Sweet Reward (20 page)

“You’ve been holding back on me, my friend,” Dylan said. “I asked to see all that you could offer.”

The man shrugged. “They just came in this morning. I’ve barely had a chance to examine them myself. You would like to see them, yes?”

Jared nodded. “I want to see all that you have before I make my buying decision.”

“Excellent.” François glanced at the two silent men at the door. “Claude and Eugène, bring in our newest acquisitions.”

After the men left, François nodded at a table cluttered with half-empty take-out boxes and beer cans, along with a bottle of booze. “Help yourself to a drink while we wait.”

Since the shot glasses looked like they’d never been washed, Jared hoped the cheap whiskey would kill any germs. Refusing wasn’t an option. Insulting the man might get both of them a bullet in their heads. As soon as the additional girls came in, he would say the key words and Noah and Mia would enter.

He poured himself a shot of what could only be called rotgut and tried not to grimace as he swallowed the bitter liquid. Dylan did the same as they stood together and waited for the new merchandise to arrive.

   “Who are you?”

Mia jerked her head around. A large, grizzled-looking man sitting in a chair across the room rose to his feet, a Glock in his hand. The sound of gunfire would alert the men in the next room, putting everyone in even more danger. With no other choice, she slid a knife from her belt and threw. The blade flew with exacting speed and perfect accuracy, penetrating deep into the softest, most vulnerable part of his throat. He dropped the gun to clutch at his neck. Then, with barely a gurgle of noise, he fell face-first to the floor.

Her eyes quickly scanned the room for another threat, but she saw no one else, other than the sad line of defeated humanity sitting in front of her. Seven girls, ranging in age from mid-teens to early twenties, were handcuffed
together, wearing only their underwear. Their expressions ranged from horrified to resigned.

“Help us. Please.” The girl who spoke looked to be the oldest.

Mia moved forward and examined the handcuffs. Wishing for a key, or hell, even a hairpin would do no good. She had nothing on her to free these girls, and time was running out. She ran to the man lying on the floor and rifled through his pockets, but loose change and handfuls of lint were all she found.

Turning, she dashed to the window. If she could get them out this way, it’d save them from witnessing more horror. The instant she stuck her head out, she gave a disgusted snort. No way could they escape via this route. The roof had a dangerous slant. Individually, it would be a tough go. Handcuffed together, they’d all die.

She turned around and was about to suggest going out the door and down the stairs when the voices in her ear told her that time had run out. Jared and Dylan had just learned about the other girls. Two men were being sent to get them … they were headed this way. She had to do something. Now!

Mia ran to the dead man and pulled the knife from his throat. Mouth clenched with strain, she pulled his limp body to an open closet, then grabbed the jacket he’d thrown over a chair and dropped it on the floor to cover the large bloodstain.

With almost zero time left, her choices were limited. If she tried to take on the two men, there was a good chance that one of the girls would get hurt. With Jared and Dylan fighting with her, she’d have a greater chance of success. Not allowing herself time to hesitate, Mia stripped down to her underwear and threw her clothes in the closet on top of the dead man. Since her gun was too large to conceal, she left it with the clothes. Fortunately, her knife
was small enough to hide in her bra. As long as she didn’t move the wrong way, she should be able to avoid a cut.

“What are you doing?” one of the girls whispered harshly.

“Improvising,” Mia replied. She went to the end of the line, grabbed the extra handcuff, and attached it to her wrist, careful to make sure it didn’t lock. A glance down the line at the young, frightened girls had her wishing she could come up with something quick to encourage them and ease their fear. She had no time for that. All she could do was issue an important instruction: “When I say ‘Drop’ all of you go to your knees. Okay?” They collectively nodded.

The two men came through the door. She was taking a chance that they wouldn’t count. Who would suspect that a large group of handcuffed women had grown by one?

“Where’s Stefano?”

Apparently, Stefano was the dead man in the closet. No one answered. One of the men, muttering insults at Stefano’s parentage, grabbed the hand of the girl on the other end from Mia and walked out the door. The other man followed behind them.

