13. Crystal
13
CRYSTAL
I wake up and my head spins. It’s hot and clammy, and I can barely breathe. It’s also then that I realize my hands and feet are bound.
“Oh, my God,” I whisper. My throat is hoarse and dry.
When I try to open my eyes, I can barely see a thing. One of my eyes won’t open. I’m surrounded in darkness and there’s a bad smell in the air; gasoline mixed with a musty scent I can’t place.
Where the hell am I?
What did Jimmy do to me?
I remember him storming toward me as I dropped my bag, then he punched me and everything went dark. He knocked me out… The bastard knocked me out.
Anger bubbles up inside me, but it’s quickly replaced with fear.
He did this to me. That rat bastard did this!
My mind flashes to Ryder — he’ll blame himself for this. I just know it. How was he to know that Jimmy was following us?
His words were so vicious. I’ve never seen him so angry. And I’ve also never been so terrified in my life. I need to get out of there.
I try to sit up but immediately regret it; pain shoots through me. It’s then I realize that I’m hurt. Not just my head that’s pounding so hard it may explode, but my entire body. It aches everywhere.
I press my fingers to my nose with my bound hands and draw them back. Blood coats my fingertips. It’s almost dried, so I’ve been here a little while, even if I don’t know where the hell here is.
Then I hear the faint cries close by. I listen intently. Are there other people here?
I glance around. Am I in some kind of cage?
The bastard not only hit me, but he knocked me out, tied me up, and then locked me in a cage?
I try to sit up, but that’s proving difficult; none of my limbs work. The only thing he didn’t do was gag me.
“Hey, are you okay?” a voice close to me whispers.
“I… I don’t know…”
“She’s alive, that means she’s okay,” says another voice from farther away.
“Where am I?” I stammer. “How did I get here?”
“The same way we all did,” the girl in my cell says. I can faintly see her outline “We were kidnapped.”
“Kidnapped?” I breathe the words, unable to grasp what she’s saying.
“She catches on quick,” says the second voice sarcastically.
“Don’t mind her. I’m Gia, by the way.” She bobs down close to me. “Are you okay?”
“No,” I breathe. “I’m not.”
“You’re pretty fucked up,” she says.
“No shit.”
“What’s your name?”
“Crystal,” I say. “How did you get here?”
“My drink was spiked at a club downtown, at least, that’s what I think happened.” There’s a sadness to her tone that makes my toes curl. “You never think something like that is gonna happen to you, but that’s how these sickos get their thrills.”
“These men are rounding up girls?” Then I remember what Ryder said about the Devils trafficking women. He was right. Not that I didn’t believe him, I just didn’t want to believe that Jimmy was involved. This is abhorrent, even for him.
I never would’ve imagined in my wildest dreams that he was capable of something like this. Even at his worst.
“You think that’s bad?” the other voice from the cell next to us says. “They come around my neighborhood because we’re in a poor part of town. It’s clever when you think about it. Nobody even knows you’re missing half the time.”
That just sounds sad.
“What’s your name?” I ask her.
She snorts. “What does it matter?”
“Her name is supposedly Sapphire,” Gia says. “But I think she just made that up.”
“Fuck you,” Sapphire retorts.
“How long have you been here?” I ask them.
“I’ve been here for almost a week,” Gia says. “The room service sucks.”
How can she be so calm?
“Three days,” from Sapphire.
“They give us bathroom breaks and bring us slop that substitutes food. They don’t want their most prized possessions to be too skinny or gaunt when they get to their next destination.” There’s a hardness to her voice that makes me bring my legs up to my chest and hug myself.
I don’t want to be here. I want to go home.
I don’t want to be in this fucking nightmare.
“Where are we going?” I ask. “Where are they taking us?”
“That’s the million-dollar question,” Sapphire sings, like it’s obvious. “Could be anywhere. In any case, the food here is a lot better than what I get served up at home.”
“This isn’t funny!” Gia yells across the cell. “You just act like this is some big joke. Some of us value our lives, even if you don’t.”
“Who said I don’t value my life?” Sapphire retorts. “But I’m not gonna sit around crying. I’ve been saying it for days; we have to come up with a plan.”
