forth between me and my boss. “Shit. Is this her?”
“Yeah.” Lazinski jerks me forcefully to a chair. “Sit.”
He starts pacing.
“What are we going to do now?”
“Let me think,” Lazinski says.
“What’s going on?” I ask innocently.
“Shut up,” Lazinski shouts.
I wince. “Boss?”
“Just shut the fuck up for a minute.”
My heart beats wildly as he paces and the man named Jeff shuts the basement door and leans against it. “Back to plan A?” he asks.
“Obviously, but what the hell are we going to do with the other girl?”
I have to react. After all, as far as these guys know, I’m in the dark. “You’re scaring me. What other girl?”
“Shut up,” Lazinski shouts even louder, leaning into me.
I start to rise. “You’re obviously busy this morning. I’ll find someone else to help me with my apartment.”
Jeff sets a hand on my shoulder and shoves me back onto the chair before circling behind me and holding me in place with both hands next to my neck.
I fight him, but he’s much stronger than me. I start to cry. It’s not an emotion I’m feeling yet, but I force it. It’s what I would do if I were in the dark.
Lazinski stops pacing. “Go get the damn dress. We only have a few minutes before we need to leave.”
Jeff releases me and hurries back downstairs.
“Boss? You’re freaking me out.”
It’s like he didn’t even hear me. “Take off your clothes.”
Now I’m really freaked out. For real. If I remove my clothes, I’ll lose the fob.
“Hurry up. Either strip or I’ll do it for you.”
I need to buy some time. “Okay, but can I please use your bathroom first? I’m about to pee myself. I haven’t gone since I drank two cups of coffee.”
“Jesus.” He grabs my arm and yanks me from the chair, tugging me down the hallway. We reach a guest bathroom and he shoves me inside. “Hurry the fuck up, and come out naked.” As he shuts the door, he mumbles under his breath. “The last thing I need is for her to fucking pee herself.”
Chapter 32
Master Davis
“Please tell me she’s okay,” I shout when Shepherd finally calls me. I’m a block from Lazinski’s house.
“She was when I left her. I think Lazinski bought our story.”
“I don’t know if that’s good or bad at this point.” I’m furious with Shepherd for agreeing to this, though I realize my anger is probably unwarranted. It’s certainly true that I wouldn’t be this worked up if I weren’t in love with the woman we’re now using as bait to stop a human trafficking ring.
“I agree. I see you pulling up behind me.”
I park behind Shepherd and shift my gaze to the house. “Do we know how many people are inside?”
“Yes. Two people entered before I took Britney to the door. One of Lazinski’s men and a young woman. I assume she’s the replacement. Heat detectors tell us there are four people inside. Two are downstairs now.”
“Hang on…”
I hold my damn breath while I wait for Shepherd to speak again.
“Okay, one person came upstairs and then went back down. Gonna assume by the size, it’s a male. He’s returned. Looks like he’s in the kitchen. Another figure is in the hallway. One in what I assume is the guest bathroom.”
I don’t want to interrupt Shepherd, knowing he’s getting updates from another man hiding nearby. I won’t let him miss anything no matter how fucking frustrated and impotent I feel.
“Okay. The two figures joined the third in the kitchen. They are very close together.”
“The garage is opening,” I point out, stiffening.
“That’s good. Means they’re leaving. Now, all we have to do is follow.”
“And pray we don’t fucking lose her,” I grumble. My heart nearly stops as I finally see Britney. I only get a few seconds before she is shoved into the back seat of the SUV, but it’s long enough for bile to come to my throat. She’s gagged. Her hands are tied together in front of her. And she’s wearing a hideous, body-hugging red dress that’s more like a tube top that barely stretches over her breasts and butt.
Lazinski and the other man get in the front seat. The man I don’t know is driving.
“Fuck,” Gordon mutters.
“What now?” I shout. “Don’t fucking cuss and then stop talking.”
“That SUV is new to the scene. I don’t have a tracker on it. I bugged Lazinski’s car. It’s in the fucking garage.”
“So we goddamn follow the SUV and don’t lose it,” I shout.