Unleashing Sin - A. M. Wilson Page 0,56

been kidnapped—again. Same process we went through with Shelby. We’ll loop Richard in and have a doctor on standby. If we do this, and I’ll say now that I’m all in to do this, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. The withdrawals, the trust, the nightmares. We’ll have a familiar face for this girl at least, but that might not make it much easier. It’s still going to be nasty as all fuck hanging her demons out to dry.”

“If we all get out of this alive, then we’re a bunch of lucky fucks because that is the worst plan I’ve ever heard.”

“Wasn’t it just you who said even the best plans can fail?”

Elias crosses his arms over his chest. “Yeah, but this plan has fail written all over it.”

“We can go back to the solo mission, and you stay here with Shel.”

He scoffs. “And let you get yourself killed? No thanks. I’m in. I’ve always been in, and if you’d stop insinuating I’m not, that’d be great.”

I give him a smirk. “So touchy.”

“Idiot,” he mutters weakly.

The truth is, I’m damned grateful he’s on my side, and he knows it. I’d probably be dead without him.

“I don’t have a timeframe yet, but I want to move fairly quickly. The less this can weigh on Shelby’s mind, the better.”

“Talk to her. See if she can remember anything about a schedule or how they coordinated. If we can glean any useful info from her, it could help.”

I nod. “I will first thing tomorrow. She doesn’t need any more of this tonight. If we can gather enough information, we could move soon. Quick in and out.”

“That’s the hope, brother.”

“I’ll let you know when I know something.”

Elias gives a short jerk of his head. “I’ll get out of here. Talk tomorrow.”

“Yeah, later, man.”

He lets himself out of my apartment, and I cross the space to lock up behind him, my mind churning through our plan.

Our last plan went to shit nearly as soon as it started. This one is different. We aren’t entering the devil’s layer. We’ll be out on public streets. In the open. Shot spotters would bring the police in minutes if anyone opened fire. Even though that might be too late for whoever’s being shot at, it could bring a stop to Gutierrez or some of his men. And that’s a risk I’m willing to take.

I never went this route with my search for Molly. It crossed my mind a time or two to start picking up prostitutes and demanding information, but every time I got close to making a move, I retreated a step. I was worried it’d tip them off someone was sniffing around their operation, and more girls would end up dead.

It’s well past time that I accept Molly is gone, and she’s not coming back. I don’t have to fear my actions will get her killed because it’s already happened. I have to live with it every remaining day of my life. And if we save this friend of Shelby’s, she’s not going to be returned for the Gutierrez men to beat and torture for information. She’ll be with us and on the road to recovery. And who knows? Maybe we can save a few more before they cotton on to what’s happening, and we have to change our strategy. If it means bringing peace to Shelby and getting her friends out of harm’s way, I’m willing to try.

A noise sounds from my room, loud enough I can hear it through the closed door. Shelby must be having another nightmare. She hasn’t had one recently, but after the events of today, I’m not at all surprised her mind would turn on her once more. All the exhaustion fades as alertness takes its place, and I make my way quickly across the room. Another one, a somewhat frustrated sounding, “Arrggghhh,” louder than the last, reaches my ears just as I swing open my bedroom door.

“Blossom?” I call into the darkness.

The ball beneath my comforter shifts restlessly but she doesn’t respond to me. Instead she moans, “Noooo.”

“Shelby, it’s me.” I slowly approach the side of the bed and sit next to her. She’s tucked into a fetal position nearly covered from hair to toes with my blanket. I can just make out her nose and eyes peeking out from beneath, though her eyes are squeezed tightly shut.

“Go-go away,” she stutters on a painful breath.

I ignore that. “You’re not having a bad dream?”

“No, I’m not sleeping. Haven’t been for a

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