if you were hungry?”
“You know, if you weren’t such a monster, you’d actually be a good person.”
Seven, nine, four, eight, three, two, nine.
Carlos laughs.
“You’re probably right, mi Reina. But what would be the fun in that?”
Seven, nine, four, eight, three, two, nine.
Seven, nine, four, eight, three, two, nine.
I’m so focused on remembering the code that I space out. Before I know it, we’re outside of the room.
“I’ll have some food and your medication brought up to you,” Carlos tells me. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He leaves and I’m left sitting in the child-sized wheelchair next to the bed. I don’t want to talk for fear that there is a camera in here and they see my lips moving.
I lean my head back and cover my face with my hands. Trying to act frustrated.
“Seven, nine, four, eight, three, two, nine,” I say quickly and quietly. “I can’t talk. I’m still in my chair. The pain is coming back, and I don’t think I can pull myself onto the bed.”
“You did fucking great, baby,” Sammy says. “Really fast, say the numbers one more time.”
“Seven, nine, four, eight, three, two, nine,” I respond.
The door flies open, and Carlos walks back inside.
“I forgot to put you back in bed,” he says. “Sorry, mi Reina.”
Carlos lifts me and flops me down on the bed. The pain that shoots through my back is unexpected and I scream.
***Ink***
Her scream makes me lose control.
“Ink, control yourself,” I hear Wolf say. “Just listen.”
“I’m okay,” I hear Rachel say through the thunder in my ears. “Sammy, I’m okay. I just landed on my back wrong. It was mostly shock.”
I calm down and listen to her voice.
“I need to get you out,” I respond desperately. “Please, let me get you out of there.”
“Sammy, listen,” she whispers. “Just hold on for a little longer. We have to get these girls out of here before Carlos sells them to grown men for who knows what reasons. Stay strong for me, Sammy.”
I’m taken aback by her words. She repeated the same thing I said. Stay strong for me.
“Slim,” I say. “Any luck yet?”
Slim has been working fast to access any security cameras that might be inside the compound. As soon as we have that access, we can work on getting inside.
“I think so big guy,” he tells me. “We should talk about what Bear said.”
“About calling the feds?” I ask.
“Yeah,” Slim responds. “I think it’s a good idea.”
“Especially considering there are children inside,” Trigger says. “I’ll kill every mother fucker in there if I find out they are hurting children.”
“And you think the police force will be able to stop you?” I hear Brick ask. “I’ll be holding those fuckers back while you bathe in the blood of everyone inside that building.”
“Kinky,” Rachel whispers.
“Bingo,” Slim celebrates. “I’m in and hiding behind a firewall. No one will be able to find me.”
“I thought firewalls prevented people from accessing their systems?” Rachel asks.
Her voice sounds rough and I know that she’s in more pain than she’s letting on.
“You’re absolutely correct, honey,” Slim says. “But I’ve found a way to use it to my advantage. Now, I have access to their entire system and they’ll never even know that I’m in.”
“Remind me not to make you mad,” she mumbled, causing Slim, Hawk, and Wolf to laugh.
“What have you got?” Bear asks.
“Well,” Slim starts. “I can’t see Rachel anywhere. So, it’s safe to say that there isn’t a camera in her room.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
Slim looks at me with raised brows.
“You’re safe to speak without that blanket on your head,” I tell Rachel, causing Slim to chuckle. “Just keep as quiet as you can.”
“Oh God,” Slim exclaims. “It’s worse than we thought.”
I walk over and glance down at Slim’s laptop. The images popping up on his screen make my stomach sour.
Children, both boys, and girls of all ages are in multiple cells throughout the building.
“They’re naked, Hawk,” Slim whispers, tears falling down his face. “They’re all naked and scared.”
Hawk wraps Slim in his arms.
“We’ll get them out, sweet boy,” Hawk soothes. “We’ll get them all out and back to their families.”
“Do you see them, Sammy?” Rachel asks. “Do you see those little kids? Please, save them.”
“Yeah,” I whisper back. “I see them, baby. We’re going to get you all out.”
◆◆◆
It takes over an hour, but we finally come up with a plan.
It won’t be much longer, and those kids will be free, and I’ll have my woman in my arms. Where she will stay for the rest of