Cristian pulled open the journal he confiscated from Dmitri’s house and flipped to the tabbed page. His finger skimmed the words until he found what he was looking for. “Brazil.”
“A girl like her was visiting Brazil? Let me call some resorts and send them her picture. Maybe someone will recognize her.”
“You think after all this time they will?”
“What do we have to lose?”
Cristian nodded and printed another picture from his computer. As he handed the image to Katya, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. That note had been specific. Someone knew he was looking for her and wanted him to stop. Apparently, she was worth making the threat. Whoever sent it didn’t realize he would die trying to find her, and they had just opened Pandora’s box. He had no qualms about getting his hands dirty—and this was no different. He looked at her image again and held her gaze. It was like she was looking back at him, pleading for him to save her.
“Are they hurting you?” His voice was a mere whisper.
Cristian was a ruthless man. Killing someone that threatened him or his family was as easy as flicking his wrist. His need to inflict harm on whoever had her was nearly incapacitating. When he found the monster who took her, they would be met with a force they weren’t expecting—him.
Everlysatstaringoutthe window. She had been moved so many times she wasn’t sure where she was anymore. Over the last several months, she had been passed off like a bottle of cheap whiskey. Now, perched on the twin bed she occupied, she longed to be outside in the sun. Her current captor told her she served a purpose far greater than his own needs. Just hearing the words in her head made her shudder. Someone like her brought a lot of money to the trafficking business. Who knew her virginity would be as valuable as a blue diamond?
Everly wondered what her parents were thinking. Were they still looking for her? Had they given up? She squeezed her eyes shut and fought back tears. Crying solved nothing for her. In fact, it only made her feel more ashamed.
The sound of shouting jerked her from her wayward thoughts. She could hear men yelling and the familiar cries of a female. Everly knew she wasn’t the only woman holed up here—wherever here was. Padding her way toward the door, shepressed her ear to the wood. The voices were muffled, but she could tell they were angry. Footsteps pounding toward her had her easing away from the door just before it came flying open. Everly watched as the bloody body of a woman was tossed into the small space with her.
“Clean her up.” The door slammed, leaving her to stare at the crumpled form.
“Jesus Christ.”
Everly dropped to her knees and rolled the woman over. Her face was swollen from the obvious beating she had taken. Black and blue marks adorned the tiny splits in her flesh. She bent over to listen for breathing, relieved to feel the woman’s breath brush against her cheek. Everly stood to retrieve a pillow and towel. Cleaning her up proved to be a challenge since there was not a bathroom attached to her tiny prison. Spying a bottle of water, Everly grabbed it and sat back down next to the woman.
“Can you hear me? I’m going to clean you up some.”
Everly began wetting the towel and carefully wiped away the blood. Soft whimpers seeped from her lips as Everly passed the moist towel over her tattered flesh. Her body was black and blue, glinting with the feral torment her flesh had endured. Once the blood smears were gone, Everly gently shook the woman.
“Hey. Do you think you can get on the bed?” The woman’s eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, terror filled her amber orbs. Her head jerked from side to side as she scanned the room.“Whoa. Easy. I’m not going to hurt you.” Everly smoothed down the woman’s hair. “Can you talk?”
“I…” Her voice cracked with a hoarseness that made Everly cringe. “Where?” she stuttered out, unable to form a complete sentence.
“I wish I could tell you that, but I don’t even know where we are. Somewhere in South America. Don’t talk. Let’s get you in the bed so you can rest.”
Everly helped her up off the floor and eased her battered body onto the bed. She wanted to scream, but it would be useless. These men were ruthless. They didn’t care about the women they took. All they saw were dollar signs. As Everly stared at the sleeping woman, she couldn’t help but feel guilt. She hadn’t endured torture to the extent of the women who had been brought in lately. No. She was special. She’d heard that comment more than once from the men holding her hostage. Once, during one of her transfers to a new location, a guard had roughed her up. The man who had bought her put a bullet in his head right in front of her. He looked at each of the men around him and reminded them she was his and his alone. No one had touched her since.
Everly’s stomach coiled with disgust. Her handler, Darby, was a portly man who reeked of sweat and cigars. Every time he got near her, she held her breath. Fortunately, as much as he wanted her, he wanted money more. He was careful not to talk about his plans in front of her—but she knew her existence was the key to a big payout.
Everly stood at the tiny window and peered out. Streams of gold penetrated the crystal blue sky, spreading rays of hope across the shoreline. She was close to the ocean, making her long to put her toes in the sand. It was like the salty scent of the sea water taunted her from behind the bared windows. She wrapped her finger around the metal bars and blew out a breath.
Was she destined to remain a prisoner?
Would she be sold again?
She heard the whispers of an auction—one where she would be the prized sale. Closing her eyes, she let the heat of the Latin sun warm her skin. She couldn’t dwell on what ifs. They got her nowhere. The sound of the door opening startled her. She glanced over her shoulder and tensed. Darby’s right-hand man, Luis, stepped through the opening. Another guard followed him inside and shut the door.
“Wake her,” he barked, pointing toward the unconscious woman they had only brought in a little while ago.
“I’ve tried. She won’t stay conscious because of the beating your men gave her.”
The guard stepped closer to Everly. “Watch your mouth. I may not be able to do with you as I please… but a cut will heal.” His thick accent made his threat even more imposing. Everly nodded and looked at her feet as a sign of compliance.
“It doesn’t matter. Asleep or awake, we will test her.”
Everly’s eyes widened with understanding. “You can’t be serious?”
“I said shut up.” Luis grabbed Everly by the arm. “You can see what awaits you.”
