Jim entered, and they herded them into a large van. He turned in the driver’s seat to address them. “If anyone makes amove, he has orders to shoot.” He turned around and started the van. They turned onto the road, taking them to another place of horror.
Rebecca’s body felt numb. A warm hand touched hers, and she realized Kara reached for her. She squeezed the teen’s hand and held it, relishing the feeling of someone caring. Love didn’t live here. Evil did.
Julio putthe earpiece in his ear and waited for Leo’s instructions. “Matthew will cut the power as soon as they transfer the women inside the mansion. Julio and Jameson will secure the library. When we go lights out, Shadow will hit the detonators to distract the guards in the back. Saint and Ragu, take out the ones in the front. Cole and K-9 Apollo will enter the front. Taco and Shadow will continue covering the back. Cartwright, you’re covering our asses, unless you want Victoria and Kassie up yours. Ivan and his men have blocked the roads. I’ll catch up with Cole. As soon as we locate all the kids, Archer will bring the van around. Michael will assess them and we’ll go from there. Any questions?”
“Uh, yeah, boss. Did you forget about Knight and me?” Patch spoke up.
Leo chuckled evilly. “We took a vote and decided you needed practice with kids. You’ll escort or carry out the kiddos while we gather these lovely fuckers up. We take as many as we can, but if it’s a choice between them or you, take the shot. Do you have your cameras on?”
After every team member voiced affirmative, Leo addressed Julio. “Jameson said you lost your shit earlier when you saw the kids. I get it, but we know it’s the reality, and we’re here to savethem. Concentrate on the women they bring in tonight while we handle the others. I know you hoped to find Rebecca and we will,” Leo vowed.
“Copy that,” Julio replied. Fury still boiled beneath the surface as he imagined the little girl and seeing Gerard almost giddy as they herded the children into the room. People like Gerard never paid the price for their depravity. They hired expensive lawyers who claimed mental illness, and they spent six months at a spa-like hospital. Julio sighed. His disappointment at not finding Rebecca left him feeling hollow. Every lead seemed to bring him closer, but it felt like one step forward and two steps back. Julio worried she might’ve given up on him at this point.
Slipping the earpiece inside his shoe, he entered the house and climbed the stairs to his room. Jameson provided him with his weapon earlier and he wanted to prepare for the raid mentally. Luckily, the children were locked up for the evening, waiting for tomorrow morning’s unveiling and the auction later in the evening. Julio smirked, anticipating the expressions on Gerard and Presley’s faces as they realized they’d be the ones behind bars.
At eleven thirty, he refreshed his aftershave, combed his hair, and added the earpiece. His weapon stayed hidden behind his back as he made his way to the library. A sniffle stopped him in his tracks as he heard Gerard’s voice through one of the doors on his right.
“Be a good little girl and come sit on my lap. I have some chocolate cake,” Gerard coaxed.
Julio saw red as he pounded on the door. He heard the hushed whispers, then silence, as Gerard greeted him.
“Did you need something?” Gerard asked, slightly annoyed at getting interrupted.
“I thought I paid for premium service,” he growled as he glanced into the room and jerked his head toward the curly blonde-headed girl with tears streaming down her cheeks. “As such, I want you to meet the merchandise in the library with me. Mr. Presley better be bringing a better selection than this.”
“I assure you it was only a misunderstanding,” Gerard said, nearly stumbling. Julio smelled the alcohol as the man drew closer. “Can I join you in a few minutes? I’m in the middle of something.”
“Then I’ll wait for you in here,” Julio said, pushing his way into the room. “You have plenty of time tomorrow to play with your new toys.”
Letting out a disappointed sigh, Gerard nodded for the guard to return the little girl. “I do hope you find something to keep you occupied this evening. Mr. Presley has decided to join our entertainment. He has a new woman who will be leaving the country soon and he wants to sample her before she disappears,” Gerard informed him as he picked up his computer and left the room. Julio walked beside him.
“I thought I got first choice,” he demanded, appearing affronted by this piece of news.
“You will. This woman isn’t part of the selection. She’s already purchased,” Gerard said as they entered the library.
Julio scanned the library, counting the guards. He took the seat he vacated earlier, giving him a view of three of them, leaving the other two for Jameson. An ugly, burly man entered the room. Gerard shook his hand and directed him to the stairs. Julio’s heart raced, no longer expecting Rebecca this time, but the anticipation of taking these men down.
A few minutes passed before the burly man appeared, followed by the reluctant women. Julio watched as Gerard regarded them like meat. During winter, southern Georgia felt like the tropics, but by evening, a chill hit the air. The scantilyclad women shivered despite the warm room, and it made him wonder if the asshole drove them with no heat in the vehicle. A teen, relatively young, glanced back at the burly man in fear as he pushed her to the middle of the room and left.
“Mr. Garcia, you have the first selection,” Gerard reminded him.
Julio regarded the women as if taking his time picking his favorite. In truth, he prolonged making an announcement, giving Jameson time to enter the room. He needed the group of ladies out of the line of fire.
“Bring them close to the fire,” he ordered, sounding annoyed. “They’re shivering nonstop and covering their assets.”
The young girl whimpered as she took in his size. She paused between Julio and one of the guards. He stood and approached her. Gently taking her arm, he moved her closer to the heat. The lingerie seemed made of strings, barely covering her. “Stay here,” he said gently, moving back to his position.
Jameson entered the room, scanned it for Julio’s location, and walked to the opposite side, close to the first guard. “Do you think when they’re done, they’ll let us have the leftovers?” the guard asked. Jameson turned, smiled, and punched the son of bitch out cold. The second one advanced, pulling his weapon. Jameson launched himself toward him, taking him to the floor. Julio shot the third guard before he made it to Jameson. The women screamed as he rushed past them. “Get down on the floor,” he yelled as he tackled the fourth guard, knocking him out. He turned to find Jameson holding his weapon on the last guard. The man grabbed the teen, dragging her across the floor. Gerard escaped the room as the two men advanced, cornering the suspect holding the teen.
“Don’t come any closer,” he shouted. “If you do, I’ll kill her. Put your gun down.” From his position, Julio saw into the hallway. Jameson signaled for him to lower his weapon. Theguard sneered as he cocked the gun when Leo walked by and shot him in the head and kept going. A stunned expression stayed on his face as he fell to the ground.
Julio turned to the hysterical women. “We’re here to save you. Please stay on the ground and lock this door behind us. One of us will come for you when it’s secure,” he said rapidly. “You’ll know it’s us if we say the password. It’s freedom.”
A cry echoed through the house, and Kara jumped to her feet, “Becca, she’s upstairs,” she cried, heading for the door. Jameson grabbed her by the waist, keeping her there as Julio beelined for the second story.
The high-pitched scream grew louder as he ran down the hall. Julio knew that sound, he knew the woman on the other side of the door. His heart pounded in his chest as he raced toward the woman he loved.
Mr. Presley circled Rebecca.He yanked her hair, and when she didn’t cry and beg, he tugged harder.
