Shattered (Broken Trilogy Book 2) (11 page)

My head is shaking back and forth. It seems nothing in my life can be trusted. In disbelief, I listen to someone else I considered a good friend—an uncle, even—talk about selling me like I'm nothing to him at all but a piece of merchandise. The memory of the truck flickers. “Why the trunk? If I’m still your so-called ace, why did you hand me over to that man? Why risk it?”

He taps his head. “We had to risk it. Your boyfriend's team was hot on our trail. We needed to throw them off, so we hired a friend to take you for a joy ride.” He shakes his head and smiles. “It wasn’t until he heard you talking on that cell phone that he decided to do the hotel trick. He dropped you off to us before he went to the hotel and left a little note for Logan to find. It worked like a charm. Meanwhile, we hopped the first plane to TJ, and you are now lost in a sea of a million people.”

Tijuana? Mexico...The blood drains to my toes. I promised myself I’d never step over the Mexican border again as long as I lived. I've experienced enough hell here for a lifetime, but here I am being handed over to The American in the one place I hate beyond all else. I can’t do this. Not again. I just can’t. I have to do something.

“Okay,” Luka slaps his hands together, making me jump, “let’s go.” He stares at me as I sit like a stone. “You need some help with that?” He smirks and points to my blouse. My eyes shoot to his, more shocked than ever. Luka has never said anything sexual to me before. Never even hinted at it. He really was like an uncle to me. It must show on my face, because he shrugs. “Not like I haven’t thought about it before, Savannah. I'm only human. Can’t blame a man for trying.” I want to be sick again…or was I sick before? I can’t tell if that was a dream.

I grab the bag and hurry to the restroom, slamming the door behind me. I turn on the water and peel my clothes off and toss them on the floor. I’m not sure when I’ll have a chance to shower again, so I take my time. I find a razor, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner, and with my brain on overdrive I put them to good use.

I look at myself in the mirror, my hair almost dry from the heat blasting in through the tiny window. A light pink dress hits slightly above my knees, and I'm wearing cream color heels. I wonder if Luka was the one who bought the panties and matching bra. The thought makes me want to throw something at the mirror. My eyes focus on the razor beside the soap dish. I examine it, then take the thin comb and snap the skinny blades out. They drop into my hand in one small unit. I shrug out of the top of the dress, taking the sharp blade and cutting into the first layer of lace on the bra. Just large enough to tuck the blade inside so it’s undetectable. I certainly won’t be able to defend myself with it, but I am desperate enough to take anything useful, and I have other ideas if there is any possibility I'm going to be held in another cell. I set the handle of the razor back down so it looks normal and peek out the miniscule window.

All I can see are rows and rows of tin roofs. But I do spot a plane landing off in the distance. I must be close to the airport. Two streets down, I see a convenience store with a payphone outside. I need to get out of here! I nearly sob when I hear Luka's voice through the door telling me it’s time to go. I push on the glass, not that I could ever fit through it, and scream, hoping someone can hear me. A pair of hands grab my wrists, pulling them down roughly.

“Not this time, Savannah. This time you play by our rules.” He yanks me to follow, and somehow I do. He shoves me into the elevator and slams his hand over the L button. “Christ, woman, I wish you would just do as you’re told!”

I stare at the side of his face, wanting so badly to kick him in the stomach. “Oh, I’m sorry, Luka. Should I just nod and smile as you hand me over to The American like I’m some piece of meat?”

“Shut up, Savannah,” he grits out.

“Fuck you, Luka!” I snap back without thinking.

Suddenly he’s wrapping his hands around my throat, slamming me back into the elevator wall. Hard. My head snaps forward from the impact. I cry out, but his lips smash into mine as his grip around my neck tightens. My hands claw at his shirt, but he doesn’t stop. He thrusts his tongue forward as I try to wiggle free. He’s too strong. Oh god, this is disgusting. Finally my brain kicks into action and I jam my knee with all the force I have into his tiny testicles. Immediately he lets go, falling backward. I gasp heavily, trying to get a full breath of air into my screaming lungs, and drop to my knees.

