Chapter 36
TARA
The following day, the four of us ladies, Knox, Dominic, and the rest of the Wildcat recruits were seated in the briefing room. I had the map with all the known hideout locations on the screen, along with pictures of Maxim and Vadim Orlov.
Considering this was my case, I took the lead in the meeting.
“Great job, everyone, for last night. We have a total of eleven Russian hideouts. That’s a significant number to make an impact on closing them down.
But we will still be on the lookout for more.
I still need all the recruits to go in pairs, pick a known hideout, and start by tagging people coming in and out of the place.
Until we find the third and last leader, we keep the search going for every single hideout in the entire city. ”
I turned to Lena next. “I don’t want to leave Sloane with Maxim for more than a few days. Now that we know the identity of Maxim and Vadim, it’s time to pull out Ruslan Karpov from wherever he’s hiding.”
Lena nodded. “What’s your next step?”
“When Maxim was entering the hideout, he mentioned that he was going to stay there until he got the girls settled up. Which clearly means he's going to sell them all. So I have been looking through the black market, trying to find whispers on anybody looking to buy young women.”
“And?” Sami asked.
I cringed. “Well, the demand was way too high to deduce a certain buyer. But I reached out to some of my black-market contacts, and they told me there is a high-end art auction for millionaires and billionaires at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in ten days. While the art auction is the main event, rumor has it that a different kind of auction will happen in one of their private rooms, by invitation only.”
“Are we certain that’s where they’ll take Sloane?” asked Naomi.
Knox answered, “I have some contacts in the field. Let me ask around.”
Everyone nodded, and I added, “And I’ll try to look through the event and see if the ‘invites only’ includes any Russian vendors or artists.”
“Good idea,” Knox said.
With that, everyone dispersed to their respective work. The Wildcats team of recruits was assigned their respective hideouts to investigate. Knox left for work after publicly kissing me on the mouth, and Dominic left to run his billion-dollar empire, with a decision to regroup in the evening.
Once I was alone in my office, I pulled out my burner phone and texted Sloane.
Me: Checking in. All good?
I placed the phone on the side as I waited for her text and started to work on finding out everything about the auction.
I was in the middle of hacking into the invitation list and the attendees when my phone pinged with a notification.
Sloane: Hey. Good enough. Will call in 5.
Me: I’m right here.
I couldn’t work for a second as I waited for Sloane’s call. The fact that Maxim had moved in last night had my nerves on edge. I couldn’t even move my fingers over the damn keyboard until my phone started ringing.
Immediately, I picked the call up. “Cherry, you okay?”
Sloane’s voice was merely a whisper. “I can talk like this. I’m okay.”
“How’s Maxim? Did he do anything to you?”
She sighed. “Nothing I didn’t expect. Nothing I haven’t already been through.”
My heart shattered. My fingers tightened into fists. “Tell me.”
She was quiet for a second before she whispered, “Well, before he arrived, we were allowed a shower and given little white slips to wear. Greg stayed close to me and prevented other dudes from misbehaving with me. Once Maxim arrived, well, he stripped us all over.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah. Groped us to make sure none of our bodies had any implants and shit.”
My heart hammered in my chest. Rage crackled through my veins, turning my vision red. My soul ached with guilt because I was the one who wanted to target the Russians’ women trafficking operation. “I’m so sorry, Sloany.”
“Hey,” she whispered. “It’s not your fault. I’m glad we’re working to eliminate those bastards. If I have to bear some pain and discomfort for it, I can handle it. I just needed to talk.”
“Of course. I’m right by the phone 24/7. Day or night, you call me. Okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Also, did they talk about what they’re planning to do with you ladies?”
“All he mentioned was he’s got big plans for us. Big people to show us off to and sell off.”
“Any idea about the timing of it?” If she could confirm that his plan is in ten days, then the art auction at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal would be pretty much a go-ahead.
“Nothing so far,” she said. “But I’ll let you know if I hear any talks. I’m pretty sure they’ll say something, considering how much they enjoy hearing their own voices.”
I let out a small chuckle. “Please do. I’m thinking they’re going to use a huge art auction at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal as a front to sell the women at one of their private functions. It’s in ten days.”
“Alright. I’ll let you know if I hear them talk about any such thing.”
“Good.”
