The footsteps grew louder, and the voices were now easily heard. It sounded like there were four, maybe five Mexican guards headed in their direction. The closer they got the harder Heaven’s heart beat in her chest. She prayed it couldn’t be heard by the others, because it thumped like a drum in her ears. The men came into view. Every one waited. She counted down in her head. Timing was everything, and they weren’t to show themselves until the very last minute. Ten. She could smell the stench coming off them. Nine. Their disgusting presence sent a chill up her spine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. They were now passing Tonto and Fork. Three. Almost… Two. The front man stood right in front of her and the urge to snap his neck made her fingers itch. One. The group of guards was now right smack dab in the middle of their entourage. Without a word, Tonto stepped out of the darkness with Fork doing the same from the other side and they both simultaneously broke the necks of the two guys in the back without effort. Before the others could turn around to see what the thudding was as their lifeless bodies hit the ground, the others attacked. Everyone was silent. For the most part, the guys took care of the threat but one man turned just as Heaven moved to the mix. She gripped her knife tight and thrust it into the man’s gut, ducking when he threw a punch. With her lowered position, she made a split second decision and pulled downward with the knife instead of up. The blade gutted the fuck from the belly down to his groin when the bone stopped her movements. She swiftly pulled it out and did one more swipe, slicing through the material of the man’s pants and dick. He gurgled on blood as he looked down in terror. His eyes came back up to meet hers and in that little moment, Heaven smiled at him. He had time to register the pain and shock of a woman sending him to his grave. Ha. As if the fucker would get a grave. He’d be lucky if they didn’t leave him out to rot in the hot sun and let the vultures pick away their rotting flesh. It was only the start of an epic redemption for all the pain he’d caused these girls, but she didn’t have time to give him the torture he deserved. So this would have to do.
As he fell to the ground, Heaven looked around to take note of the situation. Everyone had already dropped the targets and was now staring at her. She put her hands up, silently asking, ‘what?’ There was a lot of head shaking and a few smiles coming from them, but Shady and Abi were flat out grinning. Tonto nodded toward the bodies and the men quickly pulled the corpses from the main walkway and into the darkness before they continued.
The next target was only two. These men were bigger than the first bunch, but still equally as stupid to their presence. When they walked into their group, Abi didn’t wait for a signal. She stepped out in front of one and punched him in the nose in an upward swing, shoving it back into the man’s brain. He dropped immediately. It was Shark who tended to the other, and being the smartass he was, copied her maneuver with a smirk. She rolled her eyes with a smile and helped drag the fat ass she’d killed out of view. The hit did little to appease her blood thirst, but it was a start.
They trekked the two miles into the earth, taking out each oncomer with little effort. Only one man had spotted them, but it was already too late as he reached for his gun. The team had worked together like the highest trained military squad on the battlefield and dropped each one with precision until they found a door. “We go in two-by-two. I want half inside, half outside keeping guard. Remember, we can’t free the girls yet. Not until we have Reyes and can bring down the human trade operation. As tempting as it will be, you must stick to the damn plan,” Fork enforced. He projected his authority, but everyone knew his speech was for himself also. None of them wanted to walk away and leave the girls in this hellhole. But they had to. The entire rescue mission counted on them being able to keep their shit together and do the hardest thing some would ever do in their life. The women were going in for the sole purpose to calm and reassure the girls that help was coming. Fork and Tonto were both accompanying them along with Sandman, Raven, Shark, Gage, Rig, Cajun, Kink, and Maxi.
Tank stayed behind with the others. His brute strength and temper was a valuable asset and great toward any unwelcomed parties who might approach. Fork opened the door, surprised to see it unlocked. That meant the girls weren’t directly inside, or they were being held at gunpoint by guards. Either way, he thought out plans to work with any situation that might arise. He cracked it open silently, peeking through the thin crack to get an idea of what to expect. What he saw, he couldn’t believe. He tore his gaze away long enough to turn back to the group. “Get ready. There are five guards that I count. But…”
“But what?” Tonto asked in a whisper.
“We underestimated on the number of girls by fifty, maybe more.”
“Fifty?” Tonto said on a shallow breath. He kept his whisper low only where Fork could hear so not to alert anyone of their presence, but the last word was hushed because he felt shock wrap around his throat at the thought of fifty or more girls subjected to such agony. Fork nodded and lifted his chin, giving the signal that they were moving in. He slowly pulled the door open enough for them to get through, sneaking in first and hugging against the wall tight to keep them concealed for as long as possible. The most nauseating stench hit him like a brick wall. Feces, death…infection… The place smelled like a thousand dead corpses rotting in the middle of summer.
Heaven choked back a gag, partially from the horrid smell but more so from what she saw.
Row after row of dog kennels stretched down the long length of the room. Girls were locked inside, most looking so close to death she wanted to scream. Malnutrition and dehydration was visible in more than a few. The girls that were still coherent watched, all silent and their eyes widening. Heaven put her finger to her lips to tell them to remain silent, and they nodded. She had a feeling there was no way any of them would risk not getting a chance at being saved. Most didn’t seem to comprehend that it was an option even with the group squatting right in front of them. As each member entered, they crouched down low to the ground and moved around the left side of the room. So much for plan B.
