Chapter Twenty Three
Julio entered the hotel lobby, scanning it as he walked toward the desk.
They made the right call and sure enough, Mr. Baskins called him at the last possible moment, changing the meeting place to Georgia.
He approached the clerk. “I have a reservation for the penthouse suite, Julio Garcia.”
“Yes, sir,” the clerk said as he typed out the name, took his ID and credit card, and passed him a key.
Julio entered the elevator and swiped his card against the scanner. Matthew watched his six from the lobby on his computer. Leo and his team remained in the shadows around the building. He didn’t plan on any of them getting away.
The elevator door opened and he stepped out. Seeing a movement catch his eye, Julio dropped his briefcase, ready to pull his weapon.
“It’s only me,” Mr. Garfield said, raising his hands and appearing nervous. “We decided to bring our merchandise to you.”
Julio straightened. “I don’t like this,” he growled. “Anyone might be watching. I can’t afford for someone to make a connection between us.”
Mr. Baskins smiled and tapped his fingers together as he entered the room. “I’m sure you’ll find I’m very discreet.”
Julio walked toward him and noticed two young blonde women sitting on the couch.
One sported a busted lip and a black eye.
He saw the yellowed bruises along her temple, suggesting she suffered more abuse than the woman beside her.
The other, visibly shook and avoided his gaze while her friend shot daggers at him.
“Did I say I wanted bruised fruit?” he asked angrily as he tilted the first woman’s chin, inspecting the wounds.
“What’s your name?” he demanded roughly. The woman beside her sobbed, yet she remained quiet.
“Send them back,” he ordered, knowing Leo’s team planned to apprehend them.
“Don’t bother me again unless you have something worth my time.
I dropped a meeting to arrive on time, only to have the location changed at the last minute.
You expect me to take your leftovers?” Julio moved away from the women, acting put out.
“You said you preferred blondes. We do have others if you want to go for a drive,” Mr. Baskins offered. “I’m afraid I’ll have to blindfold you. Since your last visit, we’ve made a few more precautionary measures.”
“I don’t have time to play games,” Julio ground out. “These two aren’t worth the deposit I gave you. I expect a refund.”
The smile faded from Mr. Baskins’ face. “I assure you, we have more. Unfortunately, we must test our clients after the last incident. You’ve passed. If you come with me, it’ll be worth your while.”
“Fine,” he agreed reluctantly. His eyes roamed over the two women, hoping the first kept her spirits up until they found the others.
Taking the service elevator, the four of them went to the ground level, where a limo waited. They ushered the woman inside and Julio sat opposite them, giving Matthew a clear view to identify them. They exited the parking garage, and Mr. Baskins handed him a blindfold.
“If you don’t mind.”
“I mind, but we’ll see if it pays off,” he threatened, sending a deadly glance to Darren Garfield.
Placing it over his eyes, he listened keenly to any sounds, indicating where they planned to take him.
“You’re a pig,” one of the women spat, earning a slap across the face.
Easy, sweetheart. The cavalry’s coming. Julio thought to himself as they drove out of the city.
The car slowed and they turned onto a gravel road. When it stopped, two men opened the doors and dragged the two women out. The blonde managed to kick one hard in the shin before they managed to subdue her.
Julio ripped off the eye covering and scanned the area.
The southern mansion shouted money and misery as they entered it.
Soft music played and candles set the mood as they escorted him to the parlor area.
Four naked women stood in a line, shackled at their ankles.
Seeing him, one peed herself, earning a jab from the woman beside her.
He approached, pretending interest while his mind envisioned Rebecca having to do this for sick, depraved people.
“If I choose from this group, how long must I wait for another invitation?” he asked casually, sticking his hands in his pockets.
“If you follow the protocol, you’ll be eligible to make another purchase in about a year. This ensures nothing can be linked back to either of us,” Mr. Presley explained.
“May I purchase more than one?” he asked.
“As long as you pay the required price. I’m surprised you’d want to take more than one,” Mr. Baskins said, sounding suspicious.
“Gerard told me of a woman who doesn’t get sold but entertains specific clients. If I offer to take a couple off your hands, I hope to get a sampling of your more exclusive products,” Julio said, regarding the women.
“I’m afraid she’s not available at the moment,” Garfield faltered.
Yeah, you bastard, because I have her. Julio thought.
“What about the child I met at the house before the party got interrupted. Did you sell her?”
