Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“What now?” I asked, looking at Shaw as Ace perched his ass on the stool, guarding the princess like his life depended on it.
“For now, we wait,” Shaw said quietly. “And hope that her father doesn’t come storming this place in the meantime.”
Blakely ran her fingers through my hair as I sipped at my coffee. It was three in the morning, and Amaliya still wasn’t awake. Ace refused to sleep, so I was up with him. Blakely had dozed for about two hours before she came down to join us.
“She’s coming to,” Ace announced.
I looked at Blakely. “Go wake up the guys for me.”
She nodded and stepped away, heading up the stairs. I watched as Amaliya’s eyes opened, and then, she screamed, her wide eyes locked on Ace’s face.
“Easy,” Ace soothed. He didn’t dare touch her, but he did crouch in front of her. “You’re safe. I promise.”
Tears streaked down her pale cheeks. I handed Ace a bottle of water, and he unscrewed the cap before handing it to her. She eyed it warily, her distrust of us clear.
“It’s safe,” I assured her. I grabbed the bottle from her and opened my mouth, pouring some of it in before swallowing it so she could see I wasn’t lying.
She took the bottle back and greedily gulped some of the water down. Shaw emerged down the stairs, Blakely right behind him. Konrad, Arlo, and Cameron followed a moment later.
“Where am I?” Amaliya finally asked.
I wrapped my arm around Blakely, tugging her in front of me. She relaxed against my body, her head resting back against my shoulder.
“You’re in the Ghost Born MC’s clubhouse,” Shaw told her. Ace moved aside, letting Shaw take his place. “I’m FAME.” He gestured to Ace. “This is Babe. Agony,” he looked over his shoulder at me, “and his girl found you in an old car at a gas station. Agony brought you here. What do you remember?”
Amaliya licked her dry lips and pushed herself up into a sitting position. Groaning, she reached up to hold her head, pain flitting over her features. “I went to the bathroom,” she muttered. “I was on a date with some guy. I can’t even remember his name.” She rubbed at her temples with her fingertips. “I think I was taken from there because the next thing I can remember is that I was in a shipping container with a bunch of other girls.”
“Fuck,” Konrad whispered, voicing my own thoughts.
“Do you know where at?” Shaw asked her. When she shook her head, he patted her knee. He shifted a little, resting one knee on the ground so he wasn’t putting so much strain on his knees and ankles. “That’s okay. How many girls were there?”
“Too many to really count. My head was hurting like it is now.” Her eyes shut, and she leaned her head on the back of the couch. “I remember some being really young though. Some were older—thirties. Maybe forties. Whoever took them didn’t seem to have a preference. Not in size or age.” She opened her eyes. “There was some auction. I didn’t see the crowd, but I heard them. They called out numbers, people would place bids, and then a girl would get dragged out of the container.”
Fucking sex trafficking.
“What happened to you?” Shaw asked her.
“I was sold, I think. They called out a number, people bid, and then I was dragged out of the storage container and drugged. I don’t remember anything else.”
Blakely eased out of my arms and disappeared into the kitchen. I frowned after her for a moment, wanting to check if she was alright, but I needed to be here for this conversation.
“Do you know who purchased you by chance?”
She shook her head, her eyes welling with tears. “No. My head really hurts.” She sniffled and swiped her arm under her nose. Her wrists were discolored with bruises, and I clenched my jaw. “Can someone call my dad? Please?”
I cleared my throat and pulled my burner phone out of my pocket. “Do you know his number?”
“Agony…” Shaw said, standing from his crouched position. “let me make the call.”
I shook my head. “If this backfires, let it be on me,” I told him. “I brought her here.”
Walking over to Amaliya, I handed her my phone. She put the numbers in and handed it back. Sighing, I hit the call button just as Blakely came out of the kitchen with some broth and crackers. My lips tilted up the slightest bit with a smile. Blakely was definitely a caretaker, and she wasn’t afraid to make herself at home either.
“Here,” Blakely told Amaliya softly. “Maybe some food will help.”
“Thank you,” Amaliya whispered, taking the broth and crackers from her.
Breathing met my ears when the other line picked up. I sighed. Had I really expected someone with this much power to greet me like a normal person?