“Fucking bitch!” He groans above me as he drives his fist into my cheek. My teeth clench at the impact, and pain shoots everywhere. This is way too much like my last ‘trip to Mexico.’ My brain snaps to full alert. I need to be able to fight, I need to stay focused. The door opens and I see a blurry figure standing in front of me.

“What the fuck!” my father yells out. I feel his hands on me, lifting me to my feet.
I have a small moment where I think my father might actually take pity on me, take me home and protect me from these monsters. “Are you insane? She needs to be in mint condition. If he thinks we’ve hurt her in any way, he may back out of the deal.” So much for ‘daddy dearest.’
I’m a fool.

“What the shit is taking so long?” Lynn shouts from behind us. “We have four minutes before he shows up. Let’s move.” I feel her cast-iron grip on my arm, tugging me toward the restaurant. I notice the staff won’t make eye contact with me, and I think I may be the only guest.

Lynn drops me into a wooden seat as the other three sit around the table. I stare at the yellow flower floating on top of the water in a square clear jar.

“Savannah?” Lynn hisses at me. I look over as she opens her purse and shows me her handgun. Weapons don’t really scare me anymore, so I don't react. “You try and run, I’ll shoot you. I have excellent aim.”

“Good for you, Lynn,” I whisper with a sigh. I’m tired of her now. I look back at the flower, thinking about how much it reminds me of myself at the moment, just floating in a world I have no control over, and helpless to whatever fate comes my way. We’re both screwed.

Mark, John, Paul, Keith, Abigail, June, Sue, Daniel, Scoot, Mike, Frank, Derek…Cole. I keep reciting their names over and over, trying to keep my brain sharp. I will not get lost again, I will not get lost in my mind. I need to stay in the present. Mark, John, Paul, Keith…My head turns to my father.

“How, Dad?” I shake my head. “Please just tell me how you can do this to your own daughter. Do I really mean nothing to you?” I hate that my voice cracks at the end.

He sips his coffee, glancing at Luka, then to me. “It’s just business, Savannah. Please don’t get all emotional right now. I need you to be on your best behavior.”

It’s not a good feeling when your heart breaks in two, but the anger fuses it back together in a matter of seconds. I bite the inside of my cheek to hold back the words, but it doesn’t work. My eyes narrow in on his, and I let fly. “I hope you rot in hell, you pathetic excuse for a father! Mom was right, you were never much of a man.” This isn’t true, but I know it will hurt his pride.

He quickly stands and makes his way over to me and slaps me across the face. I fall out of the chair, hitting the floor and laughing hysterically. This time Lynn comes over, and I think she’s going to help me to my feet, but she kicks my side hard. I cry out, coughing and trying to catch my breath. Well, if my plan was to get them all to hit me, it worked. I hope if I look like shit there'll be some hell to pay from The American.

I roll to my side, tucking my legs up to my stomach. “Mark, John, Paul, Keith.” I start my chant but freeze when two cobra heads stop inches from my face. Fear dances around my stomach, replacing the pain of my possibly fractured ribs. He bends down and wipes the hair out of my face. Tears are streaming from my eyes now, big hot tears. My family is selling me, The American bought me, the love of my life may have betrayed me, and Derek is dead because of me! All I want is to do is disappear, have something swallow me up, because
anything
is better than the outcome of this.

“Who did this?” The American asks in a booming voice, looking at me, but I just shake. He reaches out and lifts me carefully and places me on the chair. This action scares me, as it feels almost tender, and for some reason that makes me even more frightened of him. I tense and sit awkwardly in the chair with my eyes glued to the floor.

“Ms. Miller.” I look up and see a white man, who looks like a lighter version of Mike, black and white tattoos from head to toe, and big and beefy. I’m taking it he’s the muscle for The American. He gives me a tight smile then glares at the rest of the group. He continues to stand by my side as Luka decides to start the conversation off.

