Chapter Thirty-Five Callum #2
“Is one of you named Lottie? Charlotte Harris, your dad sent us to find you.” Her eyes scan the group, but it’s difficult to distinguish features with the darkness and the unkempt state of the girls. But I notice the dark-haired head that lifts at the name. Lexie sees her too, but she remains calm.
“It’s okay, Lottie.” She makes eye contact with the girl in the center of the group. Lexie inches closer, holding out her hand. “Your dad told me to tell you he’s waiting for you with Winston. We’re here to take you home. We’re going to take you all home.”
At the mention of her bulldog, she steps closer.
Charlotte looks at her hand for a split second, the rest of the group watching for her lead.
Charlotte Harris reaches out for Lexie’s hand, a sob of relief escaping her as she stumbles into Lexie’s open arms. She hugs her tightly, sobs wracking her body.
Like the tap of the first domino, the rest of the group follows suit.
Several girls reach for Lexie’s embrace.
Taking her time, Lexie stays in place for several minutes just holding Charlotte and consoling the other girls.
Her voice softly asks them questions, if anyone needs medical attention, what their names are.
She tells them that my men and I are here to help them, that they don’t need to be afraid of us even though we look scary.
When she finally stands, Charlotte tucked into her side, she leads the girls out into the light.
The sight of each girl—dirty, exhausted, looking half starved, and so young—the anger and disgust grows inside me.
The sick fucks that find pleasure in them all deserve a slow and painful death.
I wish I could kill Jimmy all over again, this time without holding back.
He didn’t deserve the mercy he was shown, his end was far too quick.
My eyes latch on to Lexie, tracking her every move as she slowly walks the girls out. I pull out my phone and make the call. The answer is immediate, they’ve been waiting. “We’re clear. Send them in.”
I nod to Roscoe, signaling that it’s time to move. Leaning down, I speak close to Lexie’s ear. “Take Lottie and go with Roscoe,” I instruct her, pulling her from the flock of girls.
“Why? What are you gonna do?” she asks, looking up at me.
“I’m going to get these girls home safely,” I explain briefly. “No one can know Lottie was ever here, so I need you to take her with you.” She blinks up at me three times as she nods in understanding.
Lexie gathers all the girls together and tells them to stay here. She assures them that all the men here are going to help them get home safely. Despite her assurances, the girls start to cry and protest when Lexie pulls herself away to follow Roscoe to the car with Lottie in tow.
The sound of the approaching chopper announces their arrival. My team keeps the girls contained as the US Navy SEAL team arrives on the scene. I step forward to greet the six-man military team.
“Welcome to the party, Ace,” I call to the guy leading the pack. Commander Anthony “Ace” Jacobs, the team leader of SEAL team Four, walks over to me looking every bit the clean-cut Boy Scout he is. His eyes scan the scene.
“You’ve got quite the turnout,” he comments. “I’m counting fifty-seven girls.”
“From our intel they range from fifteen to nineteen years old. We don’t have names or home addresses, so getting them back to their parents might be difficult.”
“Don’t worry, we have ways to get that information,” Ace assures me. He runs a hand over his blonde buzz cut as a plan forms behind his brown eyes. “The people who did this?”
“They’ll be dealt with,” I state, earning a nod of approval.
“Alright,” he says, straightening his shoulders and signaling to his team. “Let’s get these girls home.”
“Do you have her?” Richard Harris desperately barks into my ear before the end of the first ring. My eyes land on the girl across from me.
“We have her,” I answer. “She’s neglected but uninjured. We’re administering medical care as we speak. We touch down in five hours and forty-seven minutes. Meet us on the tarmac and have the rest of my payment for delivery.”
“Thank God,” Harris mutters, and his wife’s cry of relief sounds through the phone. “I’ll have your payment.”
“I’ll text you when we’re landing.”
“We’ll be there.”
My gaze only drifts to the girl briefly before returning to the beautiful woman cradling her.
It’s impossible to take my eyes off her.
Lexie sits on the sofa, Charlotte’s head laying on her shoulder.
Tender fingers stroke the girl’s dark knotted locks, gently untangling and comforting as the rocking of the plane lulls her to sleep.
Her attention moves diligently to the IV drip hanging beside them, monitoring the line flowing into the back of the teen’s hand.
Lexie’s eyes meet mine, catching me staring. Unashamed, I don’t look away. I can’t. The small smile she gives me—filled with so much relief, hope, and joy—pierces my chest and runs through my veins like a drug.
“How is she?” I ask, keeping my voice low so I don’t disturb the sleeping child. Lexie takes a moment to watch her before answering.