“Gerard has her at the moment,” Mr. Baskins said, sitting down. The men shoved the two women into the room and shackled them to the others.
“I’ll pay double for her, and I’ll take two of them,” he announced. Bring me the computer, and I’ll transfer the funds.”
“You don’t know how much they cost,” Mr. Baskins exclaimed.
“Do you think I’m not good for it?” Julio challenged.
Mr. Baskins nodded, and a man dropped a tablet on the table. Julio typed in his password and waited for the man to write down the figure.
“When will I get the child?” he asked as his fingers paused over the keys. Baskin’s eyes gleamed in greed as he licked his lips in anticipation of the funds. You’ll never see a dime, you fucker.
“I’ll contact him as soon as the payment clears,” he bargained.
Julio smirked. “Call him first, then, I’ll transfer. I assume you won’t object to my adding a tip to expedite this matter. I need to leave in the morning.”
Of course, on cue, Mr. Baskins pulled out his phone and called Gerard.
Gotcha. Julio sent the money and walked back toward the women.
Taking pity on the woman who urinated on herself, he pointed to her and the blonde with the bruises.
“I’ll take these. It’s a pity you have no males. I sometimes like to watch.”
Mr. Baskins glanced up from checking the accounts. His eyes practically glowed with pleasure. “It happens I have two males. Do you want to inspect them?”
“Yes,” he said, taking his seat. Once the men appeared, the team planned to breach.
Ten minutes later, they hauled up the males. Julio fought for control as he recognized Jameson. His bloody, battered face made him hardly recognizable. “They’ll do. This makes the second damaged product I’m taking off your hands. I expect a discount.”
“Absolutely,” Mr. Baskins said as he scribbled the amount down and turned the computer, practically salivating as Julio reentered his code and transferred the funds.
“When will the child arrive?”
“He’s out of the country on an important matter. Gerard will bring her to you next week,” Mr. Baskins explained.
“I’m not happy with this arrangement,” Julio argued.
“It’s the best I can do with such short notice,” the man explained. “You didn’t mention the child in time for the order to be filled.”
The men unshackled the two women and pushed the males from the room.
“I want them cleaned up, and we’ll drop them off at one of my apartments,” Julio ordered. “I’ll give you the address.”
“You’re sick,” the blonde spat. “I hope you rot in hell.”
“She’ll be fun to break,” Mr. Baskins said, placating him.
Julio merely nodded, knowing any minute, the team planned to secure the victims.
A minute later, Leo entered the room, pointing his weapon. Mr. Garfield and Mr. Baskins jumped up, their mouths shot open in surprise, while Julio held up his hands. Two shots fired, and Leo spoke into his coms.
“Team 1, respond,” Leo ordered and listened as his men checked in.
“Team 2, respond,” Leo commanded. He threw zip ties to Saint as he entered the room.
“Get them secured. I’m taking this asshole with me since he likes to buy human beings,” he said, jerking Julio up by the collar.
He pretended to struggle, making the show seem realistic, knowing Leo must have vital intel to remove him from the room.
“The feisty one shot her captor, and the other took her hostage. He stuffed her into a car at gunpoint. We’ll have Bear and Matthew search the city cameras and find them.
In the meantime, I apologize.” Leo reared back and punched Julio in the face.
“It has to appear realistic,” he said, dragging him into the room and setting him beside Mr. Baskins.
“Take the women and find them clothes. These two won’t be going anywhere,” he said as Saint added zip ties to his wrists behind his back.
Julio waited until they left the room. “You’ll pay for this,” he threatened. “What kind of scam are you running?”
“I swear I don’t know how they found us. We sent decoy units. One of the men you purchased betrayed us with the other ring. It’s why we stayed put,” Mr. Garfield prattled, trying to save his ass while Mr. Baskins kept his mouth shut. “I don’t know these men.”
“It appears you have rivals,” Julio growled. “What about the kid?”
“She’s safe. Gerard will bring her as soon as he returns. He lost some merchandise. They’re tracking them as we speak.”
Julio froze. “How?”
“We turn the tracker off when someone escapes and goes to the authorities. It doesn’t emit any signals during body scanning, leaving it virtually undetectable.
Once our merchandise believes they’re in the free and clear, we turn the app back on and voila,” Mr. Baskins explained gleefully.
“Usually, we end up with a couple more prizes during the roundup.”