“So, here she is. We held up our end of the bargain, and now it’s time for you to do the same.” Luka yanks at his tie, clearly uncomfortable in The American’s stare.

Lynn tosses out her best smile. “So why don’t you just make the call to Rodrigo, and we can all be home in time for tea?”

I shake my head, thinking I’ve never seen Lynn drink a cup of friggin’ tea in her life. The table is painfully quiet. All I can hear is the pounding in my head, and I feel my cheek pulsing to my rapid heartbeat. I move without thinking, making everyone look at me. I hesitate but slowly reach into my glass of water and start piling up ice cubes into my cloth napkin, then hold my makeshift icepack to my cheek and eye, tensing in pain. Christ, it hurts.

Finally, The American, who is now watching me closely, turns to look at the rest of them. “Who hit her eye?” His words are spoken with such tightly controlled anger it makes me suck in my breath. “Three, two…”

“Luka!” Lynn blurts out, pointing to him across the table. You can actually see the blood drain from Luka’s face and it twists with her betrayal.

The American pulls out a pistol, points it at Luka's skull, and pulls the trigger. His body flies backward to the floor. Lynn is screaming, my father is frozen, and I'm numb, beyond caring. The American and his muscle just sit there acting like nothing has happened, exactly how my father, Lynn, and Luka were when Derek was shot.
Karma.

The American tucks his gun away. “When we are clear, I will call Rodrigo and tell them the deal is done.” He stands and buttons up his suit jacket. “But I warn you, if you so much as step in my way, I will not hesitate to kill you like I did your friend.” He takes my hand, pulling me up to my feet. “Is there anything you would like to say, Savannah?”

I stare up at him. “To which group of animals are you referring?”

He smiles gently like he’s in love with me. “Less sass, my love. I can be good to you, and you do not want to anger me.” His smile may be gentle, but his eyes have a glint of steel. “I can be very, very bad when I am angry, my sweet, but it is your call.”

I nearly laugh at that. “I’m not your love, nor am I sweet, and you can do anything you want to me because, frankly, I don't care. It’s all been done before.”

My father stands and holds up his hands. “Savi, just do as you’re told, please.”

I shake my head in utter disbelief. “Really,
Douglas
, you want to play the concerned father now? Save it.” I turn to Lynn. “So help me God, I hope this all comes crashing down on top of you both. I hope you burn in hell, you evil pieces of shit.” I turn on my heel and exit the room with the muscle coming up behind me quickly.

“Ms. Miller,” he calls out. I stop, knowing there's no point. I’ve been bought and paid for. The American comes up to me, gripping a firm hand around the back of my neck.

“You will never turn your back to me again,” he whispers for only the three of us to hear. “Now, I have some work to do. Tim here will make sure you get home safely, where you will wait for me in our room, with nothing on. Oh, and, love, I like you to be smooth down south.” His eyes drop to my crotch. He leans in, grips my head, and kisses me hard. I try to fight it, but he digs his thumb into my shoulder, making me cry and go limp. Once he’s finished, he pushes me into Tim’s grip. “I’ll be home tonight. Make sure she’s ready for me.”

“Yes, sir.” Tim nods and wraps his huge hand around my wrist.

I spit on the ground once he’s gone. Tim says nothing as he pushes me into the elevator and we go down to the parking level. He opens the door of a black town car and helps me in. I notice once the door is closed, it locks. Tim slips into the driver’s seat, starts the car, and pulls into traffic.

That’s when I shatter into a million pieces. A horrible sob bursts from my throat and I start to shut down. Mark, John, Paul, Keith, Abigail, June, Sue, Daniel, Scoot, Mike, Frank, Derek, Cole…but it doesn’t work. I can feel myself slipping away.