“Right,” Gia laughs without humor. “I’m sure we will all just be able to talk our way out of it, or better still, fight them without any weapons. I’m confident they’ll be cool with it. Maybe they’ll even feed us before we go, fillet mignon anyone?”
“I want to go home,” another girl sobs on the other side of our cage. “I want to go home!”
I wish I could put my hands over my ear so I didn’t have to listen to her crying. It tears at me.
I squeeze my good eye closed. “How many others are there?”
“At least fifty at a guess,” says Gia. “Probably more. They’re bringing new girls in all the time. Some are only teenagers.”
It makes me sick. They’re praying on innocent women and girls and getting away with it.
I think I’m in shock, that’s what it is. Utter shock that Jimmy — the man I loved — did this to me. That he could leave me here in this state.
I want to kick myself. No, scratch that, I want to smash my head against the wall. I stuck up for him when others tore him down. I followed him to New Orleans. I’m such a fucking idiot.
“Better get used to it,” Sapphire hollers. “Because none of us are getting out of here.”
“Speak for yourself,” Gia throws back. “I’m definitely getting out of here one way or the other. I’m not going to become some fuck face’s sex slave. I don’t care what I have to do. I’ll kick and scream and bite. The second I get the chance, I’m gonna run.”
Sapphire snorts. “Where are you gonna run to? Huh?”
“Why are you both bickering?” I whisper-shout. They’re making me even more anxious.
“This is the price we pay as women.” Sapphire’s words hit me in the chest. “For our freedom. You think you’re free, but at the end of the day you’re always at the mercy of some fucking sleazebag.”
She’s acting as if this is no big deal. Like it’s inevitable, and that makes my body tense up.
“First intelligent thing you’ve said in a while,” Gia throws back.
“Say that to my face,” Sapphire snaps.
“I can’t be here,” I whisper. “I can’t… This can’t be happening.”
“Let me guess,” Sapphire calls. “You got involved with a bad guy, right?”
“He was my… my boyfriend.” My words are barely audible.
“I’m sorry,” Gia says. At least she sounds like she is. “That’s fucking shitty.”
Tell me about it. It fucking sucks.
“I should’ve known he was a bad guy. There were warning signs.” I don’t even know who I’m talking to; mainly myself. “I knew it, deep down. I just wanted to change him. I wanted to make him better.”
“Did he knock you around?” Sapphire’s voice sounds a little more gentle.
“Yes.” I swallow hard. I don’t even bother with the ‘I never thought he’d hit me’ line. Jimmy’s always had a temperamental streak with a side of violence, not that he was like that in the beginning, of course. It’s only gotten worse over time.
Then I think about Ryder. He would’ve gone to my apartment and found me missing.
He’ll come for me, won’t he? He’ll find a way.
The pain in my head throbs as my body protests when I try to move.
“Hang in there,” Sapphire says. “He’ll get what’s coming to him.”
“I take it nobody's coming to fix me?” My voice sounds hollow. I might not know much right now, but I know I need a doctor.
“Good luck,” Gia says. “They threw you in here, babe. They saw how fucked up you were.”
I try not to tremble, but I’m fight or flight, and it can’t be both.
I’m going to be fucking sold?
I don’t think so.
The thought is too horrible to dwell on.
Ryder.
If I’ve ever needed him, it’s right now. Please. I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything to be back in his arms, just one last time.
Ryder
“She’s not at the clubhouse?” I roar. “What in the fuck?”
Bronco steadies me with one hand, but I knock it away. “Jett says he took her downtown. Lost sight of his truck halfway. Is there anywhere you can think of that he’d take her?”
“How the fuck would I know?” I pull at my hair, frustration coursing through me like a runaway bus. “I don’t fuckin’ know him.”
“The Devils have several buildings and supposed businesses,” Harlem says. We’re in Jett’s office at the back, waiting for the order to ride. We just don’t know where we’re riding to, and I’m like a cat on hot bricks.
“Wait.” I think back. “Crystal said they had a warehouse downtown. It’s where she was told they stored secondhand furniture.”
Nevada, back from his run from the Devils’ clubhouse, snorts. “Is that what they’re callin’ storage for their illegal activities now?”
“Before you ask, no, I don’t know where that is,” I say. “How the fuck are we goin’ to track this motherfucker down?”
