The Scotch Series: The Complete Series (Scotch #1-3) - Penelope Sky Page 0,272

I kept him talking so I could sneak up on him when he didn’t expect it. I need to aim right for his carotid artery, getting the drug into his system as fast as possible.

“It’s where they sell the beauties. The others will go to the whorehouses. They’ll spend the remainder of their lives drugged.” He grinned like it was a fairy tale.

It disgusted me. I couldn’t wait a moment longer, so I struck. I slammed the needle and pressed my thumb on the lever, releasing the drug instantly.

He reached for his gun, but I was too fast. His eyes became hooded and heavy, confused. He slowly fell to his knees, gripping the needle sticking out of his neck. He fell back, and his eyes closed. His body went limp as he passed out.

I actually did it.

I took the gun from the holster and felt the weight in my hand. It was a pistol. I didn’t know a damn thing about guns other than the fact that there was a safety. I made sure that was unlocked before I went into the hall. All I had to do was pull the trigger, and their brains would be smeared across the wall.

My hand shook from the excitement.

I might make it out of here.

I tiptoed down the hall and tried not to make a sound. The best way to get off the ship was to go up. If I made it to the surface, I could jump into the water. I’d rather deal with sharks than madmen like this.

By a stroke of luck, I didn’t meet anyone in the hallway. A stairway was to my left, and I took it to the top. I reached a door with a window in the center, and I spotted two men inside the tower that held the steering wheel. They were talking to each other, not noticing my face directly in front of them. I realized my cell was located at the front of the ship, where the waves were more prominent.

Now all I had to do was wait. When they turned around or left their post, I would make a beeline for the water. All I had to do was jump in and stay underwater for a minute or so.

Then I was in the clear.

I held the gun at the ready, just in case I needed to use it. Then I waited, measuring time by counting the beats of my heart. The closer we got to shore, the easier it would be for me to swim to safety. But the longer I waited, the more likely it was I would meet someone on the stairway.

And then I realized something else.

What about the others?

Could I really just leave them?

They would be sold to a brothel where they would constantly be drugged and raped, and then tossed aside when their bodies gave out. Their loved ones would never know what happened to them.

I couldn’t just leave.

I snuck back down the stairs and entered the hallway. There was no one around, so I crept to a door that looked similar to my own. When I peered inside, I saw a blonde woman sitting on her bed. She looked lost, like there was no hope.

I tried the knob and was relieved when it opened. I cracked it then waved at her.

She turned to me, her eyes narrowing in shock.

I nodded for her to come to me.

She jumped to her feet, hungry for freedom. When she came close to me, she saw the gun in my hand. Instead of being afraid, she was invigorated.

“Let’s get the others,” I whispered. “Do you know where they are?”

She nodded and beckoned me to follow her. She reached a door in the hallway where another cell was located. When we peered through the window, we saw not one woman, but eighteen. They were all housed together on small cots.

Why were they all together but I was alone? Why was the other woman alone?

The woman walked inside then pressed a forefinger to her lips, telling everyone to be quiet. Then she beckoned them to follow us. There was no way we would escape without being noticed. But some of us would get away. It was better than none.

“What the fuck are you doing?” A man grabbed me by the shoulder and jerked me around.

He clearly didn’t know I had a gun because I shot him right in the stomach. I didn’t even hesitate. I’d always thought I was the type of person who could