I barely feel the car stop. I only blink a few times when Tim climbs into the back seat with me. He holds up his hands, showing me he won’t hurt me. “Here.” He opens a little black bag and shows me the label Extra Strength Tylenol. I look at him, confused. There has to be a catch. “Take three, miss, you’ll need it. Are your ribs all right?” I shake my head no, because honestly they aren’t. He nods then hands me a bottle of water, removing the lid.

“Why do you work for him?” I’m not really sure why I ask, but I want to know and I feel like I need to say something.

He tucks the Tylenol away, avoiding eye contact. “It wasn’t a choice.”

Chapter Nine

Cole

Cole raises his gloved hand up into the air, waiting for Mario to get into position. Paul and John are sprawled out on the couches, beyond beat from sparring with him earlier.

“Logan, you’ve been at this for over three hours.” Mario shakes his head. “Your body needs a break, and god knows we do too.”

“Again,” Cole grunts out, still reeling with the decision to come home. It was the hardest decision, but they need to regroup and find what resources they can use.

Mario sighs and they continue to box for the next fifty minutes until he finally calls it quits. Cole, still with energy to burn, hits the free weights until he’s physically exhausted.

After a cold shower, he finally heads to his office and pours himself a double. He tries hard to pretend Savannah is in his bedroom waiting for him to join her, her eyes wild with excitement as she peels off his clothes like it’s the first time. The thought nearly brings him to his knees. God, he loves her…and now…He shakes his head trying to clear it. Then he lets out a long stream of air and makes a call.

“I wondered when I was going to hear from you.” Frank's voice is quieter than normal.

Cole sips his brandy. “Anything?”

“Luka Donavan didn’t return with the Mayor or Lynn.” He sighs. “We had a tail on them, but he only caught up with them at the airport. The Mayor told the press that he and Lynn were on a much-needed vacation from the media. They were at the TJ airport.”

“So you have nothing?”

There’s a pause.

“She’s been handed over, Logan. She was bought and paid for and, we believe, delivered to The American.” Frank clears his throat. “Whatever you need.”

“Blackstone will be shipping out at twenty hundred. I want your team, Frank. I want Eagle Eye.”

“Consider it done.”

“I need to make a trip to Texas too.”

“Cindy?”

“Yeah, she knows a lot. I’ll do what I have to.”

“I agree.”

Cole slams back the rest of his drink and sends out a text telling Blackstone they’re leaving in sixty minutes. He closes his eyes and shifts into survival mode.

The house is quiet; everyone seems to be busy. He finds his mother in the kitchen stirring her tea and staring out the window. She turns when she hears his footsteps, and tears leak out of the corners of her eyes. Batting them away, she tries to be strong.

“She’s a fighter, Cole.”

“That she is.” He slumps onto the stool, feeling the weight of the world falling all around him.

His mother slides a comforting hand over his shoulder. “She thought she was doing the right thing. You can’t blame her for loving you too much.”

“I don’t.”

“It’s easy to walk into the lion’s den when you don’t know the lion is there.”

“Trust me, Mother, she’s well aware he’s home now.”

“Logan.” Mark’s voice makes his head snap up. Mark’s puffy eyes give more away than he’d probably like to let on. “Umm, can I get you to look over the map with me?” Cole nods and stands as he forces a smile at his mom and goes to walk by Mark. Mark grabs his arm and wraps him in a hug, throwing Cole off. “I’m sorry,” Mark whispers in a sob, holding him tightly, “I’m so sorry, Cole.” Cole clings to his best friend, his brother, and finally lets out a little cry of his own.

***

Savannah

I keep my eyes closed, trying to hold the panic at bay. I start with Cole’s shaggy, silky hair just long enough that I can get the perfect grip to haul him to my mouth. His dark eyes, his perfect nose, his lips, his smile that…I jolt forward as the car comes to a stop. I peer out the window and see we're in the middle of nowhere, sitting in front of two huge cast-iron gates. I memorize the make of the security system and carefully watch Tim punch 55725 into the key pad. The gates swing open and we start to roll forward down a long, dusty driveway.