“Got a buddy workin’ on a trace,” Jett says. “Tryin’ to get a ping on his cell.”
Suddenly, there’s hope. “How does that work exactly?”
He looks up at me. “It’ll work faster if we can try and get his attention.”
I rummage in the back of my jeans pocket where I slid Crystal's phone earlier.
I open the messages screen and click his name. I look up. “What the fuck do I say?”
“Provoke him,” Harlem suggests. “Be better if we had somethin’ to bribe him with, make it worth his while to hand her over.”
“I know what to do.” And I’m thumbing out a text before I can stop myself.
Crystal
We know you have her. But she’s worth more alive than dead
It pains me to write that, but I have to. If Jimmy is as stupid as I think he is, he’ll take the bait. Especially if he thinks there’s something in it for him.
It doesn’t take long before he reads the message. I wait in anticipation as the gray bubble appears, then disappears. Just fucking reply, dick.
Jimmy
I’m glad I got your attention
Crystal
Where is she?
Jimmy
That’s a very good question. The short version? I sold her
“Fuck,” Harlem mutters when he reads the text over my shoulder.
“I’ll fuckin’ skin him alive.” I tap out another message.
Crystal
Her parents are rich as fuck. They’ll pay more to get her back
Jimmy
Wish I’d known before, then again, you don’t get much for whores
Crystal
Name your price, but I want to see she’s still alive
Jimmy
you really are delusional, aren’t you?
Crystal
Not as delusional as you’re gonna be when I find you
Jimmy
Promises, promises
Crystal
You didn’t think this through, did you? Her parents would’ve paid ten time what you’re getting
The texting stops for a few moments. Maybe he’s rethinking his life choices.
“What’s he sayin’?” Jett prompts.
I look up from the phone. “Gone quiet. He’s probably realizing he fucked up.”
Then my blood curdles when he sends through a text. It’s Crystal, slumped over, blood all over her face.
Jimmy
Left her breathing, barely
Crystal
I’ll fuck you up
Jimmy
I’d like to see you try
Crystal
There’s no rock you can hide under, asshole. I’ll find you
Jimmy
She’s gonna have a real nice time being a sex slave, though I doubt it’ll teach her any manners
I curl my fist and bang it on the table. “Fucker!” I yell.
“There’s a photo,” Harlem calls out to Jett, ignoring my outburst.
“Perfect.” Jett, who’s looking a little smug, looks up at me. “Give me the phone.”
I hand it over. “Can you trace him from the texts?”
“It’ll be easier now that I have the photo. The metadata? I can use it to find the location.”
For the first time, hope blooms in my chest. “Seriously?”
“Not just a pretty face.” Jett winks.
I stand. I know I’m a loose cannon at the moment, but I can’t help myself. He said he left her breathing. I’m sure he would’ve bragged about it if he hadn’t. The fucker is trafficking her? Who the fuck does that to their girlfriend? Surely he cared about her at some stage?
“She’s alive.” Bronco squeezes my shoulder. “We’re gonna get her.”
I know he’s right. I feel it in my bones; she’s still alive. But with a psycho like Rifle on the loose, who fucking knows what he’s capable of. He sold her. He’s a fucking scumbag.
“How long?” I bark.
“A few minutes. Once I have it, I’ll text Cash and the others the location, too.”
“Let’s head out,” Harlem says.
I turn just before I leave the room. “Thanks, Jett. Appreciate it.”
“Anytime. Go get your girl.”
What we didn’t expect was what we fucking found.
The warehouse is on the outskirts of town, surrounded by industrial workshops, junkyards and storage units. Security is tight, but nothing we can’t handle.
Cash called in a few favors, and we have the compound surrounded.
“This has the Devils written all over it,” Bronco mutters.
“Looks like Jimmy dearest decided to undercut his Prez and get some scratch for himself,” Tag mutters. When our eyes meet, he adds, “When you’re done with him, I want a round, just for the fun of it.”
“There won’t be anythin’ left of him when I’m done,” I promise.
Harlem grunts next to me. He’s got a daughter; she’s only a teenager. I see the look of anger on his face; his nostrils flaring, jaw set. He’s ready to make Jimmy bleed.
