Rebecca longed to pull the young teen, wise beyond her years, close. She knew Kara didn’t want a human connection. She lost all desire for any comfort or touch after being passed from one man to another.
“Then why tell her what’s in store? Will it help to add to her nightmares?” She beseeched, trying to reach the hurt teen.
“What happens when they sell you? Who will she have to protect her then?” Kara asked bleakly.
Rebecca didn’t have the heart to tell her they didn’t plan to sell her. Harrison wanted her punished. She moved up the ranks faster than any candidate and landed the job in New York. Even after Harrison raped her, she refused to give up Avie’s whereabouts, making him spin out of control. He beat her within an inch of her life until Dr. Reese stepped in and threatened to tell the ringleader if he touched Rebecca again. After all, they made a deal and Harrison’s had yet to complete his side of things. It took weeks for Rebecca to recover. She saw Harrison once more when he came to exact his revenge again, raging about Leo’s team managing to rescue Avie and Deni from his grasp. Dr. Reese refused to leave him alone with Rebecca, protecting the ring’s investment.
The memory of the day lingered as she recalled the triumph she felt at knowing her friends bested Harrison. One day, she hoped to witness his takedown. In the meantime, she fought to survive with meager servings of food, beatings when she resisted getting raped, and protecting the others when possible. Rebecca continued to play the frightened woman, all the while keepingtrack of the cities and routes. She mentally kept a log of who went missing after each auction. Hopefully, when Julio and the team found her, the information would help locate the victims. Since they didn’t attempt to outright sell her, Rebecca knew they planned something else for her. She told a select few about Julio, hoping if she disappeared, they still held on to a shred of hope. It didn’t matter if they punished her as long as it kept the others safe.
“I can’t do this anymore,” Hillary whispered desperately. “I want to go home.”
“Oh, shut up,” Kendra snapped. “You don’t have a choice. If you don’t do as they say, they’ll hurt you even more.”
Rebecca eyed the young woman. Jim loved to pit the women against one another. If they knew of someone searching for a way to escape, and told on them, they got an evening of good food, a shower, and a clean bed. Sometimes, Jim felt generous, giving them candy, an extra blanket, or new clothes. Kendra took advantage of his incentives more than anyone.
Rebecca didn’t have the heart to blame her. She survived like the rest of them. Something told her the poor young woman had seen far more than someone beyond her years should ever witness. It made her lose faith in humanity, and life felt hopeless. After all, Rebecca clung to the thought of the one man who kept her going. She only hoped he found her in time to save the people she watched leave with shackles on their wrists. The ones who refused to go quietly ended up beaten into submission. The women moved from city to city, except for a select few, including Rebecca.
They didn’t dare sell her, knowing if she escaped, Rebecca knew too much about their operation. Instead, they reserved her for special guests. If she refused to comply, they used Megan as their leverage. She hated every single fucking moment. It was only a matter of time before someone requested a child withMegan’s features, and if they offered the right amount of money, nothing would save the little girl. Tears clouded her eyes, and she swiftly blinked them away. Rebecca protected her as much as she dared without gathering scrutiny from the other women or Jim. They thought she agreed to keep Megan safe because of duty. It went beyond her responsibilities as an agent. She loved the little girl from the moment she witnessed the fear and heartbreak in her eyes.
“Rebecca,” Jim said gruffly. “You’re taking a shower. We have a special visitor coming tonight. I laid your clothes out on the bed.”
Rebecca swallowed and stood, passing him in the entryway. Her eyes scanned the basement, searching for a way out. Jim led her up a large, ornate staircase.
“You have one hour to get ready. Sam will stay outside the door. Don’t think I didn’t catch Megan skulking off to the kitchen. You give the client whatever he wants, and I’ll pretend I didn’t notice,” Jim threatened as he led her into the bedroom.
“How kind of you,” she said sarcastically, jerking her arm away.
“Don’t give me attitude,” his voice lowered. His hand trailed down her arm, making her ill. “We can always clean you up once I’m done.”
She snapped, “Leave me the hell alone.”
Jim gripped her jaw, shaking her head violently. “You think you’re better than everyone. Harrison made sure to knock you down a peg. I’m thinking it’s time for you to learn another lesson. Maybe it’s time I taught Megan one.”
“Leave her alone,” Rebecca growled. “She’s a baby. Isn’t it enough you stole her childhood from her?”
“Then I suggest you find a way to make it up to me,” Jim said smugly, pressing her down to her knees. She refused to let Megan suffer this fate.
Rebecca waited obediently as he unbuckled his belt and gripped her hair. She closed her eyes and choked back the tears.Julio will come, she thought for the millionth time.This nightmare will end.Six months felt like six years and he still hadn’t found her. What if he considered her dead? What if he stopped searching? She felt her heart crack in two. It took them longer than one fateful night to break her, but they finally succeeded.
Julio movedthrough the shrubs of the pre-war mansion owned by Jack Blackard Junior and slipped into the unlocked glass doors. The father and son attended two of the auctions and hosted tonight’s event. According to the recon, Darren Garfield, the man currently occupying the house, specialized in human merchandise. Julio tracked the asshole’s movements to this location after several attempts to receive a coveted invitation to one of the events. Even though they managed to capture the new buyers quietly, someone figured it out. Two of the last buyers conveniently died from ‘accidents.’ The parties and auctions changed patterns, becoming more impromptu, leaving Jameson and Julio scrambling for backup. He watched as a woman dressed in a doctor’s coat spoke with Darren Garfield. He snapped a picture to send to Matthew for facial recognition. The doctor left the room, leaving the suspect alone. Julio crept closer, for the first time feeling as if he and Jameson found a solid lead to Rebecca.
Taking out his weapon, he held it to the man’s head. “Don’t move, you son of a bitch,” he growled.
Garfield lowered his cigar, not appearing the least bit baffled by his presence.
“You’re the one who keeps interrupting my routes,” Darren said smoothly.
“You’re the bastard who sells humans like cattle,” Julio replied. “Before I send you to rot in jail for your many crimes, I want some information.”
Darren chuckled. “I’m sure we can come to a compromise.”
“I don’t deal with scum. Show me your books,” Julio demanded.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you. We don’t keep records. It’s a hazard to our privacy,” Darren explained. Julio didn’t buy it for a minute.
“I suggest you come up with something better than that,” Julio spat. “Or you’ll find I’ll be doing more than disrupting routes, I’ll burn the entire organization to the ground.”
“Many have tried and failed, my friend. I’m one of many. Rich people want special pets. I’m merely the provider.”
