“I’m good. Well, I guess that’s the short answer, I mean, overall I’m good.” I sigh, “Shit, I’m sorry. Let me start again. Hey Rana.”
She chuckles, “Hey, what’s up?”
“So as you know, because you’re the one who gave us the information in the first place,” I start to ramble again, even the Voices sound exasperated, and they should really be used to the amount of rambling that I do by now. I refocus and continue, “The next sale is tomorrow in Ireland. We’re actually here already on some other business, so it’s looking likely that we will be able to end the sales once and for all.”
There’s a hitch of emotion in Rana’s voice as she replies, “Really?”
I nod even though she can’t see me and reply, “Yes. Something has occurred to us from reading through the fact file that you prepared, and I had a couple of questions.”
“Of course, I promise that I’ll try to answer them as best I can,” she replies, and although she is putting on a good front, I can hear the uneasiness in her tone.
It’s understandable. No one likes talking about the darkest moments of their lives, even if there is a good reason for it, like this.
“I’ll try to make it as quick as possible,” I reply. “You know a lot about the movements of the sales. Is that something that everyone who was a part of the sales knew?”
I know it’s an obvious question. The sales wouldn’t have stayed hidden for as long as they have if The Owner told everyone how it worked. Despite knowing that though, I still need to ask the question because I want to make sure, one hundred percent sure, that we are correct in our guess that she’s in danger before I tell her and panic her.
“No, I was the exception to the rule.” She pauses.
I don’t push her or rush her for information. I know how hard this is for her.
Eventually, she continues, “He liked me, I was his favorite, and he kept me for himself. It’s not because my wolf is rare, he coveted me even though I never shifted, not in front of him. I was still his favorite.”
“Understood. Why did he sell you to Derek?”
“Derek had come to several of the auctions and had offered money for me on every occasion. Every time, The Owner refused. Until the last time, I don’t know what happened, but suddenly, The Owner was handing me over like I was any other slave, and he was happy to. It’s always confused me, but I went from one hell to another, and I had shut myself down completely by then. I couldn’t access my wolf before I got sold to Derek. I had buried her by that point, and myself,” Rana explains.
“I know how hard that was for you to tell me, and I really appreciate that you did,” I start. “We think that Derek used magic in order to convince The Owner to release you to him. It would have been strong magic that would have also ensured that he didn’t come after you once he had handed you over to Derek and you had both left.”
Rana’s voice is surprisingly calm as she interrupts me, “Derek’s death could have broken the spell, and The Owner could be coming for me.”
“Yes,” I reply simply, I know that she is strong enough to handle this. “Is he likely to come after you after all of this time?”
Rana’s laughter is dark, “Definitely. I need to get some things sorted just in case.”
Somehow, I know what she’s planning. Probably because it is the same thing that I would do in her situation.
“Rana, I know you’re going to do what you need to do in order to be safe. I am here for you, and if you need help in any way, please call me. Day or night. I would offer you the protection of SID, but I know better than anyone that not all law enforcement is capable of protecting. I also know that you’re like me, and for now at least, won’t want to put your safety in the hands of others,” I start, the guys looking at me curiously, their eyebrows dipped down in concern.
“You know most people say that they understand, but really they have no fucking idea what it’s really like. I know you do though,” Rana replies thoughtfully. She’s very carefully neither confirming nor denying anything.
“I wish I didn’t. I wish you didn’t, but here we are.” I reply honestly. “I have a request.”
“Okay,” she says somewhat warily.
“I’m going to assume that you’re about to disappear, and I know this sounds weird based on the limited amount of time that we have actually spent together, but I feel like you’re a friend,” I start.
“Me too, which is odd because I hate people,” she interrupts again.
I chuckle, “Same. Could you do me a favor? Don’t disappear until we have taken down the sales. There is no point for you to go on the run if we capture The Owner.”
There’s a slight pause on the other end of the phone, and then Rana sighs, “I suppose you are right. My instincts are screaming at me to run. I will not be held captive again.”
“No, you won’t. Which brings me to my next question. If we fail and you do need to go on the run, will you message me once a month on the twenty-eighth of the month just so I know you’re okay? And if you aren’t, send me the message turpentine. I’ll find you,” I say. I hope that I’m being overdramatic and overcautious, but I really don’t want to risk it.
“Fine, but make it two months. It won’t be easy to get hold of an untraceable phone to send you the message in the first place,” Rana negotiates.
“The phone that my mom gave her is completely untraceable, even by us. It’s also a secure line and can’t be hacked. We all keep them on hand at the compound,” Evander reminds me.
