Tyler snorted a laugh. “Exactly. All trafficking is fucked up, but there’s a brand of evil that I am dedicated to infiltrating, and now ye are, too. Those who target women, girls, and occasionally men for use in brothels and other kinds of sexual exploitation. These people, they sneak into the country in smaller numbers. They’re considered higher value, so greater secrecy is used, such as boats and quiet harbours to land in the dead of night. I have systems in place to detect them, and I had a call earlier today. That’s where we’re heading now.”
Energy built in me. I gripped the steering wheel, following the curve of the road that would take us past Edinburgh and up the coast to Aberdeen. The address he’d given us was near a ferry port, so I imagined his system included paid informants.
I couldn’t help but draw parallels to the fucking Marchants who had been part of this trade.
Tyler continued. “About the victims. Many don’t speak much English, and most have experienced violence and sexual abuse at home before they were sold. It’s a rare case where a woman or teenage girl is abducted from the streets by an unknown.”
A sound of disbelief came from one of the Atherons. “Their families sell them out?”
Heretic, I guessed. Shorter hair, scarred arm, his voice a shade deeper than his brother’s.
“Aye, they do, which makes them feel alone, friendless, and terrified. They assume we are more of the same and lash out. Our job is to take out the traffickers, I dinnae give a fuck if ye kill them, though try to keep the leader for me. Then we secure their victims until the all-female support team picks them up. They take them to a safe place and give them care and choices over what to do next. We don’t force anyone’s decision, and not a single fucking word of this is shared with the cops.”
“I’m liking the sound of taking out these shitmuppets,” Ash said.
He spoke more than Heretic, and more colourfully, from the short time I’d had to get to know them. Ash was ready with quips and smart-ass comments, reminding me of Convict, where Heretic appeared observant and reserved. When we left the warehouse, Ash had stopped at a Warrior pick-up truck, a middle finger raised to something his brother said before he’d retied his hair and got behind the wheel. Heretic had set out on a chunky silver-and-black motorbike. Tyler hadn’t explained where he’d found the two men, but as far as I knew, he hadn’t given them my history either.
I didn’t care. I’d never bonded to any crew I’d worked with and didn’t want to now.
“What happens to the bodies?” I asked.
Tyler replied, “I’ll have someone handle those, too. Once we’re done and the women safe, we get the fuck out of there. Everyone understand?”
We all confirmed that we did.
“Good. I have calls to make. Once we arrive, park up and lie low until I give further instruction. Ye might be waiting around a while. It could happen tonight or take days. I need ye ready at any given second. Don’t let me down.”
He disconnected. I tried to wrap my head around the type of mission I was on. It was a world away from anything I’d done in the past, but still connected in ways I’d never anticipated. Our actions would right wrongs for innocents who had been hurt.
I’d never done anything noble for pay. The sensation was unsettling.
“You both still on the line?” Ash asked.
Hair tie, neck tattoo, joker.
His brother answered, the meaty purr of his motorbike behind his voice. “Spare me whatever wisecrack you want to make. I’m hanging up. See you on the other side.”
Ash sniffed. “Watch him come running for my passenger seat if it pisses down. He’ll be legging it like a cat at bath time.”
Brotherly love. Couldn’t relate. I went to disconnect, but his voice paused me.
“Hey, Kane, the girl you were with earlier.”
Instantly, my hackles went up. “What about her?”
“She yours?”
“What the fuck business is that of yours?”
“Just a question. This is going to be a long drive. I’m trying to get to know you.”
I could almost hear the smirk in his voice. I’d already decided Ash gave off the vibe of a player. He could play himself into Deadwater River and out to sea if he went anywhere near Lovelyn. And yet I couldn’t make the claim he was looking for.
“Lovelyn is too good for anyone I know, including ye.”
I ended the call so I didn’t have to hear his answer. If he said she was pretty or he wanted to ask her out, I’d probably jeopardise the mission by accidentally and repeatedly stabbing him.
A glance at my screen showed me it was after one in the morning. The urge to check in with Lovelyn wouldn’t shut up. If she’d done what I asked and stayed in the warehouse, there would be no problem.