Neither Jared nor Dylan had any idea that Noah had been injured. When she entered with the girls, she was quite sure they’d both be shocked, but she also knew they’d maintain their cover. LCR operatives were too well trained to give away their emotions, no matter how surprised.

The man on the end jerked hard, and all the girls, including Mia, stumbled into the room. Bumping into several of them, Mia maintained her frightened demeanor as she raised her eyes and looked at Jared.

What the hell?
What was Mia doing here? How had she been captured? Where the hell was McCall?

Either Savage didn’t know Mia or hadn’t spotted her, because he growled like a convincing pervert, giving their key phrase of readiness: “Sweet as candy.”

Several things happened at once. The door burst open and McCall stood in the doorway, his gun in one hand; his other hand was holding his side, which was covered in blood.

Mia jerked away from the line of girls and shouted, “Drop!” In one motion, all the girls went to the floor.

Jared went for François, who’d pulled his gun. After a high kick to rid the man of his weapon, Jared followed with a blow to his jaw. A stunned François teetered before him. One last kick—well placed and controlled—to the man’s throat. The man went down with barely a whimper.

Turning, Jared watched as Mia whirled and kicked at a man who tried to grab her. Dylan handled the two other men. Only a couple of minutes later, four men lay on the floor.

Jared spun around, but before he could ask what the hell had happened, he saw McCall, who’d been leaning against the door, go down.

Dylan caught him before he could hit the floor. Jared went to his other side, and they slowly eased him onto his back. McCall’s skin was ash-gray. Jared checked his pulse and cursed at the too slow beat.

“I’ve already called for an ambulance,” McCall said, his voice shakier than Jared had ever heard it before. “Should be here soon, along with the police.” His voice went even weaker. “There’s a bald guy handcuffed to the stair rail and a creep under some bushes on the east side of the house.”

“We’ll take care of them,” Jared assured him.

He watched as Dylan ripped open McCall’s shirt. The
gash was covered with a bandage but blood was still soaking through.

Jared turned around at a sound. Mia was standing with the young women, talking softly to them. As if she knew he was looking at her, she lifted her gaze to him. Her eyes, dark as midnight, held myriad emotions and thoughts—one of the most obvious was fear. She was afraid McCall was dying.

“His pulse is weak but steady. Ambulance is on its way.”

Her full lips trembled as she smiled her thanks and then turned back to the frightened women. Something tightened in his chest … that was the heart of this woman. She felt and cared deeply, but she knew what the priorities were—she was a true professional, in every sense of the word.

In that moment, Jared acknowledged that he had no choice but to give her his complete trust. She had handled the situation like a trained operative. No matter what happened, Mia could take care of herself in any situation. And he was damn glad to be working with her on this case.

   Mia clutched the phone to her ear. “And they’re sure he’s going to be okay?”

“Absolutely sure.” Samara McCall sounded slightly hoarse, as though she’d been crying, but there was steel there, too. “The doctor snapped at me the last time I asked him that.” She laughed softly and added, “I think he’s insulted that I don’t believe him.”

Weak with relief and exhaustion, Mia collapsed onto the bed. She’d been frantic to hear how Noah was doing.

Samara continued, “He’s lost a lot of blood and won’t be able to work for a couple of weeks. As soon as the doctor told him that, he started negotiating for better
terms.” She snorted softly. “The man got an earful and a half.”

Mia swallowed a laugh. Noah’s wife wasn’t one to hold back her opinion, especially if it was in defense of someone she loved. And Samara’s love for her husband was as deep and true as Mia had ever seen.

“I wish I could have gone to the hospital with him,” Mia said.

“That was one of the first things he asked about when he woke up. He was concerned you’d come to the hospital and blow your cover.”

That had been a hard thing to do—watching the ambulance drive away and not knowing how badly Noah was hurt. But she’d had no choice. Since she was about to go undercover, any associations she had would be questioned and scrutinized. The slightest suspicion that she had a connection to Last Chance Rescue would blow up in their faces.

