Chapter 6 #2
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Kyla left her keyboard and took a seat at the conference table. “This baby is giving me hell this morning. It doesn’t like it when my stomach is grumbling.” She took the cover off one of the platters and inhaled deeply over a pile of bacon and sausage patties.
“Savvie,” Hank said, “we’ll get onto this and let you know what we find.”
“Thank you.” Savvie nodded, glad others were helping. “I’ll look from my end as soon as I get my hands on a computer.”
“While you’re waiting for access to the computer and internet, you should check out West Yellowstone.” Hank grinned. “Have you ever been to Yellowstone National Park?”
Savvie shook her head. “No.”
“If you stay around for long, make sure you get over there,” Hank said.
“Will do.” Savvie gave the man a brief smile. “Thank you—and thank your wife for her support.”
Hank’s face lost all traces of his smile. “We’re every bit as dedicated to freeing those women as you. But it might take time.”
Hunter shook his head. “Time is something they might not have.”
“Understood.” Hank’s lips pressed into a tight line. “We’ll work as quickly as possible to find those women.”
“As will we,” Kyla said as she lifted a slice of toast in her hand. “At the same time, we’ll try to find out who was behind getting the organization to target Marcus Caldwell and not the rest of his family and the human trafficking ring.”
“Thank you,” Savvie said. “I’m used to working on my own. It’s nice to know I’ll have help.”
“It’s what we do.” Hank lifted his chin. “You know where to find us. Out here.”
The screen went black.
Savvie turned to Hunter. “Thank you for getting me this far. I couldn’t have done it without you, Stone and Kyla.”
“I can’t help you search the internet,” Hunter said, “but when you discover where they’re holding the other victims, I’m all in for the extraction.”
Savvie touched his arm. “You’ve done a lot.”
“And we have so much more to do. The thought of others being held in preparation for a sale…” He swallowed hard to clear his throat.
When he’d been too late to save a young woman so long ago, he’d sworn he wouldn’t let that happen again.
He prayed they could find those souls before they were dispersed to their new owners and into a life so miserable he wouldn’t wish it on his worst enemy.
“Sit,” Kyla urged Savvie. “I’d apologize for diving into the food, but if I don’t eat on time, my body reminds me what morning sickness is all about.”
Hunter held a chair for Savvie.
She glanced toward the computers.
“I’ll get back on it as soon as my food settles,” Kyla said. “I guarantee Swede is tapping every source he has while we eat.”
Savvie took the seat Hunter offered.
He sat beside her and handed her the platter of scrambled eggs.
They ate in silence, Hunter consuming protein in the form of eggs and sausage, fueling his body for whatever task might come next.
Savvie picked at her food, her brow knitted. When she finally pushed her plate away, she sighed. “I should’ve stayed in Miami.”
“The way things were going, Caldwell’s people would’ve caught up with you,” Hunter said.
“If not them, the police would’ve found you and jailed you for the murder of a member of one of the wealthiest families in Florida,” Stone said.
“Stone’s right.” Kyla lifted her toast in salute. “And what good would you have done from a jail cell?”
“If the Caldwells have that broad of a reach, you wouldn’t have been safe in a jail,” Hunter said. “They wouldn’t want you ratting out their money-making operation, even though they could probably buy their way out of any investigation.”
Savvie’s lips twisted. “I know all that, but how can I help the others when I’m more than halfway across the country?”
“We find where they’re keeping them and send the feds in,” Stone said.
Kyla snorted. “I wouldn’t doubt it if someone with the feds was paid to put the hit on Marcus alone. Plus, the person paying had to be someone inside the trafficking ring getting a little power hungry.”
“Why do you say that?” Stone asked.
“Why else target Marcus?” Kyla waved her hand. “They obviously wanted him out of the way without shutting down their operation. One less cut of the profits.”
“Makes sense,” Savvie murmured. “We should look at other members of the family and those in charge of acquisitions and sales.”
Kyla tossed down her napkin and pushed back from the table. “After a quick trip to the bathroom, I’ll get to it. Swede and I will also work on getting you up and running.”
“In the meantime,” Stone said, “Hunter can take you down to the lobby. My father will have a room for you. After being chased around Miami and a midnight excursion in the ocean, I’m sure you’d both like to shower.”
Savvie stood, her cheeks flushing a pretty shade of pink. “I was limited on what I could bring in my backpack. Are there laundry facilities available?”
Hunter nodded. “Yes, they’re located near the kitchen. I can show you where they are. In the meantime, I can loan you a T-shirt and sweatpants until we can get you to a store for clothes that better suit you.”
She gave him a crooked smile. “Thanks.”
“I also have some things that will work for you,” Kyla said. “Lord knows they don’t fit me in my condition. If you can make do with Hunter’s stuff for now, I’ll collect some things when I return to the lodge.”
“Thank you,” Savvie said. “As soon as I can arrange alternative lodging and clothing, I can be out of your hair. I don’t want to be a burden on anyone.”
Kyla pushed to her feet and crossed to where Savvie stood. “You don’t have to make any quick decisions. You can stay as long as you want or need.” She pulled her into her arms. “I’m glad you made it out alive. Get some rest.”
Savvie hugged her friend. “Thank you, Kyla.” She turned to the others in the room. “And thanks to the Brotherhood Protectors for coming to my rescue.”
Hunter dipped his head. “If you’re ready, we can find your room. I don’t know about you, but that dried saltwater is starting to chafe against my skin.”
Savvie grinned. “Ditto. I could use a shower, as well.”
He led the way down the steps, out of the barn and back to the lodge.
John Jacobs stood behind the front desk, talking to a guest.
“Thank you for the recommendations, Mr. Jacobs,” an older woman said.
“My husband and I can’t wait to visit the park.
It’s been on our bucket list for years. This is our first time to visit Montana and Wyoming, but I hope it won’t be our last.” She left with the map and brochure the lodge owner had been using to point out the highlights of the area.
When Mr. Jacobs turned his attention to Hunter and Savvie, he smiled.
“Oh, good. I have a key for Ms. Sanders.” He pulled a key out of a drawer and handed it to Savvie.
“In case trouble followed you all the way out to Montana, it helps to have someone close who has your back. You’ll be in the room next to Hunter.
I assume he’ll be your protector while you’re here. ”
Savvie cocked an eyebrow toward Hunter. “My protector?”
Hunter nodded. “That’s usually how it works with the team.
If a friend, acquaintance or client needs protection or just to have someone nearby who has his or her back, that’s where we come in.
Not that anyone has been officially assigned to you,” he assured her.
“Not yet, anyway. If Stone or Hank decide you need that added layer of coverage…” he raised his hand, “I’m your man.
After springing you from Miami, I feel like I have a vested interest in your well-being. ”
Savvie’s lips pressed together. “I’ve worked on my own for years. I like to think I can take care of myself.” Her lips quirked upward. “But it’s nice to know I don’t have to do this alone. Thanks.”
Hunter’s chest swelled. It had to have taken a lot for Savvie to admit she liked having a little help.
He was glad Mr. Jacobs had made the logical leap that Hunter would be Savvie’s protector and had taken it upon himself to assign her the room next to Hunter’s. If he hadn’t, Hunter would have asked him to move her closer.