Protector: City of Sin

by Jenny Lynn

  I arrived at Rocket and walked inside. It was busy as I expected it to be, groups and couples chatting and enjoying their drinks. I looked around the room until my eyes landed on a man in the far corner, seated alone with a folder in front of him. I took a chance and walked over.

  “Mitch?” He looked up from his cup of black coffee.

  “You’re Ella James?”

  I nodded, sucking in a breath to steady myself. This is it. He gestured to the seat across from him and I sat down, nerves coiling in my stomach. He looked serious. He was a bald man, kind eyes floating in a face that was heavily lined, as if it had experienced the world’s share of worry. His forehead was creased and his eyebrows were thick, hanging low over his eyes, making him look sleepy. A waitress came by.

  “What can I get you?” she asked.

  “Um, I’ll have a latte.”

  “Refill for me,” Mitch told her as he picked up his coffee and slurped it.

  She nodded and walked away, leaving us alone. The silence was heavy as I waited for him to speak, but he didn’t say anything. He just sipped at the last of his coffee, then put the empty cup down on the table. The waitress came back with our drinks.

  “Thanks,” Mitch grunted.

  When we were alone again, he lifted his heavy hound-dog eyes to meet mine.

  “I’ll get right to it then,” he began. He seemed uneasy, reinforcing my belief this wouldn’t be good news. “I have details about your sister’s disappearance.” He tapped the folder in front of him. “Do you want to hear them?”

  In the distance, a woman in a group burst into laughter, enjoying her evening. In contrast, I was gripping my mug so hard I was scared it would shatter in my hands. Trying to keep the tears from coming, I nodded. I wanted to know. I needed to know.

  Mitch opened the folder and took out a photo of Dana. I gasped, the pain sharp at the sight of her face, as if a hot poker had been shoved into my chest.

  “She came to Vegas for a job,” Mitch told me. “A high roller paid for her time, girlfriend experience, a whole weekend. Twenty grand. She flew out, then she was picked up from the airport.”

  I held the picture in my hands and looked at her face. Dana’s face, just like I remembered it from five years ago. I looked like my mother, a soft face and I had the same large doll-like eyes she did. Dana looked like my father, high cheekbones and thin, expressive lips. She was beautiful even without trying, but in this photo she was wearing heavy makeup. She looked like a fashion model.

  “Where did you get this picture?” I couldn’t look away from it.

  “From the escort agency she worked for. They had updated her photos right before she went missing.”

  The life she led. The things she had to do for money, for her survival. For mine too. If Dana didn’t have a younger sister to take care of, maybe she never would have become an escort. Maybe she would have had a completely different life. But she didn’t. We didn’t, our lives changed the minute our parents' car crashed and their hearts stopped beating.

  “Does her agency know who she met with?”

  “Unfortunately the guy wasn’t using his real name. He used an alias, it’s not too uncommon. Happens. He wired the money from an account, but we can’t trace it, it was emptied and shut down shortly after. Any attempts to follow the money trail lead to dead ends.”

  I put the picture down reluctantly, looking at the folder on the table expectantly. There were other pages in there, he must have more. I waited. He slurped his coffee again, then continued.

  “There was however one more sighting of your sister.” He pulled something from the folder, then hesitated a split second. “This isn’t going to be easy to look at.”

  “Show me.” Nothing about Dana’s disappearance had been easy, why would that change now?

  Mitch passed me the page, and my heart stopped. I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth, a tear escaped and fell down my cheek. I thought I was ready for anything - I was wrong. I was holding a photograph. It was Dana, but not the polished version of her from the other photo. She was wearing a black dress and she had a bruise around her left eye, there were scrapes along her legs and dark purple bruises around her wrists and ankles. She looked utterly broken.

  “Where was this taken?” I finally managed to say.

  “We don’t know, the location changes every month. It’s an underground club that specializes in trafficking and selling women to wealthy bidders. This image was tracked down on the dark web, sometime after she was taken and before she was sold. It’s not traceable. The people on the lookout for these sales, they’re completely off the radar. Word of mouth, mostly, and a heavy vetting process to ensure secrecy. They get a message before an auction, and it’s never the same time or place.”

  I stared at the photo, placing it down on the table beside the other. It tore through my soul, like a sick and twisted before and after montage, my glamorous sister reduced to a sex slave.

  “Who was she sold to?”

  Mitch shook his head.

  “We don’t know Ella. But I’ll keep looking.”

  I wiped my eyes and cheeks, now damp with tears. It wasn’t the closure I was looking for, but it was something. All of the time I had spent investigating the issue of trafficking in Vegas, all along, I had been getting close. My hunch had been right. Now I had somewhere to focus my attention, and maybe I would find the answers I was so desperately looking for.

  “I know it’s not much,” Mitch added, draining the rest of his coffee.

  “It’s more than I ever thought I would have. Thank you.”

  “I’ll walk you out.”

  I looked down at my cold latte, sitting untouched in front of me. I didn’t want anything to eat or drink. My stomach was queasy. I nodded as Mitch checked his phone, responded to a text, then stood up and dropped some cash on the table.