Fortunately, LCR operative Riley Ingram had arrived just in time. About the same size and coloring as Mia, she had stepped in as a cover. After being briefed about what had gone down, the young operative had walked toward the police with an air of confidence that not even the best interrogator would doubt. She’d simply become the person who’d assisted in taking down human traffickers and had rescued several women. The many talents of LCR operatives never failed to amaze Mia.

“Is anyone at the hospital with you?” Mia asked. If not, she was going to start making calls. Noah’s wife shouldn’t be there by herself.

“Are you kidding? I’ve got Angela coordinating phone calls all over the world. Jamie Savage, Dylan’s wife, came by for a few minutes and then took Micah and Evie home so they could get some sleep. Jordan and Eden Montgomery are in with Noah now. And if I’m not mistaken, I see
Aidan Thorne, along with Honor and Seth Cavanaugh coming down the hallway.”

“Sounds like you’re covered then. Give Noah a hug for me. Tell him I’ll call him soon.”

“Before you go, tell me how you’re getting along with Jared.”

“Now, that’s a question with many answers.”

“Want to try one?”

“He’s the most infuriating, frustrating, and aggravating man I’ve ever known.”

“And?”

“He’s also kind, considerate, and incredibly sweet.”

“You see that, too?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just that behind that impervious wall he’s built around himself, there’s a man of deep feelings and emotions. I’m glad you’re perceptive enough to realize that. So many people never look beneath the surface.”

Odd, but she got the feeling Samara was trying to tell her something without saying the words. As Noah’s wife, she was privy to information most LCR people would never know. And though Samara would never break anyone’s confidence, Mia knew that the words she spoke had more than just a simple endorsement of Jared behind them.

Mia didn’t ask for more information, and Samara wouldn’t tell her more anyway. However, she was glad to know that her instincts about him were on target.

“Uh-oh,” Samara said. “I’ve gotta go. Aidan Thorne just walked into Noah’s room with a brown paper bag. If I know my husband—and believe me, I do—he’s requested a bag full of snacks to see him through the next few days.”

Mia closed the phone on a laugh. Noah had a notorious sweet tooth that Samara was constantly battling. To
know that the man was well enough for a junk food craving gave her immense relief.

Now, if only Jared would get here. He was still with the police, answering questions and handling the dozens of other things involved in covering their bases on an operation. And Dylan had gone back into hiding. According to Jared, lately Dylan’s assignments had involved keeping an even lower profile than normal.

The vibration of her cellphone had her heart pounding again. Had things worsened for Noah? “Ryker.”

“Any word?” Jared asked.

She collapsed back onto the bed. “Yes. The cut was deep, barely missed his spleen. They sewed him up and gave him a transfusion. He’ll be out of commission for a couple of weeks.”

“Meaning he’ll be giving us hell from home instead of his office.”

Mia chuckled. “So true.” Noah wasn’t going to let a doctor’s orders keep him from his job. Samara, on the other hand, would probably skin him alive if he did something too strenuous.

“I’m going to be here for another hour or so. The girls have all been treated, and the authorities are making arrangements for them.”

“I’ll look forward to seeing you,” Mia said softly.

“Want me to bring anything?” His voice was deeper, more intimate. Mia shivered at the husky tones.

“Just yourself. I’ll stay up until you get here.”

“It’s late … you should try to get some sleep.”

With all the adrenaline now drained from her body, she did feel as though she could sleep for a week. However, she doubted it would be a restful sleep until Jared was back.

“I’ll doze till you get here. Wake me when you do. Okay?”

“Yeah.” And though the single word was as innocuous as one could get, she’d heard the delicious promise behind it.

Mia closed her phone on a smile. Though they hadn’t talked about the op or why she’d appeared, seemingly handcuffed, with the other girls, Mia felt an easing in Jared’s attitude—as if he had finally accepted her as a true equal. She hoped so. For a partnership to work, there had to be trust on both sides. She had complete faith in Jared’s abilities and needed him to feel the same way about her.

With the knowledge that Jared would be with her shortly, her heavy eyelids drifted closed and she fell asleep with delightful anticipation, knowing that very soon she was going to be woken up in the best way possible.