by Taylor Hart
“This is my fault,” her mother had said and Texas had heard fear in her voice. “Please … find her.”
Texas was consumed with finding her. Getting out of the car, Texas went around and yanked the translator out with him. His gut told him the translator was part of this. Sure, he acted all concerned, but it didn’t sit well with him that the translator had immediately gone back to Liberty’s room. Why hadn’t he reported it to someone at the conference as soon as it happened?
When he’d asked him about it, the translator had told him he was trying to find clues in the room. Texas didn’t believe that for a minute. It was clear to him the translator meant to take her stuff and rip her off. Maybe he even meant to clear out the room and make it look like she had left on her own.
Texas threw the guy down on the ground.
He looked up at Texas, his body shaking. “Please, Mr. Waters, don’t hurt me.”
“Cut the crap.” Texas scowled at him. “I figure you know exactly where this operation is. Where they take these women. I figure you were trying to steal her stuff yesterday.”
Texas hunched down, giving him the most intimidating look he could muster. “Let me get one thing straight. I’m going to whoop your butt until you talk. I’m going to give you pain. Pain you’ve never had.” He let out a breath. “I spent four years being trained by Uncle Sam to deal with spineless traitors like you. In my opinion, you are the scum of the Earth. The kind who sells women and children.” More anger surged in him. “And I’ve been waiting to whoop somebody for a long time now that I think about it.”
The translator looked afraid, but Texas knew it was an act. Knew these slimy types. If Texas turned his back for one second, the guy would run, go collect his fee, and do it again and again.
Texas patiently leaned down and pulled the man’s pack off his back.
“Wait,” the man called out.
He was too late. Texas already had the leather sack open. There was a pocket knife. A canteen. Some papers.
Texas pulled the papers to him and looked them over. They were filled with women’s faces and information. He stopped at Liberty’s face. All the raging anger stilled. Turned cold inside of him.
He looked at the slimy translator. Texas believed his current look of fear was real. The truth was out.
Carefully, he opened the pocketknife and muttered the same prayer he’d always used before he was about to search a building. “Lord, grant me the gift to know who to kill and who to let go.” He put the knife to the man’s neck.
“Now talk or you’ll die.”
Chapter 25
The next morning, panic again consumed Liberty. The men finally came around and opened the cages, making all the women get out. They ripped the tape off of them and pointed to a corner of the barn where they could relieve themselves.
It was humiliating, degrading. She was stiff everywhere. Pulling her shorts down and squatting, she inwardly railed against these filthy men who watched all the women cower as they went into the makeshift flap bathrooms. The sheets did nothing. They were barely a protection of modesty, but she did relieve herself.
She was thirsty and starving and bloody on different parts of her body. As she came out of the bathroom, she heard shouting and turned to see a dark man with a gun and a cigar in his tobacco stained teeth wave her over. “You, American, there.” He pointed to an outdoor shower.
Some of the other refugee women were being sent to different places. One woman, who she stood by, reminded her of that famous picture she studied in college of a woman who had lost her husband and was a migrant worker. The strain and pain on her face of wondering what she would do had etched deep lines around her eyes. It was called “The Migrant Mother,” she remembered.
The lady turned to her, speaking discretely and quietly. “Just keep your head down, and it shouldn’t be too bad. I’m Darla.”
The woman looked skinny and tired, but spoke perfect English.
“You’re American?” Liberty asked.
The woman nodded. “Had the crap beat out of me for a couple of days, but I’m making a plan to get out of here. We can work together if you can keep your cool.”
The men corralled them like cows into an outdoor shower. Which consisted of a large hose connected to a large shower head. It reminded her of P.E. with a lot less ability to wash since there were ten women crowded around it.
The women began stripping their clothes and leaving them over a fence. She could tell they had done this drill before. Many of the women were dark skinned, and unlike the American woman she’d just met, looked beat down.
The men yelled at them.
Liberty followed their lead, wanting the relief of the water more than the questionable level of cleanliness she might achieve. She hoped she would at least be able to clean the wound on her head. An infection was the last thing she needed in these circumstances.
Suddenly, the water turned on.
The women stepped into the water, trying to quickly clean themselves. Of course, there was no soap, and Liberty thought about how gritty they would still be.
She hesitated, and wondered if she should strip. The men all stared at them, their eyes like wolves.
Right before her group was supposed to go in, she decided to forget it. She turned away.
One man, probably still in his teens, came forward at the direction of the others. He grabbed Liberty by her hair and pulled her away from the other women only to throw her back into the group. Speaking in a language she didn’t know, he pointed to the showers. Apparently, it was mandatory she did this.
The merciless look in his eyes, told her he was evil regardless of how young he was.
Without warning, he kicked her hard in the side and yelled at her in a language unfamiliar to her.
Pain exploded in her hip and all she could think about was … she should have listened to Texas.
Chapter 26
Texas stared at the cut he’d put in the man’s skin. It wasn’t too deep, the man had cracked quickly.
The translator had told him about the operation to capture women and sell them to the highest bidder. Texas had agreed he would pay the man a large sum once he helped him get her back.
Of course … Texas would never pay a guy like this, but he had to get Liberty back so he played along.
The translator called another Uber, and gave him an address. Soon, they were driving down some road in the middle of nowhere.
Texas called Hunter James and explained the situation.
Hunter reassured him. “I got you covered, Tex. My guy was at the conference center and he’ll head your way now.”
“Okay.” Texas said. “We’re fifteen minutes ahead of him.”
