Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
I knew there was a chance she’d help the girl run or hide instead, and I really couldn’t blame her, but I wasn’t going to force Brianna to go with me. Devil called as I circled the restaurant.
“What’s going on?” he asked when I accepted the call.
“Did you send a cleanup crew?”
“Yeah. We’re on it, but I want details.”
“No time right now, but here’s a brief rundown. My guy Renzo has been watching the area. He noted that some men had zeroed in on a particular girl. She can’t be older than fifteen. We intercepted her and shot the men. The girl’s with me. I’m going to talk to her and try to find her a safe place to go.”
“Thank God you found her. Where are you now?” Devil asked.
“A restaurant she’s been going to every night. They’ve been giving her handouts at the kitchen door.”
“Do you have a plan for where to send her?”
“No. I could bring her home with me, but I don’t know shit about kids, and I don’t think she’s going to trust me.”
He was silent for a few moments, then he said, “I’ll call Elena.”
“Do you think she’ll—”
“She’ll take her in. I’m sure of it.”
Elena was the much younger widow of my uncle. He’d abused her, and she’d been scared to leave with her two young kids. Devil had gotten her to safety, and she’d helped me and the Marchesi family take out her husband and his son who’d been one of the ringleaders in the trafficking ring. Devil was right. She was the perfect person to help.
“What’s the name of the restaurant? I’ll bring Elena there to meet you. Once the girl is safe, we’ll talk details.”
I wanted to argue just for form’s sake. The plan was a solid one, but Devil always had to be in charge, and it pissed me off.
I gave him the restaurant’s name and address and ended the call.
I didn’t press Brianna to talk until she’d eaten. I could tell she was trying to slow herself down, but she was obviously really hungry. I wondered if it was the first thing she’d eaten all day. I ate my meatball sub quickly to make her more comfortable. It was no hardship. No way was I as hungry as she was, but the food was incredible.
Brianna asked a lot of questions, but ultimately, she agreed to talk with Elena. Once Elena arrived, they quickly fell into comfortable conversation, and Brianna agreed to go with her.
“Before you go, I need some information.”
Brianna looked at Elena, and Elena nodded. “He wants to help.”
“Okay, I’ll tell you what I know.”
“You said you knew those men were watching you.”
Brianna studied me, probably wondering where I was going with this. “Yes.”
“Do you know anything else about them?”
“I know they take people. Teens mostly.”
“How old are you?”
“Eighteen.” Her tone was defiant.
I raised my brows.
“Fine. I’m fifteen, but I can take care of myself.”
“You’ve done a good job of it, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be good to have some help. How did you find out about those men?”
She wrinkled her nose, obviously disgusted to think about them. “I saw others talk to them and then those people disappeared. There are rumors about what they do. People say they work for some rich-as-hell men who sell the people they take.”
She was confirming everything I’d suspected. “I believe those rumors are right. If you’ve heard any names or any other specifics, you could help us find out who those men are.”
She frowned. “You won’t believe me.”
“I will. I’ve been looking into these assholes for a long time.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I thought you said you weren’t a cop.”
“I’m not, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to see bad people get what’s coming to them.”
Now it was her turn to raise her brows. She knew I wasn’t telling the whole truth.
“A cousin of mine was involved in this shit. He’s dead now, but I want the whole operation ended. I guess I feel responsible.” What the hell was wrong with me? I didn’t talk about feelings. Hardened criminals couldn’t make me spill information if I didn’t want to tell, but this little girl had me going all mushy. “Please tell me what you know. I promise I will believe you.”
“People say that congressman is involved. The one who wants everyone like me to just get a job and stop being so lazy.”
“Swain?”
“Yeah, that’s him.”
The Marchesis had taken out Swain’s brother. We’d known the brother was involved and suspected Swain was too. “What have you heard about him?”
“A boy who sleeps near the same underpass was watching those men you…uh…”
“Stopped tonight.”
“Right. He was trying to figure out what they were up to, and he heard one of them say he was sure Swain was involved and wondered what Swain would give him to keep it quiet.”