  “Coffee is on me,” he said gently.

  “Thank you.” I rose to my feet. We walked together back out onto the street, and before I turned away, Mitch tapped my shoulder.

  “My ride is almost here. Before I go, do you want the file?”

  I looked down at the folder in his hands he was holding out to me. I wasn’t thinking clearly, I should have asked for it - I could use this. I nodded and accepted it as a car pulled up beside us.

  “Thank you, again.”

  “Don’t thank me,” he said as the door opened.

  Before I could react, a tall and muscular man lunged out. He grabbed me, placing a foul-smelling cloth over my mouth and nose. The car dipped as Mitch got in beside us, quickly closing the door and the car sped off. It all happened so far, had anyone noticed? Would anyone call for help? Mitch looked me in the eyes and shook his head.

  “Don’t thank me, Ella,” he repeated.

  Then everything went dark.

  10

  Beckett

  I pulled into the garage, parked my bike, then rushed for the elevator. Once I was safely inside I ripped off my mask, the air leaving my lungs in a rush. That was close - too close. Doing what I did in such a crowded city I expected to run into trouble or possibly get caught, another reason Ella and I could never be a public couple. I would be putting her at risk, dragging her down with me when I was eventually exposed. Nothing stays secret forever, our demons eventually crawl out into the harsh light of day.

  I did what I did because I couldn’t stop. Because I couldn’t simply sit back while scum bought and sold justice as if right and wrong meant nothing anymore. As if the law didn’t apply to some people who gamed the system. It turned out Frank Berkley knew it, just like I did. And he wanted to share information. That was an interesting development. The world still held surprises for me every now and then.

  As I stepped into my penthouse, my cell began to vibrate in my pocket. I took it out and glanced at the display, expecting it to be Ella checking in on me. Instead it was my temp assistant, April.

  “Hello April. What is it?”

  “Mr. Carter, I expected to leave
a message. Sorry for disturbing you so late.”

  “You’re not, I don’t sleep much. What is it?”

  “I wanted to let you know that your regular housecleaner is ill, so someone else will be sent for the remainder of the week. Are there any specific instructions you want me to pass along?”

  “Nothing specific they don’t already have, no.”

  “There are a few other things about this week. If you’re still awake actually…”

  I waited for her to finish, stripping out of my gear and heading through my library into the secret room beyond where I kept everything associated with being the Vegas Phantom.

  “I’m actually down the street from where you live,” April said. “I went out with friends straight from the office. There were a few things that came in the mail for you, and a couple of changes to your schedule this week. I could come by and update you, if you like.”

  “I’m busy, April. And it’s late.” I kept the phone pressed to my ear as I walked towards my bedroom.

  “No problem, I can update you first thing tomorrow morning when you get into the office.”

  I stopped in my tracks. Shit. I needed to work on researching what Tony might have planned for Ella. It was my main priority right now, making sure the woman I loved was safe. If I needed to head into the office and go through the motions tomorrow, it would take valuable time away from that. Time that I wasn’t sure I had.

  “I won’t be in the office tomorrow, unfortunately. If you need to give me an update, now is fine. You have my address, I’ll buzz you up when you arrive.”

  “Of course Mr. Carter, I’ll be right over.”

  I hung up and groaned. I was glad April was on top of things, but I missed having Jessica take care of these areas of my life. Dependable, clever Jessica. She was the best assistant I ever had, she knew exactly how to manage my agenda and work as well as the personal chores I needed done. She only bothered me when absolutely necessary. I hoped she would be better soon, because I was struggling without her.

  In my bedroom I quickly changed into jeans and a t-shirt when my phone buzzed. April hadn’t been kidding when she mentioned she was nearby. I let her up, then waited in the living room. The doors opened and she walked into my home, her heels clicking against the tile, she was wearing a grey pencil skirt and a tight white blouse with one too many buttons undone. April was being too obvious. I wasn’t in the mood for games, I wanted her to fix my schedule then leave. I gestured for her to take a seat on the couch, and I took the armchair across from her

  “You have a beautiful home, Mr. Carter.” April sat there, wide-eyed as she looked around the space. Her gaze landed on the piano and she pointed. “Do you play?”

  I nodded. “I do. Now, let’s go through this quickly. I’ve had a long night.”

  “Of course, Mr. Carter.” April took out her notepad and shifted her weight so that her skirt slid up her thigh slightly. I stifled the urge to laugh. After being with Ella, women like April did nothing for me anymore. Lust was easy, hollow, temporary. Love felt better long after the high of a good rough fuck. I wasn’t tempted or interested in what she was offering.

  “You have a meeting tomorrow morning with the PR team to discuss the strategy for the next quarter,” April started. “But you said you can’t make it?”

  “Something came up. Have the plan sent to me by email or courrier, I’ll review it then we can reschedule a meeting to discuss.”

  April took notes in her notepad, then looked at me.