The house strikes me as odd, though, as it looks like a home straight out of Louisiana. It has two stories and is painted white with green shutters. There are six pillars in the front, and two wrap-around balconies, one on top and one on the bottom. Lord, this place is massive.

Then it dawns on me this is my new prison. Sure, it’s a step up from the last one, but nonetheless, it’s still a prison.

There are men with rifles scattered across the yard, and security cameras pointing in every direction. German shepherds on leads are sniffing the ground. One catches my scent and starts to growl as Tim holds the door open, watching me crumble, falling apart all over again. He moves to help me out carefully. He’s oddly gentle for such a big man.

He opens the door for me and nods at the butler and wait staff. They quickly scurry out of sight. Tim leads me upstairs to a bedroom immediately to the left. He tells me it’s my room and that anything I need will be in the bathroom. I think back to what The American said.
Make sure she’s ready for me
. I freeze, stuck mid-step.

“I can’t do this, Tim.” I start to shake. “Please, please get me out of here!” I turn to him with pleading eyes. “I don’t belong here. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want that man touching me…” Tim reaches for my elbow, pulling me across the room and into the bathroom. He closes the door and holds a finger up to his mouth, urging me to be quiet.

He leans in close, making me stiffen. “Cry,” he whispers, pulling back to look into my eyes with a strange expression. “When he goes to touch you, cry and say no. He won’t be able to do it. Denton is one evil fucker, but the one thing he won’t do is touch a woman against her will.”

I blink a few times and try to absorb what he just said. Denton? So The American’s name is Denton. “Why?” I struggle to get my thoughts in order. “Why in the hell would he bring me here? Does he really think I would let him sleep with me?”

Tim shakes his head slowly then checks his watch. “Denton’s smart.” He taps his head. “Very, very smart. That’s why all these years no one's been able to touch him. He’ll use mind games to control you, and before you know it he’ll get you into his bed. Denton can convince a priest to kill; he’s that good at manipulation.”

“Why does it sound like I’m not the first woman he’s had here?”

“You’re the fifth.”

“Fifth!” I hiss, only to have Tim’s huge hand wrap around my mouth.

He closes his eyes like he’s regretting telling me anything. “Yes, so you won’t be alone here in this house.”
Wait! The girls are here?
“You can’t trust them, Savannah, they’re all brainwashed, and whatever you say to them they will tell Denton, and you’ll be punished.” He drops his hand. “Punished in worse ways than when you were with Rodrigo.”

My eyes flicker with fear as I scan the bathroom. “Tim, please tell me how to get out of here. I won’t last. I’ll end it now.”

Stepping away from me and turning on the shower, letting hot steam fill the room, he motions for me to move away from the door and into a walk-in closet at the back of the bathroom. He closes the doors behind us and turns on the tiny light. I don’t know why, but I don’t feel nervous with Tim, maybe because he reminds of the guys back at the house. Big, but kind.

“Look, Savannah, I’m not a bad person. I never asked to work for the Cartel. I was just born into this life. My father was a runner for cocaine when he met my mother and got her pregnant. Trouble was, when she found out who my father really was, she tried to leave him. They only let her live until I was born.” His eyes shift downward for a moment. “I found out later my father was the one who killed my mother. I’ll spare you the details.”
Thanks
. “After that, my father gained the trust of the higher-ups and soon ran a few groups smuggling weapons and people in and out. If I wanted to live, I had to keep my head down and my mouth shut. They started me out small, but once they realized I could slip through the border with no problem, I was transferred to work with my father, and from there to here. Denton has known me for a few years, and a year ago told me I was going to be working for him. You don’t say no to Denton. I hate it here, I hate those women. Two of them I’m convinced played Denton, because they were evil from day one, and the other three are way past trying to live.”

“I’m really sorry for your mother, Tim.”

“Thank you, as I am for your mother.”

This throws me. “You know my mother is dead?”

