𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼 ◇ 𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐃

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Lucas sat in a dimly lit room, nursing the bruises from the recent altercation. His head throbbed, and his nerves were frayed. He knew he had to report to Samuel, and the prospect filled him with dread. Samuel was not a man to be trifled with, especially when things went wrong.

The door creaked open, and Samuel strode in, his presence filling the room with an aura of authority and danger. He looked at Lucas with narrowed eyes, already sensing that something had gone awry.

"Lucas," Samuel began, his voice low and menacing, "I heard things didn't go as planned at the race."

Lucas winced, his heart racing. "Yes, boss. There was a... complication," he stammered.

Samuel's eyes flashed with anger. "A complication? Do elaborate."

Lucas took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "One of the girls, Njeri, she had some protection. And not just any protection. AMMO was there."

Samuel's expression darkened. "AMMO? You're telling me the cops were involved?"

Lucas nodded, swallowing hard. "Yes, and there was this one guy, Armando. He was different. Not like the others. He... he knew what he was doing. Took control of the situation."

Samuel leaned back, his eyes narrowing further. "Armando, huh? Tell me more about him."

Lucas hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "He's got skills, boss. And he seems connected. He was calm under pressure, and he managed to keep Njeri safe. He's someone we need to watch out for."

Samuel's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Interesting. Very interesting. And you say he was with AMMO?"

Lucas nodded again. "Yes, boss. He was with their team. They were all over the place, coordinating, keeping an eye on things."

Samuel rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "This Armando could be a problem. We can't have anyone interfering with our plans."

Lucas felt a shiver run down his spine. He knew what Samuel was capable of, and the look in his eyes was not promising. "What do we do, boss?"

Samuel stood up, his demeanor cold and calculating. "We deal with him. But first, we need to know more. Find out everything you can about this Armando. Where he comes from, his connections, his weaknesses. I want a full report."

Lucas nodded eagerly, desperate to redeem himself. "Yes, boss. I'll get right on it."

Samuel turned to leave, but paused at the door, glancing back at Lucas. "And Lucas, don't mess this up again. Next time, there won't be a second chance."

Lucas swallowed hard, nodding. "I understand, boss. I won't let you down."

As Samuel left, Lucas let out a shaky breath. He knew he was on thin ice, and the pressure to deliver was immense. 

Dorn sat at his desk, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he sifted through a trove of intercepted communications. He leaned closer to the screen, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "I've got something," he called out, drawing the attention of the rest of the team.

Rita, Rafe, Kelly, and Armando gathered around as Dorn plugged in his headphones and pressed play. The room filled with the sound of a conversation, muffled but distinguishable.

Samuel's voice came through clearly. "Get the girl. She's in high demand."

Rafe's eyes widened in recognition. "I know that guy. Do voice recognition."

Dorn nodded, his fingers moving swiftly over the keys. "On it."

A few moments later, the system beeped, and a profile popped up on the screen. "Samuel Rodriguez," Dorn read out. "Notorious for his involvement in helping the community."

Kelly scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Wow, he's really a bad guy."

Rafe furrowed his brow, trying to piece together the puzzle. "Helping the community? That doesn't sound right."

Dorn smirked knowingly. "It's a front. He uses his 'good deeds' to cover up money laundering."

Rita interjected, her expression serious. "Then why would he want a model? Give me a rundown on all the women's marital statuses."

Kelly quickly pulled up the information on her screen. "Everyone is either single or dating, but not married."

Rafe nodded, a realization dawning on him. "That's the key. It's not about sex trafficking."

Armando leaned forward, his confusion evident. "Then what is it about?"

Rafe leaned back, explaining his theory. "You know those auctions rich people do to raise money or sell art? It's the same concept, but instead, there's been talk in high places about someone selling wives to the wealthy."

Armando's eyes widened in shock. "Selling wives?"

Dorn nodded grimly. "It's a dark market. These women are targeted not just for their looks but for their social status. They're sold off as trophies, status symbols."

Rita crossed her arms, deep in thought. "If Samuel is involved in something this sinister, it means we're dealing with a much larger operation than we thought."

Kelly added, "And Njeri could be a target because of her fame and connections."

Dorn looked at Rita. "Captain, we should coordinate with other agencies. This goes beyond our jurisdiction."

Rita nodded decisively. "Get in touch with FBI. Let them know what we've uncovered. We'll need all the resources we can get."