Chapter 17 #2
Pouring us both a glass of orange juice, I come around the island and take a seat next to her.
We eat the meal in comfortable silence, each lost to our own thoughts.
I’m going to enjoy ending that fucker’s life is a mantra inside my head.
The only thing that gets through that red haze of rage is making sure Dani is taken care of.
As my thoughts drift back to Dani, she turns to me, her hand on her stomach. “I’m stuffed, Kayden. I don’t think I can eat anymore. The food was delicious though, thank you.”
I stand up, clearing our dishes from the island and placing them in the sink. Walking back to Dani, I rub slow circles over her upper back, paying special attention not to touch her injury.
“Let me show you to your room so you can get some rest. You look dead on your feet.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“I meant that in the most flattering way possible, Dani. Trust me, you’re still as beautiful as ever.”
Her cheeks flush at the compliment and she gifts me with a small smile.
“Come on,” I say as I take her small hand in mine. “Time to go.”
After showing Dani to her room, which is honestly more like a one bedroom apartment, I head back to my truck and load more gear into the bed before closing the tailgate.
As I walk around my truck, my phone beeps with a new text message from Franklin.
Franklin
Hey man, I was able to get into his phone.
It’s really not looking good.
Me
What’s wrong?
Franklin
They had a tracker installed on the phone. Thankfully I came to Dani’s place to unlock it and didn’t bring it back to Eden or my place.
Me
Well fuck. Now they know where she lives, right?
Franklin
I mean, they at least know the apartment building is the last place he was before the tracking stopped working. They probably don’t know an exact apartment.
Me
Well there’s that, but whoever got the picture knows her face now.
Franklin
Yeah, and that’s another problem.
Me
Is there any good news?!
Franklin
Not really. Can I continue?
Me
Alright, fine. Out with it.
Franklin
The number it was sent to isn’t traceable. At least not yet. I’m working on it, but so far nothing.
Me
Alright, thanks man. I appreciate the help. We need to make sure we have eyes on her apartment at all times. I want to know if anyone shows up looking for her or Derek. I’ll have one of my guys head your way. They can watch the cameras while you work on tracing that number.
Franklin
You got it boss.
Frustrated all over again, I climb in the truck and take a deep breath to settle myself.
I need to think rationally, without emotion.
It’s impossible where Dani is concerned, though.
I slam my fist against the steering wheel, the overpowering urge to kill and maim pounding against my skin like a beast in a cage.
I look forward to dealing out Derek’s punishment and eventually taking his life. The thought of watching the light fade from his eyes is a sight I relish to see.
He’s going to wish he never stepped foot in that apartment.
I push open the door to the holding cell and walk into the small room, closing the door behind me. My men close and lock the door once I’m inside, locking the lion in a cage with a gazelle.
I stand in front of his chair with my arms crossed, waiting for him to stir to my presence. When I get no reaction, I kick his chair, causing him to jump awake.
“Welcome, Derek. How was your nap?”
“F-fine. What do you want with me? I already told them all I know,” he exclaims, his voice shaky with fear. His left eye is swollen shut and his lip is busted open. He’s also missing a front tooth, but he was missing that before we brought him in.
“How’d you lose your tooth, huh? I know it wasn’t from my men, so why don’t you tell me who did that to you? Maybe we can work something out. I take care of your problem, you help me with mine?”
“Your problem?”
“Yeah, I’ll tell you all about it, but why don’t you tell me first who knocked your tooth out?”
“I can’t m-man, you don’t understand w-what he’ll do to me.”
“Look, Derek. As far as I’m concerned, if you don’t tell me what I want to know, you’re a dead man.”
“You don’t get it. If I tell you, then I’m a d-dead man anyway.”
“I can protect you, Derek. I just need to know who sent you after Dani and why.”
I circle his chair slowly as I crack my knuckles. I’m going to enjoy every bit of this.
“His n-n-name is Andrei. That’s all I know.”
“Bullshit, Derek. I know you know more than you’re letting on. Tell me what I want to know, and I won’t start pulling your nails off one by one.”
He blanches and his eyes widen as I come to stand in front of him.
“I can’t.”
Well, that’s really too bad, I think to myself. Turning back to the bars of the cell, I tap them three times signaling my men.
“Bring me the pliers.”
I hold my hand out, the cold metal landing in the palm of my hand moments later.
“I gave you a choice, Derek. Just remember that.”
“W-wait! WAIT! Fine, f-fine! I’ll tell you what I know, but you s-swear, swear you’ll help me?”
“I’ll protect you from him, I swear it.”
“OK, OK,” he repeats, relief written on his face as he watches where I stand in the corner.
“Fuck, man. You wouldn’t believe the shit week I’ve had.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” I prod, taking a few steps forward.
“I-I have a debt from Andrei, h-he’s the boss.”
“How much are you in debt to him?”
“A hundred and fifty grand, man.”
“What the fuck are you doing with that kind of money, Derek? Gambling it away?”
He looks down sheepishly. “Yeah, man. I knew I just needed that lucky hand and I’d be able to pay it back tenfold. He just didn’t give me enough time.”
I fold my arms where I stand. “OK, so you weren’t able to pay back your debt. What happened then?”
“His men picked me up, brought me to his place. They beat me. He said I’d have to do this in order to pay my debt back. Take Dani. Take women. He said it was for his trades. Then he fucking branded me.”
Every hair on my body stands at attention. “What do you mean, he branded you?”
“Yeah, man. Took a fucking hot-as-shit rod and pushed it into my skin,” he replies, looking down at his chest. “He said he sells women, for others to enjoy. Said I’d make ten grand for each woman I brought him—thirty for Dani.
Look man, if I knew he was into shit like that, I would have never borrowed money from him. You have to believe me.”
I growl at the very thought of another man getting his hands on her. I don’t fucking think so.
As I step forward, he continues, “But when I sent him the picture of Dani, he called me right away. Said she was a previous purchase and rightfully his, but said he’d double the amount to sixty grand.”
Coming up to his position restrained in the chair, I rip open his button-down shirt to reveal a serpentine brand on his left pectoral.
“Hey, man, be careful. Shit’s still tender.”
Before I can continue questioning him, a text comes in from Franklin.
Franklin
We got it, man. I have everything. Andrei Wes. Russian. Known human and sex trafficker.
Me
Do you have access to his bank records?
Franklin
Yeah, man. I got it all.
Me
Was there a large withdrawal three years or so ago?
Franklin
Let me check.
Damn. Sure is, nearly five hundred grand to be exact to an offshore account.
His response takes a minute, but it confirms exactly what I thought.
Andrei was the one that purchased Dani—aka Jess—from Anthony, but Andrei never received his purchase because we rescued them all before that could happen.
So not only is Andrei the fucker that purchased her, he’s also the one that’s been infiltrating his men into these trafficking rings and calling the shots.
I pocket my phone and take out the knife on my hip, coming around to stand behind Derek.
Clapping a hand on his shoulder, I lean down and whisper, “I said I’d protect you from him, but I never promised to protect you from myself.”
Dragging my knife through his flesh, I slit his throat ear to ear. His blood sprays and it’s the sweetest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. His gurgles are music to my fucking ears, but it’s short-lived as he quickly bleeds out.
“That’s what you get for hurting Dani and thinking you could take what’s mine.”