I scream as loud as I can, trying my best to muffle it. I don’t care how bad my throat hurts. I can’t hold my frustration back any longer. I’m tired of being prisoner to my sorrow. I’m tired of being held captive by my circumstances.
I’m. Just. Fucking. Tired!
Again and again, I cry, scream, and beg for the help that will never come. I need my Mama. I need her so bad right now. I have to find a way to join her, but killing myself is obviously out of the question right now with these psychos intervening at every turn.
I’m trapped. Always. Fucking. Trapped.
I fight through my covers and pillows as if they are my internal demons. Thrashing and punching with what littlestrength I can muster. They’re probably watching me right now and getting a good laugh at how the psychotic drowned rat is now their prisoner to do what they want with. This could be some kind of sick game or experiment.
Maybe the God of War, Ares—Nick, whatever his name is—is trying to polish me up so he can sell me off in the human meat market. It’s probably how he can afford a big, fancy beach house like this.
I slow my breathing in attempt to slow my racing heart.Pull yourself together Maya—you’ve survived worse.
I got myself into this mess, and come hell or high water, I’m getting out of it.
Chapter 6
Nick
The bass of the music vibrates through my chest, and the flicker of multiple colored lights pulse through Sapphire, Gulf View’s most exclusive VIP club at the Diamond Aces Resort and Casino. Only Platinum Diamond-level high rollers and a few of their guests are allowed in here.
I don’t gamble often, but as a silent partner of the casino, I get in for free. Tonight, I have a meeting with the owner, Christopher Vade. Vade and I grew up going to the racetracks with our families.
We used to sell pot in tea bags to the jockeys. It was the start of a beautiful, crime-ridden friendship. He went to business school; I went to law school. Since both of us came from long lines of old money, we didn’t necessarily have to work our way to the top, we were always destined to be a shoo-in for the Ivy League of our choice.
“Double Eagle Very Rare 20-Year on the rocks and keep them coming.” I slip the waitress a bill. Her plump ass threatens to bust out of her skin-tight leather miniskirt like a can of biscuits when she walks away.
I may have to take her in the backroom and plant my face in it later. I love biscuits.
“Help yourself to whatever catches your eye.” Vade knows what I’m thinking without me having to say it. “That one could suck a watermelon through a straw. I dumped a load down her throat earlier.”
“As much as I’d like for my army of egg seekers to swim with yours down the saliva slide, you should just tell me whatthis urgent meeting is all about.” I take my glass from the blonde bombshell that’s returned with my drink.
“Is that all I can get for you?” She runs her long black nails over the top of her barely covered breast.
“That’s all for now, keep the whiskey coming.” She gives me a quick “yes sir” with a wink and walks away. Goddamn, I should just let her suck my brains through my dick while I let Vade fill me in on whatever it is, but I’m just not interested.
“Last night, one of the boats carrying a shipment of guns intercepted a passenger boat a few miles off the coast, heading in this direction.” Vade eyes me like I’m supposed to know what the fuck he’s talking about.
“And? Refugees trying to reach the border, what’s wrong with that?” We’ve helped a few of them to the shores before. They’re some of our best workers; we always make sure they and their families are well taken care of in return. “I seem to be missing the problem here.”
“It wasn’t a refugee boat. It was a boat with three grown men and two drugged, underaged females.” Human traffickers. I don’t have the best reputation among women but even I’m not that big of a piece of shit.
“Do you know where they came from or where they were headed?” I sip my whiskey, savoring the smooth, complex flavor.
“Marcus immediately put a bullet between two of the traffickers’ eyes, spattering the already tormented girls with blood and brains. He and Lucas tried torturing information from the other male, only to find out he’s a mute.” Vade crosses his leg and lights a cigar, trying to hide his anxiety.
“Were you able to get an identity on either one?”
“We ran fingerprints and dental scans but haven’t come up with a match. Neither was carrying identity.” Vade rolls his eyes like he’s annoyed but then throws a book of matches my way.
“Thanks, but I’m trying to quit smoking.” Hardest thing I’ve ever done and probably why I’m so damn horny all the time. Traded one addiction for the other.
“Look at the matchbook you fucking idiot. It was found in the pocket of one of the captors. By the way, I’ve assigned a female doctor and team of nurses to look after the girls until they are stable enough to be reunited with their families. We weren’t able to get any information, they don’t know who their captors are or where they were being taken.” Vade sips his drink, the look on his face sullen.
Vade is a good guy, he’s always had a heart. We’ve intercepted a few missing women and children over the years. He and Alex always make sure they get the proper help for as long as they need it.
I mostly stay out of it, but I do help with funding. Our team, while criminals themselves, are always instructed to intervene on cases like that.
