Chapter 28: In Which The Alarms Blare

Ashton was let inside by the guards at the gate after he decided to park his truck outside. Shit was gonna go down inside the estate and he considered his truck to be way too precious to take the brunt of it.
He was told by the detectives that a SWAT team would be lurking by close and as soon as they get the order they'd burst in through the doors, he had to hold his own in the chaos though.
He walked in through those familiar doors after he was searched and patted down for weapons and there he was, Richard Takahashi, waiting for him on that almighty black leather couch as if it were the throne, with a smirk of triumph plastered on his face.
"The man of the hour is here, I was really starting to doubt that you would do it but... I'll be damned, you did it"
"Here, just evidence in case you didn't believe it" Ashton said sliding some pictures over to him.
"Splendid work. You would be perfect if you were just a little more loyal to me than you are to your girl"
"Well you have a way of getting me to do things without my loyalty considering you threatened my girlfriend life if I didn't go through with murdering this billionaire"
"Okay that's true, I do have a way of getting things done don't I? you only needed a little push to reach your full potential, that's what makes me so successful and such a great leader"
Ashton stopped himself from rolling his eyes.
"You did good, I am happy which is rare but this bastard billionaire had been intercepting my wine business, made me lose millions of dollars worth of business, was a real thorn in my ass. The business will boom now and even though you were a dirty rat who ratted out my consignment which still infuriates me but I am going to compensate you for killing this bastard for me out of my good nature.
Again Ashton resisted the urge to roll his eyes. The man was tooting his own horn.
Ashton knew he had to get him to say more, say something more incriminating that would serve as hard evidence against him, enough to get a search warrant and a warrant for arrest.
"I never wanted to do this you know, I never killed anyone before this, never wanted to because that would make me just like you, I might have worked for you but I was better than you. You act as if killing this man is some great accomplishment worth being celebrated, this is a regular occurrence for you but not for me. How many have you killed and how many of them were innocent? You make me sick" Ashton made a good show of his disgust, part of it was real, and only part of it was exaggerated.
That infuriated the Takahashi leader.
"Don't act so noble, you bastard, you have been cleaning and hiding up this organization's mess since you could talk because that's all you are good for, wiping and cleaning. I can have this whole city dead at my command and still, all you'll be able to do is wipe and clean on my demand, you are insignificant and replaceable. So shut your trap and do what you're told or the next time you'll be wiping off your girlfriend's brains from the floor" Takahashi seethed out.
His last comment made a surge of anger rise through Ashton as his fists automatically tightened till his knuckles whitened but before he could act on it there were panic alarms blaring all around the estate.
Ashton instantly understood that the FBI had decided that they had gathered enough incriminating evidence through the audio-video and they had signaled the stand by SAWT team to raise hell in the Takahashi estate now.
"We're under attack!" one of the guards shouted, Ashton couldn't make out who though, since the chaos spread quickly.
Some were running towards their leader while the others were running to save their ass or were guarding the doors.
However, they were all outnumbered by the SWAT team. He took refuge behind the couch from the gunshots.
Ashton saw that some of the men were escorting Richard Takahashi out, most likely to a secret get away place and Ashton couldn't let that happen, he couldn't afford that happening because this was their only chance to capture him and not let him et out of their grasp, however, the SWAT team hadn't fully made its way inside yet so Ashton decided to take matters into his own hands.
He saw a gunman aiming at the door, oblivious to Ashton's presence as he was too concerned about the SWAT team swooping inside, Ashton took that to his advantage and knocked him out from behind with ease, taking his gun from him.
Ashton didn't waste a second running over to where they were escaping.
"Stop!" he shouted making them halt in their steps and turn around to face him as he held his gun pointed at Richard.
"You bastard! you still have the fucking audacity to betray me. I'll have you and your girl skinned!" Takahashi outraged.
"Don't move or I sweat to god I'll shoot you dead right here right now"
Ashton was outnumbered by the four men surrounding Takahashi, his only advantage being that he had a gun pointed at their leader, however, Ashton had bought time enough by stopping him and the SWAT team had now cleared their way inside.
"We've got it from here Hayes!" one of the SWAT team members shouted at him.
Ashton started backing away from them and the Takahashi guards, as well as Richard Takahashi, had his hands raised in surrender so Ashton hadn't anticipated what happened next.
Just as he turned around, a gunshot rang throughout the mansion and the next thing Ashton knew was the seeping wet feeling at his left side as he touched it, the metallic red blood coated his fingers and then the light headedness hit.
Before he colapsed.