Chapter 18 Lincoln
George removed the bullets and bandaged me up. I felt well enough to move around even though he told me I needed bed rest. Fuck that, I don’t have time for fucking bed rest.
I had J.C. digging into Alek’s background more. We needed to find some dirt on him if my propositions didn’t go as planned.
“What do you think they are doing to her?” I don’t really know why I asked J.C. that. We both knew what they were doing to her. She was being beaten and raped.
J.C. looked up from her laptop but said nothing.
“Sitting here isn’t an option. I have to do something.” I slammed by hand down on the counter making J.C. jump.
“Listen, if you do something without thinking rationally, you could lose your chance to find her. They could move her out of the fucking country for all I know, and you’ll never find her. So calm down and let me work.”
I growled but sat down, staring at my computer screen. I wanted to get out of here, but she was right. I needed a plan. It would be harder now to go under the radar since Eddie knew my face. I had to meet with Alek and just hope he would take over my operation in exchange for Laynie.
“Hey, I think I might have found something on the Charlie girl.”
“What?” I walked over to J.C.’s computer.
So 6 months ago there was an arrest made on a drug bust. There was an unidentified woman found at the scene, but she fled out the back of the home before the police had an opportunity to question her.”
“Okay, and how does this relate to Charlie?”
“Because in the police report it says the girl had a very distinct tattoo of a fish on her arm. They made the connections that she possibly matched the missing person report but were unable to find out anymore information because the man arrested, who was waiting for bond, was killed in jail.
“Okay, so what happened to her?”
“Well, I’m not sure. She could still be in hiding, but I am wondering if she went home. Maybe she escaped and is with her family?”
“Okay, interesting theory, but Laynie told me she doesn’t have anyone. Her parents aren’t in the picture, so where would she go?”
“She had a tech job, right?”
“Yeah, Laynie told me she was a genius,” I said, while pacing back and forth.
“Maybe she is looking for Laynie, like we are. I could put some fake lead on the dark web and see if she bites. Maybe like a fake sale that matches Laynie’s description and see if she shows up at the scene.”
“Yeah, do that.”
“We really should wait a few days to let those stitches heal up.”
“I don’t need to wait. I’m fine. We can take the SUV and scope it out.”
“And if we see her? You can’t chase after anyone. You need a real plan, Lincoln. She will not trust you. In fact, she might try to kill you.”
“If she shows up, I will take that risk.”
“Also, I canceled the dinner with your mom and she was not happy about it. You should call her.”
A call came through and the doorman told me Liam wanted to come up. I told him to send him.
The elevator door dinged and Liam walked in, looking flustered.
“What now?” I asked. I knew it couldn’t be good news. The lines on his forehead revealed worry.
“I have good news and bad news.”
“Jesus, I need good news, so give me that first.”
He moved forward with a slight limp. I wondered if that was part of the bad news.
“The small shipment came in from the port and was a success. No one fucked with it and we got the product off and went to the warehouse.”
I sat down with a sigh of relief. The threat to the mayor must have carried some weight. “So the bad news?”
“Yeah, so about that.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I did the last delivery from the warehouse and a woman approached me and she fucking seduced me, then stabbed me in my fucking leg. She tried again for my eye, but I ducked and got away from her. She kept the package, though. I don’t even remember when she grabbed it from me, but when I got away from her, I realized it was gone.”
“Fuck Liam. A woman, really?”
“I know I’m sorry. It caught me off guard,” he said.
“You know that’s coming out of your check.”
“I know.”
“Anything else?”
“For now, we are good. We had 6 successful deliveries, but you know the product is low since you ordered little on this shipment.”
“Yeah, I’ll order more.”