  “There are also two invitations that came in for you. You’ve been offered front row seats for an upcoming boxing match, and you’ve been invited to a charity gala. It’s a masquerade to benefit social housing.”

  “Decline both.”

  I was eager to have her out of my space. I liked my privacy, and wanted it now more than ever after the night I just had. Then, an idea flashed in my mind.

  “Wait,” I told her and she stopped writing. “Decline the boxing match, put me down as tentative for the masquerade. Plus one.”

  “You have a date?” April asked, not even attempting to hide the disappointment in her voice.

  “No,” I lied. “But I’ll have no trouble finding one.”

  The truth was, a masquerade could be a perfect event to spend time with Ella. Wearing a mask, she would be anonymous. We could enjoy an evening out together without any risk, cloaked in mystery. All I needed to do was ask her if she was interested in joining me.

  “Of course. I’m sure you would have no trouble, Mr. Carter,” April smiled at me.

  “Is there anything else?”

  April nodded then reached into her bag, taking out a few pieces of mail.

  “These were sent to the office for you, so I brought them with me.”

  I reached forward and took them, then narrowed my eyes at her.

  “April, why did you take my mail if you thought the next time you would see me was tomorrow morning?”

  Her cheeks flushed and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Busted.

  “I guess I hoped I would get a chance to see you. It was silly, I know…”

  “It was,” I snapped as I stood up. “Now if that’s all, I think you should leave.”

  April stood, bit her lip, and walked towards me.

  “Please don’t be mad, Mr. Carter. You’re handsome, you’re interesting. It can’t come as a surprise that women who meet you want to spend time with you. That they might want to… get to know you better?”

  She was standing right in front of me now, looking up at my face.

  “I’ve been looking through your schedule, Mr Carter. It’s organized, but it’s lacking all that much of a social life. I started to think, maybe you were lonely. And if you were… that I could keep you company.”

  Boldly, April placed her hands against my chest. She leaned forward expectantly, and I gripped her shoulders, holding her at a distance.

  “April, I assure you, I am not lonely. But I do need something from you.”

  Her eyes lit up hopefully. “Anything, Mr. Carter.”

  I tilted my face lower, so I was looking directly in her eyes.

  “I need you to manage my schedule, and push any idea of seducing me far from your mind. I will let this one momentary lapse in judgement pass, but if there is another, I will report you to the temp agency and have you replaced without a second thought. Do we understand each other?”

  She nodded quickly, her eyes wide and face turning pale.

  “Good.” I let go of her shoulders and stepped back. “Then that will be all.”

  I watched as she snatched up her bag and scurried for the elevator. She didn’t look me in the eyes as she got in, no doubt embarrassed, and I breathed a sigh of relief when the doors closed taking her out of my sight. She was attractive, she was throwing herself at me. The old Beckett Carter would have bent her over the table and fucked her from behind, hard, for my own enjoyment and giving her nothing in return as punishment for her presumptive attitude. I would have left her wanting release. But my physical needs were being met, and my emotional needs as well. Ella was my everything now, and no one else could compare.

  Thinking of Ella, I took out my phone. I sent her a quick message, there was no sense calling her this late. She would be fast asleep.

  Call me tomorrow morning.

  I smiled, thinking of the possibility of a night out together in Vegas, our city. Ella dressed in a glamorous gown, an intricate lace mask concealing her identity from everyone but me. Holding her close, dancing with her. Simply being with her was intoxicating.

  I went to my bar, poured myself a scotch, then went over to my encrypted laptop. I wanted to review all of the notes the police had on Tony Venetti, and any possible mention of this new local hitman known only as the Shadow. If he thought he was going to get close to Ella, he was wrong. I wasn’t going to let the Venetti family take any more from me than they already had.

  They weren’t in control here, I was.

 
11

  Ella

  When I came to, I was exhausted and disoriented. It took so much effort to move my limbs, it felt like my bones had been coated in lead. Frozen in place, like a tragic figure unearthed in Pompeii. I finally managed to lift myself into a sitting position. My head was pounding, there was a sour taste in my mouth, and I was dizzy. I tried to look around, the room slowly coming into focus.

  “Take it easy.”

  An unfamiliar voice not far away startled me and my body twitched in fear. It finally registered that there was a blond woman, about my age, sitting across from me. We were in a windowless, grey brick room. She was sitting on a dirty mattress that had been carelessly tossed on the cold concrete floor, just like I was.

  “Don’t be afraid, not of me.” She spoke softly, but the noise made my head throb. “Just take it slow or else you’re going to get sick. If you need to throw up, there’s a toilet in the corner.”

  “Who are you? Where am I?” My voice didn’t even sound like it belonged to me, it was hoarse and raspy, each word crumbling like brittle leaves.

  “I don’t know where we are any more than you do. I woke up here, just like you. I think it was a few days ago, but I can’t tell. There are no windows, no way to track time. My name is Caroline. What’s yours?”

  I pressed my hand against my head and winced. My skull felt two sizes too small, closing in and pressing down on my brain. “They drugged me. They did something to me, and took me here. I don’t know why.”