Chapter 22
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Stella sat at the bar with a bourbon in front of her and a bored expression on her face. The crowd was thick tonight. The buyers’ corner was full, the bookies were working fast, and the smooth voice on the PA had already announced the first bout.
Blaze was in the holding room. She’d watched him disappear forty-five minutes ago with Ryder at his shoulder. Stella lifted her glass an inch, let the bourbon touch her lip without drinking, and set the glass back down.
Two men she hadn’t seen before sat at the bar four feet from her.
One was in his mid-sixties, wearing a navy blazer over a white button-up shirt.
The second one was in his late forties, in a grey suit with no tie.
The younger one paid for the two Old Fashioneds in cash from a money clip.
Stella kept her body turned toward the pit, and her right ear in line with their conversation.
“You coming to the auction this week?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
The younger one drank, and the pause held for a beat.
“I’ve seen the new stock. The pieces are fresh and clean.”
The men finished their drinks, stood, and walked toward the buyers’ corner. The bartender came down to wipe the bar where they’d been sitting. Stella lifted her glass and drank. The bourbon hit her tongue without registering. Her bear was raging inside her, but Stella kept her face still.
Moments later, one of the trafficked women came out of the steel door.
She walked the floor once, circulated through the buyers’ corner, and walked back when she was done.
By the time the third woman came through, her bear was running tight circles inside her mind.
Then the steel door opened, and Nell came out.
She was in black satin tonight, cut high at the collarbone and falling past the knee. Her hair was pinned smooth against her scalp. The makeup was heavy. Her eyes were dead. The bear keened, Stella drank, and she didn’t look directly at Nell.
Nell crossed the floor to the buyers’ corner.
An older man in a tan suit reached for her hand and pulled her against his side.
He spoke into her ear, and she laughed. Stella had to use force to keep her bear inside.
She let her eyes drift across the floor without resting on anything.
After the round, Nell pivoted away from the man and started the slow walk across the floor toward the bathrooms.
Stella slid off the stool and walked toward the corridor leading to the bathrooms. Nell was at the door of the ladies’ room. She pushed it open and stepped inside. The door swung closed behind her.
Stella waited two beats, pushed the door open, and went in, locking the door behind her. The bathroom was a small two-stall room with a tile floor and a long mirror over a double sink. The fluorescent buzzed overhead. The room smelled like cheap soap and perfume.
One stall door was closed. Stella stood by the sink and waited. The toilet flushed and the stall door opened. Nell stepped out, adjusting the hem of her dress. She stopped when she saw Stella.
“Nell. It’s me.”
Nell’s hand came up to her mouth. Stella crossed to her and pulled her in. Stella held her there.
“What are you doing here?” Nell whispered, her voice horse.
“Steel Protection tracked you here.” Nell drew one harder breath and let it out. Stella pulled back enough to look at her face.
Nell’s eyes were wet. “The banned ones?”
“Yes. Blaze is my mate. It’s a long story. All you need to know is that we’re going to get you out.”
Nell stared at her.
“The auction is this week. We’ll get you out before that happens.”
Nell nodded slowly. “Okay.”
“You need to hold steady until the raid. In case anything goes sideways, I need you to know that we’re at the Westmark Inn. Three blocks east. Room 219.”
“I understand.”
“Where are they keeping you after the events?”
“There’s another building. They drive us between them in a windowless van.”
“Do you have any idea how far it is from here?”
“Maybe ten minutes.”
Stella pulled her into one more embrace and held her there for a beat. Then she stepped back. “We can’t stay in here any longer. You go out first. Walk back onto the floor like nothing happened. I’ll come out after you so we’re not in the corridor together.”
“Okay.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Stella unlocked the door, opened it a few inches, and listened. Nothing in the corridor. Nell drew one breath, set her shoulders, and walked out.