Once they’d made it to the far side of the room and at a spot the guards couldn’t see, Yo Neg leaned toward one of the cages. A young girl, maybe twelve, that had the brightest red hair Heaven had ever seen and the most unique turquoise eyes that once upon a time she was sure had sparkled like the most tropical of oceans slid over to him.
“Where’s Reyes?” he asked. The girl looked around before answering.
“He doesn’t come here often. Just the guards…” her voice trailed off, gripped by fear.
“We’re going to get you all safe and back home, baby. I have to wait until they transport you all to auction so we can stop the whole operation and save all of the other girls who were unlucky enough to fall into these sick fuckers’ hands. Now, can you tell me how many guards are on duty at a time?”
She nodded, a tiny spark of hope flickering in her dead eyes. “Six back here. There are more that stay in the tunnel, and then the two up in the house.”
“Good girl. Now stay silent, okay?” he whispered, putting his hand up against the cage. She nodded, grabbing his hand through the tiny squares as if grasping on for dear life. Which, as fucked up as it was, she kinda was. They were these girls’ only chance at escape. He fought the urge to reach up and unhook the lock that kept her a prisoner. They’d pounded it into the girls not to fall weak and try to rescue them, yet here he stood fighting it with all his might. Fuck, she was so young. Her little features were bruised and battered. She had dried blood all over her. If that emptiness deep in her eyes was what he thought, they’d hurt her in ways she’d never heal from. His anger took control once again. “I promise, sweetheart. We are going to make these motherfuckers pay. Just trust me, can you do that?” He knew asking a sexually abused and horribly battered little girl to trust him, given it was men who had done this to her, was a huge request, but he needed her to have hope. Her little fingers squeezed on his and she sat up straight.
“Okay,” she whispered. Some of the ot
her girls turned to look and she moved to the side of her crate to explain. Some looked hopeful, others still doubted it possible. When she came back once more, the girl stopped him from moving on. “Mister,” she whispered.
“Yeah?” he said, moving back against the metal cage.
“The guards just did a shift change. They’ll be taking one of the girls back any minute.”
He tilted his head, trying to figure out what she meant. “Taking the girls back?”
“Yeah.” Her eyes hit the ground. “They take one of us back and…” shame and humiliation wrapped around her while she slumped farther to the floor, her eyes not meeting his.
“Fuck,” he ground out through clenched teeth. “Not today, they don’t.” He turned to the others and gave the signal to move on. Foot by foot they slowly made their way down the side of the wall, stopping only to ensure the girls remained quiet as to their presence. Fork wanted to take each of these girls and hold them in his arms and erase everything these bastards had done to them. He wasn’t a father, but they kicked in a fatherly protectiveness that had him seeing red. One by one they crawled past, and he could see the affect it had on his men. The girls were a whole different story. The pain they felt for each girl reflected in their eyes, and at one point he halted everyone to recollect themselves because he’d looked over to see Shady literally shaking with rage. Fork knew she’d been through a lot even he didn’t know about, and seeing these girls wrapped in hopelessness probably hit home with her. They were three cages from the front of the room now. He was planning their best strategy when a gasp came from Heaven. His head whipped around just in time to see her bolt from her position to the front cage. The moment she did, the guards were alerted. He didn’t have time to think. He stood with the others following suit and they began to shoot. One by one, they dropped the guards, only coming close to being hit once. He looked down to make sure none of the stray bullets hit any of the girls and moved back to Heaven.
“What the fuck are you doing!” he screamed. He caught her hand as she tried to unlock the door to that front cage. It held Sadie, which was Sahara’s sister, and a little, battered, and bloody blonde.
“Tami!” she screamed. All eyes turned to the limp body laying in Sadie’s lap.
“They took her AGAIN! She’s so bad… She’s been unconscious for hours. I’m scared—” the girl broke off in tears. Tonto shoved Heaven out of the way and shot the lock, careful, which way he pointed to make sure the bullet didn’t ricochet and hurt someone.
“Get these two out now!” Fork yelled, reaching down to scoop up Tami’s body. He handed her off to Sandman and helped Sadie to her feet. “Come on, sugar.” He picked her up and gave her to Raven. “Move!” While the guys hustled to get them to safety, he turned to the other still caged girls. “We’ll be back. I promise you so God strike me dead, we will save every one of you! Who can tell me any more information about this auction?” he yelled, knowing they were running out of time.
Shea spoke up. “It’s in two days. I overheard them talking about bringing in a truck to take us.”
“When are the trucks coming?” he barked. She jerked back some at his harsh tone and he instantly calmed his voice. “When are they taking you, sweetheart?” he tried again. She kept her distance, but her posture relaxed some.
“Tomorrow,” she whispered as if afraid to say it too loudly.
“What’s your name?” he asked, crouching down on his haunches.
She hesitated, but finally answered, “Shea.”
“Okay, Shea. I promise we will come get you all, you just need to hang in just a little bit longer for me. Can you do that?” She eyed him for a split moment and nodded. “Good girl. They’re gonna be busy with our little mess here to touch any of you before then. Just make sure that all the girls know help is coming.” She nodded again. He stood and motioned for everyone to head out. Shady and Heaven were the last to leave.
