Forever Hidden (Forever Bluegrass #2) (23 page)

Emily looked up at the ceiling. “Upstairs in a suite,” she mumbled.

Sydney forgot to breathe. She searched the crowd and saw the security guards holding Leah and Teddy. The one holding Leah pulled out his phone, and Syd guessed he was texting the FBI agent they were working with.

“Which suite?” Sydney asked angrily.

“I know,” a voice squeaked out as Leah held up her hand. “Suite 50.”

“Who else is involved?” Sydney demanded.

“My brother. He’s behind it all. He made me do it. I’m just a victim,” Emily cried as tears streamed down her face.

“What about him?” Sydney asked as she glanced at a surprised Teddy.

“Teddy? He didn’t have anything to do with this.”

Sydney took her foot from Emily’s neck as she watched someone she had known for years curl into a ball and sob. Sydney didn’t even know Emily had a brother. What had he done to her that she felt participating was her only option? At least Teddy wasn’t involved. The thought of being close to someone who had done such horrific things made her want to throw up. Sydney stepped closer to offer a hand when Emily looked up from where she had buried her face. There were no tears. Instead there was nothing but a flinty glare and a second later, pain shot through Sydney’s leg.

Sydney shouted out as Emily scrambled to her feet. Sydney looked down at a pair of tweezers sticking out from her thigh, right about where her boots ended.

Emily charged, and Sydney waited for just the right moment. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Emily sprang forward with arms outstretched, reaching for Syd’s neck. Sydney let out a breath, ducked down, and came up with her hand fisted. She delivered the uppercut straight to Emily’s chin. Emily’s eyes rolled back, and she dropped in a heap to the floor.

“Sydney!” Teddy yelled as he struggled to break free from the security guard.

“Let them go,” Sydney called out as FBI rushed into the room.

Teddy ran forward and wrapped her in his arms. “Are you okay? She stabbed you! With tweezers! Who does that?”

Sydney relaxed into his arms as she shook her head. “A model. I’m sorry I thought you had something to do with this.”

“I’m not a very good friend either,” Teddy admitted. “I thought it was Patrick. I even had my assistant following him. But after we had a blowout and both confessed we thought each other were involved, it got me thinking who it really could be. I pulled up the group email you sent and saw Emily’s name. It reminded me that Emily was also at my open-casting call. I didn’t have anything to go on, but I thought I would watch her. And when she approached that young girl right after that agent left . . . the modeling agent!”

Sydney reached down, and like ripping off a bandage, yanked the tweezers from her leg and handed them to the FBI agent approaching her. “He’s her brother,” Sydney said more to herself than to the people around her before turning to Teddy and the FBI agent, who was putting the tweezers into an evidence bag. “He’s upstairs in Suite 50 with Bailey.”

“I’ll tell Agent Helms. He’s in charge.”

Sydney pushed past the agent who was a little slow in connecting the dots.

“Ma’am, stay here,” he yelled after her. But as the blood ran down her leg and into her boot, she ignored the agent and sprinted for the elevator.

“Miss Davies, wait,” her guards shouted, but she didn’t listen as she jumped into the elevator with Teddy right behind her.

“Patrick! Suite 50 and hurry. It
was
Emily. The agent from Becker is her brother, and they have a missing girl,” Teddy shouted into the phone before hanging up. “What’s our plan?” he asked her.

“I don’t have one,” Sydney said as the doors to the elevator opened.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Deacon settled his arm around Bailey as she went through the motions of trying to be seductive. She rubbed her hand on his thigh, wiggled her bottom against his crotch, and kissed his neck. Deacon struggled not to toss her off his lap. He felt sick and dirty. Everything about this whole scene was wrong. But when Bailey bent her head to kiss along his neck again, he used one hand to clamp down on her neck and hold her there while using his other to pin her to his lap. He was about to risk his life with nothing more than a whisper.

