“The Chief said he called him himself. I don’t imagine you’ll be here much longer.”
Shay wrapped the blanket they’d draped over her shoulders tighter. She was finally going home but a sense fear still lingered in the back of her mind. Her mind was a whirling vortex of who to trust and what to do. She was elated this nightmare was finally over and another part feared it was too easy. That this had to be a trick. Or worse, she’d wake up and find herself still trapped in that room waiting to be sold like a horse at market.
“I just have to say, Miss. Brady, I think what you did was brave.”
Shay gave her a wane smile. It wasn’t so much bravery but desperation. She felt back the fire had gotten so out of control. The one silver lining was that no one had been killed or any serious injuries.
At least that building couldn’t be used to sell women and who knew what else anymore. If the club owner was willing to sell women right in his own club where normal patrons were downstairs who knew what else he was capable of.
“Miss. Brady,” A large man in a black suit came into the room. He looked like a bodyguard, kind of reminding her of Drew. Ugh, she needed to stop thinking about him. True, he’d never done anything to harm her and even dropped her off without a backward glance but it didn’t change the fact he’d been wearing a wristband.
“Yes?”
“We’re here to take you home.” Three other men appeared behind him. All in matching black suits.
Shay didn’t have to be told twice. She stood up handing her coffee and blanket to the female officer. “You’ll be in touch with the investigation?”
“Of course. If there are any follow up questions, we’ll contact you.”
Well, that was it then. There was no point in lingering around.
The one bodyguard walked ahead and the others flanked her sides and back creating a barrier between her and the rest of the world.
A car was pulled up to the curb with the back passenger door open for her. It was a nondescript black SUV, standard for government vehicles. As she was about to slid in the seat she looked up at the driver expecting Andrew but it was a stranger.
She then looked around at the rest of men and realized she didn’t recognize any of them. Shay took a step back bumping into one of the guards. “Where’s my father’s team?” She asked looking up at him over her shoulder.
“They are on another assignment for your father. We were called to bring you to his home.”
That didn’t sound right. Her father was nothing if not predictable. He would never send strangers to pick her up. He had a set of guards to watch her and drive her. He wouldn’t just give her new people.
“May I call my father please?” She didn’t have a good feeling about this.
“You can call him from the road. We need to get going Miss. Brady, your father is expecting us.” He made a show of checking is watch as if they were on a time schedule.
Another thing that seemed odd. Why would they be on a schedule to bring her home?
“I want to call him now.” She didn’t care if she sounded like a spoiled little rich girl needing to get her way. Something was wrong.
A tic worked in the man’s jaw then he suddenly attacked. “Get in the car.” He snarled starting to push in.
Shay clung to the doorframe like it was a lifeline as she screamed at the top of her lungs. Someone in the police station had to hear her.
“Shut up you little bitch.” He hissed back handing her.
Shay’s head whipped to the side connecting with the door frame. Stars winked in and out of her vision but she refused to release her grip on the door. She feared if they ever got her in the car she was a dead woman.
It was obvious now these men didn’t work for her father, but for who? The club owner? The man who originally wanted her? Neither answer was good.
For some reason she wished Drew were here. Despite her misgivings about him he’d been the only one she’d felt somewhat safe with.
The man managed to pry her fingers off of the doorframe and was about to toss her in when his grip on her back disappeared. She heard grunts and the sound of flesh hitting flesh. The driver cursed and jumped out of the car.
Shay turned to see Drew, like an avenging angel holding out his hand to her.
Suddenly it didn’t matter if he was the bad guy or not, he was saving her. It was good enough for her.
Chapter 10
