Unshed Blood | Criminal Minds

chapter twenty-six - lorenzo

- CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX -

LORENZO

THE TEAM had everything planned, Penelope Garcia had managed to find out where Lorenzo Russo was currently staying. According to her, he was staying in one of his private homes that were difficult to look for but of course, Garcia had managed to find him.

The team had geared up, with SWAT arriving with them as Soren stayed behind. She was supposed to be staying at Derek's home again with Agents outside the door until Derek returned home with Lorenzo in custody. Soren had been given strict orders to not leave the home or engage with anyone else other than the agents if there were any worries, orders given to her from Rossi and Hotch.

Meanwhile, Derek and JJ were waiting in one the black SUV's which were parked outside of the home, Rossi and Reid in another and Emily and Hotch in the final SUV. Hotch had all briefed them on what was going to happen once they entered the building but they knew that Lorenzo was a tough man who knew how to fight.

"We go in silently, no one makes a sound. Is that clear?" Hotch ordered through the microphones that they had been given. Everyone responded, letting Hotch know he had heard them as they all silently exited their vehicles, walking crouched and with caution as they walked closer to the front door.

The sounds of their footsteps connecting with the floor was almost silent, with the occasional whisper from someone on the team. When they reached the front door, the SWAT team stood on the other side, their machine guns held in front of them as they opened the entrances with caution.

Once they had entered, Derek and JJ raised their guns, clearing their sides of the room as they made their way into the back rooms on the top floor. Derek and JJ split up, each checking out the different rooms as Derek came across one of the final rooms, he opened it quickly, scanning the room until he noticed a figure sitting in the chair in the corner of the room.

"Get your hands up, right now." Derek ordered, alerting JJ who finished checking the rest of the rooms. The man turned around, putting down the glass of whiskey from his hands onto the table beside him as he raised his hands into the air.

"I knew it was only a matter of time until you came for me." Lorenzo spoke mischievously, his Italian accent was thick as he stood up, walking closer to Derek who aimed his gun at Lorenzo.

"Stop right where you are." Derek warned him again, anger flooding his veins. Lorenzo listened, stopping in his footsteps as Derek walked closer, cuffing him quickly without any resistance as he told the rest of the team.

Jennifer walked into the room, seeing the look on Derek's face as Lorenzo simply just smirked at him. "We got him." She told the others as they walked out of the home, placing Lorenzo into the back of the police car as they joined up together into a tight circle.

"Did you find anything in the home?" Reid asked the others.

JJ shrugged. "Nothing, if anything the home is just basic, no family photos or anything personal."

"We need to get something out of it, but, it seems like he's going to play us." Derek scoffed, analyzing Lorenzo's behavior. "He's arrogant and thinks highly of himself so he won't give anything up without trying to get on our nerves first."

"I have a suggestion." Rossi voiced, bringing all of the attention onto him as he devised a plan. "Bring Soren in, if he doesn't speak to one of us, he'll speak to one of us."

"What? Rossi, no offence, but bringing Soren in isn't a good idea. If we can't find any evidence against Lorenzo, then he will know about Soren being on our side." Reid then argued against the idea, Derek snapped his head to him, feeling confused on why Reid was so quick to go against the plan.

Derek then said. "No offence, kid, but you don't know what is going to happen."  

Reid scoffed, "Well, I've studied men like Lorenzo and they all want the same thing. Power."

"Okay, we'll go with with Rossi suggested." Hotch intervened, sensing the tension between them. He had been told by Rossi that Reid was still being cautious of Soren, and with Derek living with her, Reid was becoming more annoyed that Derek had stopped speaking to him more frequently.

Hotch simply just wanted to ensure that his team stayed as a team, and weren't becoming fractured by the Hale's and he hated the idea. As soon as they caught Arlo then everything would be over for a change. They could go back to catching serial killers and ensuring they were sticking to their oath of protecting those who can't protect themselves.

*

DEREK RETURNED home, frustrated with the fact that Reid was so quick to dismiss Rossi's idea but he pushed the frustration away when he walked inside to see Soren curled up into the corner of the couch with the blanket over her, she was drifting into sleep but had tried to stay awake for when he returned back home.

He had been informed by Hotch that he needed to tell Soren that she would be going in tomorrow to speak with Lorenzo if their original plan didn't work, but after their latest encounters, he wasn't even sure that she was going to give him a chance to speak.

Derek dropped his go-bag onto the floor, walking over to her as she looked up, no emotion etched onto her face. Unlike previous times when Derek returned home, she didn't ask him about his day or how the case went, nor did she start making food. Soren simply didn't bother anymore.

"Soren?" He called out her name as he took a seat on the furthest end of the couch. He analyzed her body language, sensing that she wasn't going to respond he still continued. "We caught Lorenzo, but, the team needs you to come in tomorrow to speak to him."

"Why me?" She eventually spoke up, her voice coming out in a whisper though he could hear the anger in her tone.

He sighed. "Lorenzo isn't going to want to speak to us, but you? He might."

"No, I know that." Soren shook her head, sitting up to face him. "I mean, why me?"

"What are you talking about?" Derek asked her, confused.

Soren ran her hand through her hair, "I wish I had a normal life, instead I'm trapped in this house with agents constantly outside the door with my psychopath of a father on the lose ready to kill me whenever he gets the chance."

He moved closer towards her, his eyes softening. "I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure we find your father. He won't get away with what he has done, I can promise you that."

"I hope you do, Derek." Soren smiled, "I'm sorry for being so rude towards you, I was just...annoyed I guess."

"I get it, and you have every right to be pissed." Derek nodded his head, agreeing with her. "I shouldn't of said that it was a mistake."

"People don't say things that they don't mean." She disagreed, her insecurities were coming out more now than ever, and she knew that Derek could tell she was feeling fragile and vulnerable in the moment.

Derek didn't know what to say, as much as he could of attempted to reassure her that he meant everything that had happened, it wasn't a mistake to him. "I disagree, what happened wasn't a mistake. I'm sorry for saying that it was."

"It doesn't matter now, I should get to sleep and so should you." Soren brushed it off, standing up and grabbing her blanket as she headed up the stairs, she paused, turning around to see that Derek was already looking at her sympathetically. "Goodnight, Derek."

"Goodnight, Soren."