“Also, write down these names.” She recited five names of the women who were held alongside her.
“They’re holding all the undocumented, immigrant women.
No one is looking for them, and no laws protect them, making them easy money for the Russians.
Remember them. Hopefully, try to find their families and give them any updates. ”
“Will do. And you take care of yourself.”
She was quiet again for a second before she whispered, “So how’s it going with Knox?”
A smile slipped on my face. “I might’ve told him I was falling for him.”
A hiss escaped her lips. “Tara, don’t make me want to screech. But ohmigod. What did he say?”
I bit my lip as I covered my eyes, as if she could see me right now. “Well, he said he feels the same, in his own way. And that I’m never getting rid of him. That he would always protect you guys as well and never arrest you.”
“Gosh, I’m so happy, Tara. I so, so needed this right now.”
“Good. Now, we need to get you outta there quickly so you can bust his balls.”
“Damn right. Anyway, I’ll call later. I hear something.”
I put the phone aside and, with a determination to get Sloane and all the other women out of there safely, got back to work.
Nine days before the auction
Knox walked into my office in the late evening, take-out containers in hand, and Shadow in tow. The four of us and Dominic sat around the table, trying to work out a way to pull out the third leader from hiding.
He placed all the food on the table, and Naomi started to pull everything out. We’d been at it all day, and none of us were sure whether the girls would be sold at the auction or if they’d find another way.
Shadow baby ran into my arms, licking me all over. “Who’s Mommy’s good boy? Yes, you are. Were you a good boy for Knox?”
“Definitely not.” Knox scoffed, taking a seat beside me. “He peed in my office.”
Every single one of us burst out laughing.
“Here’s a treat just for that, Shadow,” Dominic said, pulling out one of the very expensive treats that he keeps—and does not share with any of us—to befriend Shadow and be his favorite.
Shadow ran to Dominic and gobbled up his treat, giving him a few kisses.
My Shadow was starting to welcome men in his vicinity. I guess my baby and I were both on our own journey of growth.
While Shadow played with Dominic, I turned to Knox. “Did you find something? Tell me you have some good news.”
A small smile crossed his face, and he nodded.
“I have good news. I sent my detectives out to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. The organizers have stopped renting it out to prepare for the auction. When my detectives arrived and requested to speak with the event manager, they weren’t granted proper entry.
They were asked to bring a warrant if they had any suspicions.
Usually, that doesn’t happen if something perfectly legal is going on.
My detectives began circling the building and asking questions of the workers around.
One of them let it slip that they’re making temporary cages in a room. ”
Every single eye in the room widened as realization dawned on all of us.
Knox nodded and continued, “What kind of art exhibition needs a room with cages? I’m pretty sure that the Russians are just one of the many suppliers of women coming into the auction.”
Hope bloomed in my chest as a relieved smile touched my lips. “So we’re going to target the auction?”
Lena nodded. “We’re definitely planning around it.
But we need our girls to monitor the auction location and see if there’s any movement from the Russians.
We also need contingency plans in place in case the art auction is just that.
Hopefully, Sloane or Greg might be able to confirm something in the next few days. ”
Knox nodded. “I’ll give Greg a call. The fucker doesn’t give much on updates. Just checks in and lets me know that Sloane is alright. I don’t trust him, but I’ll see what he has to say.”
“Sloane already knows that we think the auction might be in ten days. She’s told me she’d let us know if she hears of any talks.”
When everyone nodded, I continued, “Dominic, the auction is going to be your time to step in.”
Dominic nodded. “Anything you need.”
“Well, for one, I need you to donate a very, very large amount to the art auction. I’ll handle further communication with them once they respond. Next, I need you to go to the auction and be a part of whatever bidding war ensues there.”
Samaira bit her lip in worry and turned to Dominic. “You’ll be fine. I can come as your bodyguard.”
I cringed in fear as I looked at Samaira. “You’re needed for more pressing matters. Dominic can hire bodyguards for the event.”
Knox piped in. “I’ll have two of my officers pretend to be his bodyguards.”
“Brilliant.” I turned to him and added, “This is where you gather a large team of cops. I need you and your teams to cover the auction. I need you to get the third leader, and also free all the ladies.”
He caressed my scarred side softly. “I’ll do you one better. I’ll also arrest every single fucker participating in the auction, no matter how small or big.”