judge pointed at a place on the map. “We’ll enter through the back of this neighborhood. Brian says that there’s little to no activity at this time of day.

Of course not. It’s the ass crack of dawn. Everyone should be asleep.

Duke continued to listen, fine with letting Judge run this part of the op, but it was understood that Duke would secure the bounty; everyone else was there for backup.

“Duke, Quick, and I will enter through the front. Dana, Brian, and Ford will come through the back all on the same count. Don’t underestimate this guy. He’s a cold-blooded killer.”

“How the hell did he make bond?” Ford asked after Brian signed it to him.

“He’s a known gang banger and killer but he’s never been convicted of murder. Only on petty drug charges and one breaking and entering.”

Once everyone was confident of their duties, they loaded up into two trucks and started the trip to Allendale and Alston, located in one of the highest crime neighborhoods in Atlanta. Duke rode shotgun in Judge’s truck with Dana in the back and Quick drove his truck with the two sumo brothers.

Duke took a deep breath as the scenery started to change the closer he got to the ?hood. Homes that once stood three stories high were now abandoned, crumbling, and boarded up. Men and women both stood on the corners waiting for their next customer. Duke ignored it all. He had no quarrels with them. As long as they let him come in and do his business, he’d leave their territory and hope to not return. Anyone that got in his way would meet whatever consequence he saw fit.

“You ready, boss?” Duke opened his eyes. When did he close them? Judge and Quick were watching him closely. Duke took the safety off his Glocks and opened the door. There was their answer. He was more than ready.

Duke got on his radio. “On my count. Three and we’re inside.”

He got his ten-four responses and the three of them begin approaching the house from the front, knowing Dana was on top of things in the back.

“Ready on your count, Duke.” Dana’s voice echoed through the radio.

Duke counted into the radio. When he got to three, Quick busted through the front door and at the same time, the back door flew open hard enough to take it off the hinges. One of the brothers must’ve done that.

Duke was inside now. His heart was beating faster than it ever had, but he kept his hands steady and his eyes trained forward. There was nothing downstairs. A few pieces of furniture, including a ratty recliner that sat in front of a small, old-style television that was still on.

Quick and Judge were both yelling, “BAIL RECOVERY AGENTS! WE’RE ARMED!” Duke joined in and the three of them were taking the stairs fast while three men remained downstairs. Duke used his hand signals to motion for Judge to check the bedroom on the left and Quick the one on the right. Duke headed to the last bedroom and after he finger-counted to three, they each kicked at the door in front of them.

The bedroom was larger than it appeared. Judge and Quick both called clear into their microphones, but Duke was stunned into stillness at the scene before him. Duke had his gun trained on Aaron Williams’ forehead, his trigger finger poised, ready to pull and put an end to all this.

“Drop the weapon, Aaron. It’s over,” Duke hissed. He wasn’t even yelling. He was calm and in control.

“Stay back. I’m getting out of here whether you like it or not.” Aaron looked like he was high, drunk, stoned, tripping, and anything else drugs could do to you. The bedroom stank to holy hell and the man looked like he hadn’t showered in weeks. The same applied to the woman he held in front of him; his 9mm pointed at the back of her skull. It was the same bitch that had beat him. Her eyes were wide, bloodshot, and glazed. Duke wondered if she really knew what was going on.

Duke heard his name called and he answered right before Quick and Judge made it down the hall and into the room.