“The cage I was held in was in a warehouse. It didn’t have any windows and I didn’t hear any traffic. There were always two guards but they wore masks and didn’t speak around me. Mr. Sykes is the owner of the club. His second hand man was—” Shay closed her eyes, willing her brain to remember his name. She could see him clear as day. Once she arrived at the club no one bothered disguising themselves. They probably assumed she’d never see any of them again.
“Take your time.” She heard Drew’s deep rich voice soothing her.
Her mind instantly relaxed as the memories played in her mind like a movie. “Billy, I never heard a last name. He’s around five foot nine, black hair with a thick goatee, a jagged scar on his cheek from temple to lip.”
“Good, that’s real good. Anything one else you can remember? What about the auc—where they were taking you. Any names mentioned? Who the original buyer was?” She couldn’t tell who was speaking by voice.
“No, they made sure to avoid using names. I only heard Billy’s when someone talked to him in the hall.” She opened her eyes to see everyone staring at her. Not with sympathy but respect. “I assumed it was a standard hostage negotiation. That it had to do with my dad but when I heard about the auction, I knew it was something else. I don’t know why me. I don’t go anywhere. I never talked to strangers.”
Jack placed his hand over her clenched fists. “It’s not your fault. Traffickers have ways of finding people without their victims realizing it. It’s nothing that you did.”
Shay gave him a wan smile.
“I’ve been going through the security. The drive you were able to get Drew really helped. We should start to be able to identify some people and can build a case against them. We’ll keep you safe, Shay, I promise.”
“Not that I’m ungrateful for all your help, but what makes you think you can keep me safe? I was almost kidnapped again right in front of the police station.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they have people in the precinct on payroll.”
She should have thought of that. People bought politicians. To smuggle women in and out of a busy club you’d have to own some high officials.
“But to answer your question this is the kind of stuff we accel at. All of us have military background.”
She’d already guessed that. Why was Jack willing to tell her about them so easily while Drew was close-lipped. Glancing over at the man in question she saw the anger blazing in his eyes. Was it because Jack told her? Knowing they had military background wasn’t exactly state secrets. Anyone who looked at them could tell.
“And now you guys do protection details?”
“Amongst other things.”
“We’re getting side tracked.” Drew said sitting up taller in his seat. There was no question he was the leader of the group. “I’ve told you numerous times Shay we can keep you safe.” His eyes shifted to Jack. “Go through the footage and see if you can find Billy and Mr. Sykes. They know who originally took Shay and can lead up to the buyers. Nick why don’t you help him.” Nick nodded in agreement.
“Greg, check in with your contact. Find out what happened to his intel. Barry and Sam once they get identities check into financial records. Daniel, get a list of the staff and start doing some interviewing. Any questions?”
Shay hated being a pest but she did have one burning question. “I do.”
“What’s that?”
“Where will I be staying during all of this?”
Chapter 15
Drew wasn’t surprised when everyone volunteered at the same time. It wasn’t a hardship to house a beautiful distracting woman that brought out every caveman instinct in him. He clenched his hands into fists on the top of his desk before he slammed them and announced she was his and dragged her off somewhere by the hair and laid claim to her body.
Drew watched Shay’s cheeks turn crimson at the attention his teammates were showing her. He’d made her blush more than once. His mind flashed to when her breast brushed up against his arm. He’d felt her touch all the way to his toes.
She’s had the same affect on him when they’d danced too.
He tried telling himself that he wasn’t good enough for her. Hearing about living under her father’s roof, under his rules, he knew he didn’t belong in her world anymore than she belonged in his.
Shay deserved to live in big mansions with personal chefs and people that waited on her. By the condition of her perfectly manicured names she didn’t have many physical hardships in life.
Unlike him, who had to fight tooth and nail for everything he had in this world. The blood and sweat he’d sacrificed to get to where he was.
No, they didn’t belong. A square peg in a round.
He had to step away from her before he tried to take her right there in the kitchen. As much as both of them would enjoy it—she would, she’d flirted with him long enough he noticed the signs—he needed to start separating himself from her.
It would be better if she stayed with one of teammates. A red haze came over his vision thinking about one of them with her. Touching her. Feeling her soft buttery skin.