“She’s dehydrated, malnourished, and she’ll need therapy for PTSD.
” Her eyes lift to mine. “But she’s resilient, and the IV is already helping.
Until she gets a full physical exam, there’s no way to tell exactly what she’s been through.
But from what I’ve seen, that’s the extent of it. God, I hope that’s the extent of it.”
“The girls are worth more untouched. It’s all about the money.” It’s not much of a consolation, but it’s something. The disgust and contempt that crosses Lexie’s face expresses exactly how I feel right now. But she nods in understanding, looking back down at the girl.
“I was going to examine her, but I don’t want to traumatize her any more than she already is. When we land, it’s important for her parents to have her properly checked. And by a woman. The last thing she needs is to get home and have a man poking at her.”
Peering at Lexie, I can sense the conviction rolling off her in waves. “You can tell Harris exactly what she needs when we land,” I inform her. Her focus moves to me briefly before returning to the IV drip.
“Okay, I will,” she states confidently. My lips twitch with a smile, and I’m suddenly looking forward to seeing Richard Harris again. Just so I can watch Lexie give him orders.
The landing goes smoothly. True to his word, Richard Harris and his wife, Alyssa, are anxiously waiting on the tarmac.
The moment the stairs are lowered, Lexie exits the plane with Lottie’s hand in hers.
I follow them down the stairs, my eyes meeting Harris’ before he and his wife are rushing towards their daughter.
“Mom! Dad!” The instant she spots her parents, Lottie is running. Alyssa falls to her knees as she pulls her daughter into her waiting arms, sobbing as she hugs her tightly. The senator wraps his arms around both his wife and daughter in a family embrace, kissing his daughter’s head.
Making eye contact with me over his wife’s head, the senator murmurs something into Alyssa’s ear before nodding for me to follow him. We take a few steps away from the little family reunion to speak privately.
“Any problems?” he asks, making me shake my head.
“Everything went according to plan.”
“The wire’s complete,” Harris says. Pressing the button on my screen, the long number after the dollar sign doesn’t match our agreement.
“This is too much. You know the agreement.” I set my prices with a purpose. Sticking to the number we agreed on keeps things clean and simple. I’m not going to owe someone or leave a loose end untied just for another comma in a bank statement. That’s unnecessarily messy.
My eyes cut to him, his attention latched on his daughter and wife’s embrace. Lexie is speaking with Alyssa softly as she cradles her daughter, informing her of the medical care Lottie received before arrival.
“I know,” Harris says, his eyes not leaving his family. “I have something else I want you to do.”
“Harris, you know how this works. If you want another job, that means another contract.”
“It’s for this job,” Harris clarifies. “I want you to take out the men who did this. And I want them to suffer.”
“Consider it done.” After seeing the girls walk out of the container, I was ready to exact my own wrath on the sick fucks who were responsible. He nods shortly, his expression grave. With our business done, we rejoin the women.
“How is she?” Harris asks, stroking Lottie’s hair while his daughter’s head is tucked into her mom’s shoulder.
“She’ll need to have a full medical exam as soon as possible.” Lexie informs the senator.
Harris nods. “Of course,” he acknowledges. “Our private physician, Tanya Redding, is on standby.”
“Great.” Lexie’s tone remains calm. “I’ve seen trafficking victims before in my line of work.
It’s going to take some time for her to feel comfortable around men again.
Including you, Senator. It’s important to keep an eye on her, but with female staff instead of your armed men in suits.
And routine will help her feel safe again. ”
“I understand,” Harris confirms.
“I know you’re trying to keep this as quiet as possible, but she should see someone to work through this trauma. The sooner the better.”
“My wife has a therapist we can trust,” the senator assures her. Lexie nods, and I can see the relief cross her face.
“Good.”
“I knew you were the man I needed,” Harris states, holding out his hand to shake mine. He then moves to Lexie, shaking her hand in thanks as well.
“Thank you so much.” Alyssa’s voice is thick with emotion, her eyes moving between the two of us as she caresses her daughter. “You have no idea. Just, thank you.”
“Of course,” Lexie says with a nod, gazing at the young girl earnestly. “Take care of her.” When she looks up at me, her expressive eyes are misting with unshed tears. Placing my hand on the small of her back, we turn to walk to our waiting car.
“Bye Nurse Lexie, thank you.” Lottie’s soft voice has Lexie pausing. She offers her a soft smile and a wave before allowing me to lead her away. Tucking her into my side on the drive home, tears stream down Lexie’s face. I don’t know if they’re happy or sad tears—I’m sure she doesn’t know either.