told me that Rachel’s back didn’t look good, but he wouldn’t go into any further detail.
“I don’t think that will happen until she’s out of the water, Ink,” Slim added. “From the sounds of it, Rachel is important to Carlos. He won’t purposefully have her killed and any further beatings would do just that.”
“She’s important to me, Slim,” I seethed. “She’s the very beat of my heart and I will not have her locked inside that prison for another week.”
“Alright,” Slim sighed. “Then we’ll have to work hard and smart to figure things out. Because if we aren’t taking our time, then we need to be diligent about our moves.”
“Have they arrived yet?” Wolf pants.
“Did you run all the way here?” Bear asks.
“No, not the whole way,” Wolf answers. “I parked my bike half a mile back and ran the rest of the way. Didn’t want to take any chances on one of the guards hearing me.”
“They’re in the building,” Trigger says through our earpieces. He and Brick are stationed on the other side of the building with another one of Slim’s signal boosters in place. We aren’t taking any chances of Rachel not being able to get through to us.
“Okay,” Slim exclaims. “I’m going to go ahead and connect with Rachel. Everyone, stay silent.”
“Rachel,” Slim whispers. “We’re here. If you can hear us, give me some sort of signal.”
I sit silently as I wait to hear Rachel. A minute goes by and we hear nothing.
“Give her time,” Slim says. “I can hear sound on her end, but no one is saying anything.”
Finally, after another minute passes, we hear her.
“You know, Mike, just because Carlos says to jump off of a cliff doesn’t mean you have to do it.”
My anxiety spikes and calms at the same time. Hearing her voice is a balm on my soul that I didn’t know I needed. However, learning that she’s alone with Mike has me ready to break down the doors.
“I happen to like heights,” Mike states.
“Heights, sure, but the landing is just going to get you killed.”
“And who’s going to do that?” Mike sneers. “Those bikers?”
“Those bikers are more man than you’ll be.”
“Speak your mind all you like, woman” he spat. “Just know that our visitations will come again soon, and this time, I won’t be so gentle.”
We hear a door slam shut and Rachel takes a deep breath.
“Can you guys hear me?” she whispers.
“We’re here,” I say. “We’re really close by, baby.”
“Sammy,” she cries. “These are horrible people.”
“I know, baby,” I soothe. “We’re getting you out of there as fast as we can.”
“No,” she blurts. “Sammy, you have to get these kids out first. He plans to auction them off. He’s going to make them parade around on a stage naked in front of a bunch of perverts. Promise me that you’ll free them before coming after me.”
I hate what she’s asking me to do. She always comes first in my life. But then I think about those innocent children and there’s only one response.
“Promise me, Sammy,” she demands.
“I promise, sweetheart.”
“Alright,” Chains says. “If we’re going to do this then we need to start planning. Rachel, honey, are you locked up?”
“No,” she responds. “They’ve put me in a regular room on the second floor. I don’t think they locked the door. They don’t really view me as a threat.”
“Are there any cameras?” Slim asks.
“I’ve been looking,” she admits. “But I can’t see any. Just as a precaution, I’m keeping my voice down and a blanket over my head.”
I smile.
“Smart move,” Trigger says. “I don’t see very much security from my angle. Ink, how are things on your end.”
“Same,” I answer. “It looks dead.”
“That’s because they’re all inside,” Rachel tells us. “I don’t know what’s happening, but they’re planning for some big event. Most likely the one involving the selling of these little girls.”
“As much as I hate to admit it,” Bear says. “We might have to call in the feds.”
“Someone’s coming,” Rachel whispers urgently.
Not even a few seconds later, we hear her door open.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Rachel
“Are you enjoying your new room?” Carlos asks as he closes the door.
“I would be lying if I said no,” I admit. “However, I would much prefer to be back in my cell. That way I have the constant reminder of how much of a dick you are.”
Carlos laughs.
“I could arrange that if you want,” he offers.
“Rachel, what the fuck are you doing?” Sammy whispers in my ear.
“Actually, I have a favor to ask,” I say.
For some odd