I help her into my car, then shoot off a text to Shadow letting him know what’s up and that I’m on my way to the Angel Shelter.
“What’s your name? How old are you?”
“Brittany. I’m fourteen.”
Jesus Christ. I grind my teeth as I pull onto the street. She was targeted at that party, and I don’t want to know what’s happened to her since then.
“Are there more kids inside that house?”
“I don’t know. I was by myself in a small room. They came all day and night. The men.” Her voice shakes and fury fills me. Kids and animals, man. Those are my triggers. Stolen innocence. It fucking kills me.
“And what happened tonight? With Marc. He was taking you somewhere?”
Brittany shrugs. “He said I was going to a new place where it would be nicer, but I knew that was a lie. I knew what he was gonna do. The same thing they all do.”
This girl should not know about these nightmares at her age. “I’m sorry this happened to you, but it won’t anymore. Okay?”
She sniffs, wiping her eyes. “You killed him.”
“Yep.”
“Because of me?”
“No, but it helped.”
“I don’t care that he’s dead. I’m glad.”
“I’d kill them all if I could.”
“It’s your job?”
“Yes, but, Brittany, I need you to do something for me.”
“What?”
“Forget. All of this. When you get home, get help so you can forget this stuff and be a kid again. You deserve that.”
“Okay,” she says softly. “You’re a hero.”
I scoff. “Hardly, but you don’t deserve what happened, and I want you to remember that.”
“I’ll try.”
Twenty minutes later, I drop Brittany off at the Angel Shelter, lingering in the doorway as I watch Marla lead her away. She turns and waves at me, looking like the child she still is.
“Another one, huh?” Gabby asks me. She runs this place, and we often find ourselves bringing her people who need help.
“Caught him just before he threw her in his car. She’s fucking fourteen and from Colorado.”
Gabby, a tough older woman with white hair and stern eyes, nods. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of her and get her home.”
“I know.” I scrub a hand over my face. “Thanks, Gabby. I gotta go.”
Walking back to my car with my trench over my arm, I glance at my watch. There’s still time for me to get to Segreto and be the one to drive Cashmere home.
Before I drive off, I shoot off a text to Phantom and Ghost.
Me: On my way. All good?