“Razor’s got a lot to answer for if this is his doin’,” Cash mutters behind us. “And I wouldn’t mind remindin’ him what we do to traffickers around here.”
Riot — an ex-sniper — takes out the guard, then another on the other side of the gate. He’s so good, he makes it look easy.
We wait for Cash to give the signal because the compound will, no doubt, be well guarded from the inside. Even though it’s chaos all around us, all I can think about is my beautiful Crystal; blood on her face, curled up in a ball. That’s gonna be nothing compared to what I’m going to do to him.
Before I know it, we’re storming towards the gate, cutting through the lock with bolt cutters. JJ and Chains drag the two bodies away, just in case the cops happen to show up.
There are soldiers on each end of the building, but they’re not too sharp. They get taken down without any more bullets; the less carnage, the better. Cash doesn’t want this getting out.
With every step I take toward the door, a new panic sets in. So many emotions fly through my mind. I had to call Luca. He’s on his way here from California, and he’s beside himself. He said he’ll call their parents and break the news.
I couldn’t live with myself if he didn’t know until it was too late.
After taking down two more guards, and we finally get inside, I’m not expecting to see what lies ahead. Cages. Dozens and dozens of cages.
These sick bastards really are collecting women.
“Holy fuckin’ shit,” Cash cusses. “Gotta be fifty cages in here.”
We move toward the closer one. The girls behind the bars cower in fear, shriveling away as we approach. “We’re not gonna hurt you,” I tell them. “You’re gonna be okay. We’re the good guys.”
Hawk, Harlem and Tag meet us from the other entry, their faces grave. “Gonna have to call this in, Cash,” Harlem says. “There are too many girls here. Feds are gonna have a field day.”
He’s right. We all know he’s right. This is much bigger than anyone ever anticipated.
“Crystal?” I shout through the cage. It’s so dark in here that you can barely make anything out. “Anyone in here called Crystal?”
The girl closest to us shakes her head. “The newest girls got brought in today,” she whispers. “They go to processing?—”
“Processing?” I stammer.
She nods. “Out back, there’s an office. We each get stamped with a number, then put into cages depending on destination. At least, that’s what I heard one of the guards saying.”
I swallow hard.
“We’re gonna get you out,” Cash tells her. “Feds are gonna come and take you home. You gotta sit tight and stay here, okay? No runnin’ off. We’re in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night.”
They nod. Some of the girls are crying and hugging each other. One of them meets my eye. She can’t be older than Harlem’s kid, fourteen or fifteen maybe?
Tag busts off the lock and the girl closest to him falters, practically falling into his arms. He catches her, muttering under his breath.
I run toward the back, using my flashlight to guide the way. “Crystal?” I yell.
There’s a commotion now. Everyone is talking and yelling, some girls are screaming. Clearly, they don’t know we’re here to rescue them, not hurt them.
I check the cages as I go by. “Crystal?”
Bronco joins me, racing ahead as we both shout out.
“She’s in here,” comes a female voice a few cages away.
I join Bronco as we both sprint toward the back. How fucking huge is this joint?
“Crystal?”
A short, dark haired girl with blue eyes has her fists on the bars. “She’s hurt.”
The words come out, but I shake my head. No.
“Stand back,” Bronco says.
“Hey, what about us?” a loud voice sounds from the cage next door.
“Shut up, Sapphire! Everyone is getting out!” The dark-haired chick yells at her.
She runs over to a figure hunched over in the corner. I adjust my eyes as Bronco shoots off the lock. I run inside, diving to my knees in front of her.
“Crys?” I shake her. “Crystal?”
“She’s in shock, I think,” the girl says. “She was awake earlier and talking. You’re Ryder, aren’t you?”
I don’t look at her. “Yeah.”
“She knew you’d come. She told me over and over that you’d come.”
It’s then I notice… Crystal’s hair is short, almost shaved in parts. He cut her fucking hair off.
“What the fuck did they do?” I whisper. I hold her gently by the shoulders.
“I undid the ties at her wrists,” the girl says. “I couldn’t get the legs, I’m sorry.”
Crystal’s lips part and she moans. “Ryder?”
“I’m here, baby. Ryder’s here. Nobody is ever gonna hurt you again.”