“Bailey, I’m a friend,” Deacon whispered as he used her head to shield his moving lips from Barrett’s view. The girl stiffened and instantly tried to get up, but Deacon held tight. “Don’t move or they will know something’s wrong, and it won’t just be me they hurt.”

Bailey sagged back against Deacon with a whimper. “Who are you? How did you know my name?”

“Your mother sent me. How many men here are involved in hurting you?”

Bailey shook her head as Deacon felt a tear drop onto his neck. “My mom won’t want me back. She’ll never be able to look at me again after . . .”

Deacon squeezed her tight. “Your mother knows everything, and that’s why she sent me. She begged me to find you. She loves you so much and wants nothing more than to tell you that. She’s not angry with you. She doesn’t blame you. She only loves you and wants you safe. I want you safe, too. Help me out, and we’ll both get out of here alive.”

“The guards outside will stop us. And Barrett, he’s the main agent. He’s the host. There’s another guy, Vic, who is the pimp. Then there’s a woman. She’s the one in charge. She’s the one who tells Vic who to get and then tells Barrett who to sell us to. I don’t know her name, though. I’m going to jail, aren’t I? Barrett and Vic told me if I ever told anyone what happened, my mother would be disgusted and kick me out, and the police would arrest me for prostitution.” Bailey’s voice became shaky again and Deacon moved to hug her. She was no longer a flight risk. She needed comfort and someone to fight for her. And he would. So would Zain.

“We have two men outside and two inside, including me. Your mother is not disgusted. She’s scared and worried you are dead. She just wants you home. And don’t worry about the police. They are working with the FBI and us. You will not be arrested. I promise,” Deacon swore.

“What do you want me to do?” Bailey asked, then gasped and buried her head in his neck. Her whole body trembled uncontrollably.

“Bailey, what is it?” Deacon whispered as he stroked her hair.

“Vic just walked in. He’ll beat me if I’m not doing my job. He said he loved me. He said he was proud of me. He said I was beautiful, but then he . . .” Bailey became stiff as she wiped the tears from her face. “If he sees I was crying—”

“He won’t.” Deacon needed to get her talking. It calmed her down. “Are the other girls here like you?”

“Yes,” Bailey responded.

“Sit up and tell me who they are. I’m going to rub my hand down your back to make it look like you’re pleasing me. May I touch you?” Deacon asked as he tried to give some semblance of control back to Bailey.

She nodded her head and even gave him a little smile before sitting up. Deacon could feel eyes on him as he brushed his hand up her leg and let it disappear under her skirt. He left it on her leg as he shouted at the game. Then he whispered, “Tell me what you know."

“The girl with your friend came from Des Moines, Iowa. She’s sixteen. I don’t know her real name. We all have these stupid names. I’m Magnolia. She’s Bambi. The girl who is with Barrett is Diamond. She’s seventeen. Then there’s Dallas. She’s called that because she’s from there. Then the girl who is naked and dancing for that old man is Starr. She’s twenty and was taken from a strip club in Seattle. The rest are new tonight. I haven’t worked with them before,” Bailey told him as she stood and moved to straddle him.

“Do they want out? Will they help us?” Deacon asked.

“Diamond won’t. She’s too scared of Barrett. She’s his pet. Dallas and Starr will. I don’t know about Bambi. She’s so young,” Bailey said sadly.

Deacon didn’t want to process the fact that Bailey at eighteen was almost as young. “Is there a restroom or anywhere that you can talk to them without being overheard?”

“I’ll try. But I need a reason to go. I’m not allowed to go unless I’m given permission.”

Deacon leaned back. “Zain! How about a little group action?”

Zain came over with Bambi looking timid and scared on his arm but a fake smile on her lips. “Sounds great. What kind of action?”

“Barrett,” Deacon smiled, “can we borrow some of the girls and have them do a little group number for us?”

Some of the men smiled approvingly at the thought of the women together. “Of course, who would you like? We can see if their dates are willing to spare them for a moment.”