“I know all about you, Savannah, down to your shoe size.”

“Well, that’s not incredibly creepy,” I mutter sarcastically.

“It’s my job, just like it is for Logan’s company.”

My breath gets caught in my throat. Cole’s name being uttered from Tim’s lips is unnerving. “You know about Logan?”

“I know he’s Special Forces. I know what he specializes in. I know that as soon as he slips back into the States, he drops off the radar just like Denton does. Denton has been trying to track Logan's group for years, but he hasn’t succeeded. When Denton found out Logan had you, well, let’s just say my job’s been pretty miserable.”

I sink onto a small chair, as my legs can no longer hold my weight. I'm just going to say it. “Tim, you must know, Logan is a good man.”

“I do,” he interrupts, making me pause and stare for a moment.

“Okay.” I nod. “Well, you say you can slip across the border without being seen. Can you help me get out of here and back home?” I’m careful not to say where home is.

“You want to go home?” His eyebrow rises. “Back to your father? Back to that bitch Lynn?”

“No.” I stand. “I want to go back to the States where I can live a real life that’s mine.” He smiles slightly. I’m guessing that’s the answer he was looking for.

“You’ll never get that while Denton is alive.”

I feel bold. “Then let's deal with that problem.” His eyes pop open. “Look, Tim, I’ve been through some real shit before. I’ve never killed anyone, but I know good trumps evil. You said it yourself, Denton is pure evil. Let’s try and make this world just a little bit better by taking him out of it.”

He stands there towering over me, studying me, thinking for a few long moments. I feel myself start to second guess if I can trust this guy. Oh shit, maybe this is a test!

“It can’t happen right away,” he finally says, putting his hands on his hips. “It’ll be too obvious.”

“How long are you thinking?”

“A few months.”

“Two weeks max is all I can do.”

He makes a face. “A month.”

“Two weeks.”

“Three.”

I let out a long, shaky breath, mulling over my options. I could try and escape, but if he punishes like Tim says he does, I know I'll break. “Okay, under one condition.”
Oh god, what am I agreeing to?

“What’s that?”

***

Cole

Cole clicks his radio, signaling to Blackstone that they are close to the drop-off spot. They’re five minutes out when a call comes through on the satellite phone. He glances at his father, who shakes his head. No one should be calling unless something’s happened. Everyone is silent; only the rev of the Land Rover engine can be heard.

“Mike?” Cole answers quietly.

“You’re not going to believe this, Logan, but…go ahead.”

“Cole?” Her voice smacks his stomach into a somersault and lodges it right into his throat.

“Savannah? Where are you?” He has a ton of questions but he stops himself.

“Hi.” He can tell she’s fighting tears.

“Hi, baby,” he gets out. “Where are you?”

“I’m somewhere in TJ. Some farm with a Louisiana-looking home. Cole, his name is Denton.”

“The American’s?” he asks, still shocked to hear her voice.

“Yes. Luka's dead. The American killed him. I don’t know where Douglas and Lynn are. I’m here at The American's house, and there are other girls here. Five others.” She races on, “The American brainwashes them. He says he wants to sleep with me tonight, but…” Cole clenches his jaw so hard he’s sure he cracked a tooth. “Tim is his muscle, and he’s going to help me.”

“Hold on.” Cole is trying to take in her words, but she’s talking a mile a minute. “Who’s Tim?”

“The American's bodyguard. He said he doesn’t want to help Denton anymore. Cole, he’s going to help me get rid of him. It will take three weeks, then Tim will help me get back home.”

Cole glances at his father and shakes his head. “Savi, I need you to listen to me. Are you near a window?”

“There’s nothing for miles, Cole. Umm, Depex…the-the security key code to get through the driveway gates is, ahh, 55725. ”

Cole scribbles her information on his arm. “Okay, calm down, slow down. How long did you drive for?”

“I don’t know. Tim gave me Tylenol for the pain, so I slept most of the way.”