Liam left and I couldn’t stop thinking about Laynie. I wish I could just go get her. Pull her out of hell and bring her back here. My bedroom felt empty without her, and the shower still had all of her things in there. Some clothes remained spread across the floor, and I couldn’t bring myself to pick them up. l felt rage in my soul seeing Eddie so easily hit her. He hit her as if she was a grown man. He didn’t hold back or resist. Right now, she was with that ruthless monster, and I couldn’t sit here any longer.
“J.C. I’m going back to the club to see Alek. I can’t sleep another night without her. Get a hotel. I don’t want you here alone or at your apartment.”
“Ugh, fine.” She hopped up from the table and collected her things. “You’re going to rip those stitches out.”
“I’ll be fine, but please be careful, J.C., I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to you because of this.”
“Bitch, I won’t forgive you either,” she said. “I’ll be fine. I’m taking the train straight to a hotel.”
We both left the apartment.
* * *
The club wasn’t as busy as a few weeks ago, but it was a Tuesday night. After being let in, I made my way to the room I had found Alek in before and I spotted him sitting on the same couch but with different girls.
I wasted no time in using formal greetings. From behind the couch, I noticed his large bodyguard eyeing me. I put up my hands in surrender just as Alek looked up at me.
“Aw it’s lover boy,” he said through his strong accent. “I heard you’ve been dining my girl like a boyfriend. My girls are not for that. They are to satisfy and entertain. Privately.”
So someone had already told him they had seen me and Laynie on a date. “If I pay for her, what does it matter what we do?”
“Because you take significant risk bringing her out in public. I should kill you for putting my entire empire at risk.”
I could tell he was angry, and this was really putting a wrench into my plans. “Let me buy her. What does she cost?”
“She is not for sale.”
“Why not? You have so many.”
He tilted his head to look at me. “I owe you no explanation. She is mine. I think in the few days you had her, you have forgotten that. My little lamb is one of my favorites and I will not allow her to be sold.”
I wanted to take my knife out and stab him through his fucking throat.
He continued, “You know why I call her little lamb?”
I didn’t respond.
“During her first few weeks here, she felt devastated as she witnessed other girls getting hurt. She sacrificed herself to me so other girls wouldn’t have to go. Eventually she realized they would all go, and she was doing no one a favor.” He leaned back against the couch and smiled. “My little lamb,” he whispered.
I could tell he was trying to get me to react, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. But what I heard him say was “her first few weeks here.” Did that mean he kept the girls at the club? Was there a basement underneath this place?
“Now get out of my face and I don’t want to see you again or I’ll make sure I never do.”
I turned to leave, my mind racing with the possibility of her being here.
I dialed J.C. when I exited the room.
“Yo,” she answered.
“Hey, are you at the hotel yet?”
“Yep, I’m here. What’s up?”
“I need you to look something up for me. What’s the layout of this club? Does it have a basement?” I asked.
“Uh, give me a second to find the blueprints.”
I pushed my way through the club, looking for a back door while waiting for J.C. to get back to me. I wasn’t sure if Alek was having me followed, so I needed to be careful.
“Okay, um, yes, it has a basement. You’ll have to walk to the left side of the club and there should be a door leading to stairs. The stairs look like they take you right to the bottom door.”
I glanced over to where she was talking about and noticed two men standing there, looking out at the crowd of dancers. I had to get through them if I wanted into that door.
“Thanks J.” I hung up before she could tell me to be careful.
I stopped and ordered a drink at the bar first. The girl behind the bar was friendly, but her smile never met her eyes. She had dark hair in a ponytail and her breast spilled out of her top.
“Scotch on the rocks,” I said.
She nodded and walked away. When she came back, I slid a 100 on her side of the bar. She raised an eyebrow, but I turned around before she could protest.
The drink burned my throat and chest but it was a wanted burn. It eased my stress of what I was about to do. I needed to be smart. If I got myself killed, no one would save Laynie. After chugging the drink, I sat the glass on the counter and swiftly made my way to the doors. I studied the scene. The viewpoint for this location couldn’t be seen by anyone on the upper floors. I had that to my advantage. The music was blaring so no one would hear anything, and the strobe lights kept other visuals at a minimum. I would not get a better opportunity.