Deacon pointed out Dallas, Bambi, and Starr. When the men eagerly agreed, Deacon sent a wink to Bailey. “You gals go clean up. When you come out, we want a show.”

Used to taking orders, the girls hurried to the bathroom as the men who were going to enjoy the show moved to refill their drinks. “What’s going on?” Zain whispered as he grabbed a bottle of vodka and casually kept it dangling by his side.

“Bailey thinks they’ll fight their way out of here with us. Our phones are gone so we can’t notify anyone. We’re on our own until we get past the guards out front.” Deacon looked at the open bar and selected a bourbon in a heavy square glass bottle.

He poured himself a drink as the girls came out of the room less than a minute later with fresh lipstick on. He held his breath until Bailey winked at him. “They’re in,” Deacon whispered as they moved toward the girls who were kissing each other. “Barrett and the new guy who came in are the two directly involved. Vic is the new guy, and he’s the one who attacked Syd. He’s mine.” Deacon tightened his hand on the neck of the heavy bottle. Now he was ready to enjoy himself.

“I never did like Barrett. It will be a pleasure.” Zain smiled before breaking away from Deacon and heading over to the side of the room where Barrett was sitting.

Deacon saw Zain stand slightly behind Barrett, waiting for Deacon to make the first move. Barrett would be easy. He was watching the girls in action while Diamond was on her knees pleasing him. Deacon had a little more trouble getting to Vic. The man kept moving, and Deacon had to stop and wait for him to come nearer. He didn’t want to make the man suspicious. He also didn’t know if Vic would recognize him from Atlanta.

Deacon watched as Vic made his way around the room before stopping and whispering something to Barrett, who immediately turned toward him. Shit. Vic
did
recognize him. Deacon pretended not to see him, but when Barrett pushed Diamond off of him, surprise was no longer an option.

“Now!” Deacon yelled as he shoved past the men enjoying the show. Zain lifted his arm and swung the bottle down onto Barrett’s head. Diamond and the girls not in the know shrieked as Barrett slumped unconscious in his seat a moment before Zain was confronted by some of the men in attendance.

Bailey and the girls yanked off their stripper heels and formed a circle. Any of the men who tried to grab them were stabbed with a flurry of cheap stilettos. Deacon saw Vic make a move for the door to call security. Deacon shoved a man aside, jumped onto a chair, and vaulted into the air. He slammed into Vic’s back, and they tumbled to the ground in a tangle of limbs as his bourbon bottle went skidding away from him.

They fought for power and control, each trying to gain the upper hand. As they grappled on the ground, Deacon landed an elbow to the solar plexus, leaving Vic gasping. It’s what allowed him to see Sebastian slinking past him. Deacon sat up and used all the leverage he had to bash his fist into Vic’s face. Vic went still beneath him, and Deacon unfolded himself to his full height and stalked forward.

Deacon bent and picked up the bottle of bourbon that had slid out of his reach. “Sebastian,” Deacon warned as the man jumped toward the door. Deacon planted his feet and threw the bottle. The amber liquid glinted in the lights as it went end over end through the air. A second later the heavy bottle struck Sebastian full force in the back. He tumbled forward, tripped over his feet, and went sprawling to the ground.

Deacon bent and picked the whiny diplomat up by the back of his collar. He flung Sebastian away from the door and back into the mêlée of the room. Speaking of diplomats, Zain had one hell of a punch.

“Stop!” Deacon yelled. The room froze. The women stopped crying, and Deacon noticed some of them had even joined the circle of women Bailey was leading in attacks against their dates. “You’re outnumbered now, fellas. Hands up or we can continue to knock you out.” Deacon tossed the bourbon bottle menacingly in his hand. “Either way works for me. It’s just a matter of whether or not you want to take a chance one of us hits a little too hard and leaves you dead.”

