Grayson
“Sex trafficking?” Her voice breaks as the words fall from her lips.
“Once the cartel deemed you useless after a while, they were then going to sell you into organ trafficking. Frank was planning to make a huge profit off of you. Told them you’d be an easy target because no one would report you missing.” It hurts like hell to have to tell her this, but I couldn’t hold it back from her any longer. The closer we get the harder it is to keep secrets from her.
“W-why the fuck didn’t you tell me this? I don’t believe you, I don’t.” She shouts, standing up and pulling her dress up her body.
“Rowan, I have proof but I couldn’t tell you– ”
“That’s why you fucked me! That’s why you wanted to take my virginity so I’d be useless.” She accuses as tears start to fill her eyes.
Now was not the time to tell her but there was never going to be a right time. The right time would have been when you kidnapped her, dumbass.
“Rowan, that was never my intention. I couldn’t risk you telling anyone.”
“Like who? Who the fuck would I have told?” She spits.
“Deirdra, my guards that you were getting a little too friendly with I don’t know, Rowan I just wanted to keep you safe.”
“Well that was a stupid fucking way to do it because I was planning to escape. Why should I even believe you? You kidnapped me, you could be just as bad!”
I stride over to her and take her head in my hands, holding her gaze. “I will always protect you, regardless of what you want to think. If I hadn’t taken you they would have. I know you’re scared and you’re angry but I promise, Row, everything I’ve done is to protect you. You think I wanted to do this? To see you suffer or be the cause of your pain? ”
She pulls away from me and I see the wall that I’ve tried so hard to break down, building back up. “Then why? You don’t even fucking know me–”
“Damn it, Rowan, because I love you!” I cut her off. I don’t want to say it but I need to. “I’m madly, disgustingly, undeniably fucking in love with you. I didn’t know you but I do now. I watched you every single day for a year just to know you were okay, just to get my fix because I’m addicted to you.” I hear my voice cracking, desperate for her to feel what I’m saying.
She takes a step back. “No you can’t–”
“I can and I do,” I say, my voice softer. “I knew from the moment I saw you that you were different. That I need you as much as you need me.” My words are lost on what I really want to say to her. I don’t know how to tell her exactly how I feel or if it’ll even matter.
She steps toward me, our faces just inches apart and all I want her to do at this moment is melt into me. Reciprocate my love. Anything. “Fuck you, . You’re a liar.”
“Rowan– ”
“Save it. I need to be by myself. I’ll be in the car.” Her voice is calm but I can hear the undertone of anger. She doesn’t believe me– about her father, maybe she doesn’t believe that I love her. Maybe it was too soon.
As Rowan exits I pick up my phone to find all the pictures I have of Frank’s exchanges with the cartel so that I can show her. She needs proof if I even have the slightest chance of her trusting me.
Missed Call -Ma
Missed Call -Ma
Missed Call -Ma
Missed Call -Laila
Missed Call -Ma
Ma: Where are you?
Ma: There’s a black Escalade parked outside
Laila: Where the fuck are you?
Laila: Answer your fucking phone some shady motherfucker in an escalade is parked at the end of the driveway.
Laila: what the fuck
Missed Call -Laila
Missed Call -Laila
Missed Call -Lail a
Laila: Mom and I are leaving. Txt you coordinates when you call me back.
Shit. There’s no way anyone found us, I was too careful it can’t be them. I made sure that no one would be able to find the house. I covered all my bases.
I rush out to get to the car to call Laila when I notice– the passenger door is open, and Rowan isn’t inside. Fuck me.
“Rowan!” I shout, my voice echoing. I search the surrounding area hoping she’s just sitting by the water clearing her head. She couldn’t have gone far. “Rowan!” I scream louder.
The necklace. She’s wearing her necklace. I get in the car and pull out my phone again to open the tracking app Austin built. It’s connected to the necklace I gave her at the penthouse.
Location Unavailable
How the fuck– Austin . He’s a fucking traitor. I punch the steering wheel, trying to figure out what my next move is. That tracker was my only lifeline if I ever failed Rowan and she ended up being taken. Austin’s words replay in my mind.
I suggest taking her somewhere tonight, that way they don’t have anything on you. He wanted me out of the house for a reason .
I don’t have time to fuck around, I’m going to call Laila and try to find Rowan.
I can barely hear the line ringing over the sound of my erratic heartbeat as I call Laila. “?”
“Laila, where are you guys?” I rush out.
“We’re safe. I just called Austin, I think our phones might be tapped.”
“Did you fucking tell him anything?”
“No, I just told him that I think the phones are tapped and asked him what we should do.”
I take a breath, trying to collect my thoughts. If she just talked to Austin, that means he isn’t aware that I know he’s a rat. “Okay listen, get to a payphone or a nearby business and call the place dad took us to last year that had a really good chianti wine.”
“Oh you mean–”
“Shut the fuck up, Laila. I love you, but please use your head. If the phones are tapped I don’t want anyone hearing where I’m going.”
“Okay got it. I’ll call you in ten. ”
We hang up and I kick up the speed, rushing to get to Casa Niclodi – the restaurant Laila is supposed to call. If they took Rowan, they’re going to need a way to transport her from Sicily to Tijuana, where they originally planned to send her. My mind is racing with thoughts of how I’m going to find her, how scared she is, how I’m a fucking idiot for letting her be alone again. I failed her. I need to make this right.