“We will get you, Shea,” Shady choked out before she ran to the door. Heaven stood in place, her eyes locked with Shea’s, mirroring the terror the girl held deep within her.
“I promise,” she said as she fled to catch up. Shea felt the first spark of hope ignite since being captured. Sadie was right. They had come, and she knew if they could, they’d hold true to their word. The chances were slim, but at least there was a chance. It was more than she’d had before. She looked down at the bodies lying in a pool of blood and felt a dawning of rebirth. The three men who were laying there had been the ones that had hurt her the worst and taken something from her. They’d taken her pride, her innocence, but they’d mutilated her private parts in a way that would never allow her to be loved. Seeing them dead didn’t make her feel better, but it was a small bit of gratification and closure. Before the guards could rush in, she spoke to the girls that adjoined her.
“We’re all going to be saved,” she gasped. And a small part of her believed it.
Chapter Thirteen
Heaven rode back to the motel in the truck with Tami and Sadie, while one of the guys drove her bike back. Tami had woken up twice but hadn’t been coherent. Heaven’s stomach was in knots. She looked down at the battered little body and her heart clenched. She was so young, so fragile, and now so broken. Even after the cuts and bruises healed, there would always be wounds that wouldn’t heal—wounds that cut so deep she’d carry for the rest of her life. Her baby sister had been branded into a lifetime of pain and hadn’t ever been given a chance. If her parents would’ve been better…hell, if she would have been around more, maybe none of this would have happened. But it had. And now her sister was teetering on the ledge of death in her lap. It was all her fault. She should have taken her with her after the first time. This was on her head, and something she didn’t know if she could live with.
“She’s gonna be okay, Heaven,” a voice said from the front seat. It took her by surprise, drawing her out of her inner despair for the first time since she’d found Tami lying in that cold, dirty floor. She looked up to see Gage watching her intently. He turned in his seat and reached out to her, his hand falling on her knee aside Tami’s head. “She’s going to make it.” Heaven wanted to lash out and tell him no, she wasn’t ever going to be okay, and no, she may live, but she’d never make it in life. Not after this. But she didn’t, and she didn’t have to. His expression said it all. “Tami is a fighter, just like her sister. Whatever it takes, we’ll see to it that she gets everything she needs,” he said, his thumb brushing lightly against her jeans. From the way he looked at her and the feeling she got, he didn’t mean ‘we’ as in the club. He meant ‘we’ as in, him and her. It stole her attention away from Tami momentarily while she tried to process it.
His hand slid off her leg and she turned her eyes back to Tami. She hadn’t expected him to grab her hand and hold it, so when he did, her head flipped back around. “What are you doing?” she asked, despite the obvious. But that wasn’t what she was asking and he knew it.
“Something I shoulda done a long time ago,” he said quietly.
“What are you saying, Gage?” She knew exactly what he meant, but wanted him to say it.
He looked down at Tami and back at Heaven, shaking his head. It wasn’t the right time. When everything had settled and they were back at home, he’d tell her how he felt. Which, with Heaven, she wouldn’t make easy. He wasn’t the ‘pour out his feelings’ kind of guy, but even if it took the rest of their lives, he was willing to show her. When he remained silent, Heaven’s temper flared. Call her overemotional from the shit they’d just seen and been through, but dealing with an ego the size of his was her snapping point.
“That’s what I thought,” she snapped, slinging his hand out of hers. He opened his mouth to say something but Tami stirred. Her groans and screams echoed through the cab, catching Ironman off guard.
“What the fuck?” he yelled, turning to see her. “Try to keep her out until we get back to the motel. Sahara is calling for a doctor to meet us there,” his eyes went back
to the road, but he glanced in the rearview mirror from time to time, checking on them. Tami began to settle at Heaven’s soft murmurs and soon was back unconscious.
“Hold on, baby,” she pleaded, pulling the blood matted hair off her cheek. “I’m so sorry I failed you, angel. So, so sorry,” she sobbed. “How could they do this?” she whispered on a crying hiccup. The tears flowed down her cheeks, her chest heaving from the disgust at what she’d allowed to take place. Her baby sister was the most important person in her life. The gnawing bit of guilt in her subconscious taunted her thoughts.
*****
It was just before daybreak when they made it back to the motel. Ironman had carried Tami into one of the double beds and into the hands of the waiting doctor. He didn’t speak much English, but had managed to shoo everyone out of the room but Heaven. He motioned again for her to go, likely to protect her from what she’d see during the examination, but she wouldn’t budge. There was no way in hell she was leaving her in the care of someone she didn’t know—especially a man. Tami had been through enough. He shrugged and pointed for her to stand toward Tami’s head and she nodded. He dug down in a leather bag and drew out a needle, filling it with a clear liquid. “Dolor,” he said, pointing to Tami. She nodded. It was for the pain. Which meant he was probably pumping her full of Morphine. She was skeptical about Mexican medicine given the area of Mexico they were in, but didn’t have much choice. She just hoped the needle was clean and the meds weren’t tainted.
Highway to Heaven Page 11