I walked over to the man on the right first. He was tall and broad, wearing a black suit. I pretended I had a question, but he couldn’t hear me, so he was forced to lean in closer. Once he did, I jabbed my knife through his abdomen, aiming for the liver. Before he keeled over, I turned to my right and sliced the other guy right in his jugular. They were both down in a matter of seconds. I looked back, and no one had noticed the scene yet. I slid through the doors behind them and made my way down the stairs.
I knew I had to hurry. Someone would certainly notice two grown men on the ground not moving. I came to the bottom of the stairs and pushed the door open. It was pitch black and cold. Freezing. It almost felt like I was outside. I saw nothing, but I could hear movement in front of me.
I felt along the wall for a light. I can’t move in the dark, so it was better to have light, even if it alerted someone to my presence. When I came across a switch, I flipped it up and it illuminated the room. I saw one girl tied to a pole in the middle of the floor. She was blindfolded and had duct tape on her mouth. I knew it wasn’t Laynie instantly. I felt sick. She wasn’t fucking here. Fuck!
I walked over to the girl. She couldn’t have been but 15 or 16. I lightly touched her face, and she pulled away from me and tried to scream, but it was muffled by the duct tape over her mouth.
“Shhh, I’m going to help you get out of here, but you have to be quiet. Can you do that?” She nodded briefly.
I took off her blindfold. She stared at me with big doe eyes, terrified and panicking.
“Can you walk?”
She nodded.
“I am going to rip off the duct tape. If you scream, you’ll get us both killed. Do you understand?”
She nodded again.
I took the edge of the duct tape and ripped it off. She gasped for air but didn’t scream. Her dark hair was tangled around her face, so I gently pushed it back. “Can you walk?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Okay let’s go.” I grabbed her hand and stood her up on her feet. Once I turned the lights back off, we exited through a back door. I heard police sirens in the distance, which means someone was heading down those stairs. I told her we needed to run and we ran through alleys and streets until I felt safe enough to stop. We were both breathing hard.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“Where are you from?” I asked.
“Orlando.”
Shit. So she didn’t know New York like I did. I couldn’t just let her go. “How old are you?”
“15.”
“Look, I’m going to get you close enough to the police station and watch you go inside, but I’m not coming in with you. I am looking for another girl, so it’s important I stay under the radar. Tell the police you escaped on your own.”
She nodded her head. “Who’s the other girl you’re looking for?”
“Her name is Laynie. Do you know her?” I took out my phone and showed her a picture.
“Yes.”
“Do you know where she is?”
“No. She is in an enormous warehouse with rolling doors. That’s all I know. I was with her recently. They are torturing her,” she whispered the last sentence.
“What do you mean?” My voice was strained.
“They have her hanging from rope. Naked and it’s so cold. I feel terrible for her. They keep talking about a man who took her on a date or something. Is that you?” She looked up at me with concern.
“Yeah, that’s me. Fuck.” I started pacing. I knew I had brought more pain to her.
“You made things worse for her.”
“Yeah, I can fucking see that. Come on, let’s get you to the police station.” I didn’t want to risk taking the train. Too many people, too many eyes. It took us 20 minutes to navigate quietly through the streets without being detected. I said little on the walk as I couldn’t stop thinking about my baby hanging in a cold warehouse, suffering.
I got us close enough to the police station and told Sarai to tell them everything except the part about me. Maybe they could use what she said to help rescue Laynie. I doubted it, but it couldn’t hurt. The more people looking for her, the better.
“That’s the station there. Go inside. I can see the entrance from here.”
She nodded again and hugged me. It was unexpected and caught me off guard. Her tiny body wrapped around me. I hugged her back quickly and ushered her to go.
I watched as she entered the station. Going home was not an option for me. I knew they would come for me there.