Deacon stopped at Vic’s head as the remaining men raised their hands in surrender. “Girls, please escort the men to the bathroom and empty their pockets. Dallas, Bailey, drag Vic in there, please. Diamond, get Barrett.” The girl hadn’t moved from her spot on the floor. She stared back and forth between the man who had complete control over her and the group of women finding their own power. Slowly, she got up and grabbed Barrett by the feet, pulling as hard as she could. The unconscious man slid from the chair, hitting his head on the edge of the seat and then again on the floor. Diamond gave a slight smile as she heard the thump.

Zain stood behind the girls, giving a threatening glare to any of the men who thought about making a run for it as Deacon searched for a way to lock them into the bathroom. At last, Sebastian, Vic, and Barrett were shoved in the bathroom and the door was shut.

“How can we lock them in?” Bailey asked.

Deacon looked at the piles of objects from everyone’s pockets. “Get me twelve pennies.” The girls started sifting through the piles, collecting pennies.

Zain looked at him confused. “Pennies?”

“You never locked your brother in his room with this old penny gag?”

“No. How can you lock someone in with pennies?” Zain asked.

Deacon just smiled as Bailey ran over with a handful of pennies. “I’ll show you.” He headed over to the door and pushed against it above the handle. “Bailey, slide the pennies in the gap, as many as you can until they won’t fit anymore. Stack them up; that’s right,” he said, as Bailey started pushing pennies into the narrow slot between the door and the doorjamb.

“I can only fit four,” she said worriedly.

“That’s fine. Now, do the same thing down here.” He pushed the door beneath the handle as Bailey shoved in four pennies.

Zain crossed his arms. “Seriously? That jams the door?”

Deacon smiled. “Sure does. Now, ladies, here’s the plan. Grab bottles and anything else you can find to defend yourself. Stay with either Zain or me. The FBI is aware of what’s going on; they just don’t know our exact location. No one is going to be arrested for prostitution, so there is no need to run from the police. They will help you. I promise. Now, let’s bust out of here.”

*     *     *

“I need your ticket, miss,” the security guard said with his face in a permanent frown. Teddy had handed his over and been permitted to pass.

“It’s in my purse and I don’t know where I left it. But can’t you look up my name? It’s Sydney Davies.” Sydney gave her sweetest trust-me smile.

“No ticket, no entry. This is a secure area. We have lots of important men here.”

Sydney put her hands on her hips. “Men? Is that what you think of women? That since I’m not old and wrinkly and don’t have a penis, I’m not important.”

The guard stuttered, and Sydney pressed her advantage. “Now, just call your boss and have me checked out. I believe you will change your sexist mind about who is important.”

The guard pulled out his phone and sent a text. A second later, his shoulder’s slumped. “I’m sorry, Miss Davies.”

Sydney patted his shoulder. “I know. You were just doing your job. Trying to keep good people safe and bad people out. I hope you remember that in the future,” Sydney said ominously as she and Teddy headed down the hall.

“Remind me to send that man an apology card,” Sydney smiled as they counted off the suites.

“Teddy! Sydney!” a harsh whisper from behind them called out.

“Patrick, thank goodness you’re here.” Sydney hugged her friend and Teddy did the same. “We need all the help we can get. See that door with all the men standing outside it? I think that’s our destination. I see two of Zain’s guards. I should have waited for mine. I didn’t think there would be that many of them. Can I borrow a phone?”

Teddy handed over his, and she sent a text to Sienna, one of the few numbers she knew by heart. She would relay the info to Ryan and Nabi, who would relay it to the FBI and guards. “In just a minute, those two big guys in black, well . . .” Sydney realized all the guards were dressed exactly alike. “Um, the two standing across from the door with black hair. When they get a text, we’ll make our move. Now, let’s just act normal and stop nearby. You all have any weapons?”

Patrick nodded. “I have my tripod and my camera.”

Teddy looked worried as he dug in his bag. “I have some sewing needles, but that’s all.”