I slam on the brakes outside of Freya’s old family home and jump out.
“Go back home, Amirah.I’ve got it from here,” Lucas says.“The first lady of The Brotherhood can’t be out on the streets unprotected.Shit’s about to explode, and you can’t be in the middle of it.”
I shake my head.“No.”
Lucas moves around the car to stand in front of me, blocking me from going any farther.He pushes me back into the front seat of my car.“Go the fuck home.Now!”he growls.
I huff, slamming the door shut.Lucas walks off as more cars arrive around me.Backup is here.Fuck, I want to do something to help, but there’s no way they’ll let me inside the house.
When Lucas disappears inside the home, I drive off with anger coursing through my entire body.My phone vibrates, and I grab it from the console.
Unknown - Want to help those girls?
I keep my eyes on the road as I quickly type back.
Me - Yes.Who is this?
Unknown - All you need to know, Amirah Ledger, is that they are recruiting more kids.Get to Magick at 6 am and bring backup.Answers await you.
Me - Thank you
Unknown - Oh, and Amirah, don’t let the enforcer catch you, or you’ll end up buried with the others.
Goosebumps scatter along my skin.
I arrive back at the gate, and security lets me in.Though this is the breakthrough I’ve been waiting for, it couldn’t have come at a worse time.I pray that my family makes it out alive, and then we can save them.
I park back inside the garage and hop out of the car.As I move inside the house, it’s quiet.Everyone is gone.I run up the stairs.When I reach the top step, a door shuts from the ground floor, and I stop.I thought everyone had left?Might just be one of the workers or my guards.They might have stayed.
Shaking it off, I reach my bedroom door.A shiver runs down my spine.There’s someone here.I turn around, but the hallway is quiet.
Fuck, I’m losing it.
I open the door and gasp, almost jumping out of my skin.One of my maids is inside my room, making my bed.
“I’m so sorry,” she says, her hands trembling at her sides.She’s been working for us for months, and I don’t even know her name.I’m such a terrible person.
“It’s okay.What’s your name?”I ask and move into my closet, grabbing some cash from my sock drawer.
As I return to my bedroom, she finishes making my bed.She’s young, in her early twenties.She shouldn’t be here working for us; she needs to get out of here and travel.Escape.
“It’s Beth.”
“Here, take this,” I say with a smile, handing her a stack of cash.It’s not much, but it’s something.
Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head.“I couldn’t.That’s too much.”
I push the cash into her chest.“Take it, or I’ll fire you,” I say, more serious this time.
She nods, taking the money and putting it into her apron pocket.Her arms fly around my waist, and I stumble backward a step.“You have no idea how much this is going to help me and my family,” she says, and my heart breaks.
It’s the least I can do.I pray that she’ll use this money to have a better life and not get caught like those other girls.
She leaves, and I fall back onto my bed, releasing a heavy sigh.
Everything is about to change, and I won’t stop until I’ve saved every last one of those girls.
Grabbing my phone from my pocket, I check the time.It’s just past midnight.My stomach is a mess of worry for Freya, my brother, Hazen, and Lucas.Will they be okay?I’m furious at Lucas for sending me home.And now with the clue from that unknown number, I have to save them.I need to go to Magick.