Texas got off the phone with Hunter and told the driver to slow down. He needed back up.
The translator coughed. “I don’t know if I can go in with you.” The fear in his eyes had worsened. “The men I take you to will kill you.”
Texas smiled. “They’ll kill you too, compadre, so it looks like we can help each other escape, or we’ll all die.”
The man turned bitter. “My fee just doubled.”
Texas knew they’d probably die and all he could hope for … was a miracle. “Fine.”
They pulled up to some trees right outside of a couple of large barns in the middle of nowhere with a couple of trucks around.
“Wait here.” The translator said to the driver. He glared at Texas. “We will wait for your friend, hopefully he has some guns.”
Texas nodded, scanning the buildings, looking for her.
The translator pointed to one of them. “That’s the main building to keep the women.”
Texas surveyed the area. “How many guys are there usually?”
“I must go.” The Uber driver sounded nervous.
“No,” Texas and the translator said at the same time. Texas said, “Five-hundred American dollars—cash—if you’re here waiting when I get back.”
“No.” The driver shook his head
.
“A thousand.” Texas instantly doubled it.
The driver looked doubtful.
“Five-thousand.” Texas stated, hoping this would be more then the driver could refuse. “The money is back at the hotel room. You get it when we are back at the hotel safe and sound.”
The driver licked his lips. “Yes, sir. Pleased to be waiting for you, sir.”
Texas turned to the translator, thinking fast. “We need a plan.”
The man growled, “Be patient.”
Worry started to form inside of Texas’s gut and he suddenly got the distinct impression he might be being set up. Texas pulled out his phone and took a picture of him, immediately texting it to Hunter. “I just got your pic and sent it to a military buddy of mine. If I don’t get out of here and the girl doesn’t get out of here. I will have someone hunt you down and kill you.”
The translator looked infuriated, his eyes going into tiny brown beads. Then he cursed and looked out the window. “Where is the man who is supposed to help you?”
Texas looked around, nervous energy filling him. “He’s coming.” He tried to reassure himself.
All of a sudden, the translator pointed to a building. “There they are, moving the women to the showers right now.” He cursed again. “They will see us and be suspicious.” He leaned forward. “Driver, go there.” He pointed in the direction of the women. He turned to Texas. “We must talk to the men before they open fire on us.”
No matter how much Texas didn’t want to go into this whole deal unarmed, he knew the translator was right. “Fine,” he said. In his mind, he said a prayer to the almighty God, asking for her safety, asking that they could get out. Asking for more than he deserved. He’d done things in his life he wasn’t proud of, especially during war. Being here brought all of those demons back.
But maybe she deserved mercy. Maybe, the Lord would grant this favor for Liberty. For Liberty’s father.
“Are you praying?” The translator scoffed.
Texas nodded. “We’re in a foxhole.”
The driver pulled up to the barn.
Texas didn’t know if he could trust the beady, little man, didn’t know if he would even find Liberty here, didn’t know if he would live, but he had to try. He thought of all the times in his military career when he’d gone into buildings to clear them, been caught in crossfire, or just been in the middle of general mayhem. It was crazy to realize this was the worst by far because the potential loss of Liberty mattered that much to him.
Then he saw the shower and then the women. They were naked, skinny, too thin, and dejected, being rounded up like cattle. The men stared at them like it was some peep show.
Rage filled him. He’d give anything for his old service weapon. He spotted Liberty on the ground, a guard kicking her.
Texas’s heart hammered, and all he knew was one thing—he hoped he was really as much of a hero as Liberty said he was.
Pulling the lever and kicking open the door, all he knew was … the men were about to pay for their crimes.
With their lives.
Chapter 27
As Liberty looked up at the guy who kicked her, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye.
Texas!
She must be hallucinating. He was walking toward them, the translator she’d hired was at his side.
Confusion filled her. How had he found her? How … but it was Texas.
The men started talking loudly and the man hovering over her turned toward them.
Quickly standing, she didn’t know what to do.
Hope filled her. Her eyes burned.
He was here.
Texas had come. And by the look in his eyes, she could tell someone was going to get whipped.
Power filled her. She could do this with his help.
Without warning, the translator ran toward the shower area, his hands up, calling out something to the men in their native language.
Everyone stopped, even the women, turning to look at him.
He had blood going down one side of his face.
She looked for Texas, but he wasn’t there any longer.
Out of nowhere a man appeared with a machine gun and started firing at the men who had been forcing them into the shower.
Her eyes darted around, searching for Texas. She saw him take two guys from behind, grabbing one and kicking another. He yanked the gun out of the man’s hand he’d just grabbed, immediately shooting the other man he’d kicked then shooting the man he’d justing taken the gun from.
It had all happened so fast. The women ran, grabbing their clothes.
Liberty took off toward Texas, but the translator intercepted her. “Go! To the car!”
The sounds of yelling and gunfire overwhelmed her, but she yelled for the woman. “Darla!”
She heard Texas yell out to her. “Get to the car!”
Turning back, she saw him crouched down behind a junked-out car, dead bodies around him. “Liberty, get the women to the cars!”
Purpose filled her. It was utter chaos as she yelled at the women to follow her, taking some of them by the arm. Darla found her and began helping gather the women.
Texas was instantaneously next to her, shouting at the women to get in.
The two cars sped away from the barns with the translator sandwiched between Texas and Liberty. Texas hung out the window firing the machine gun he’d picked up in the chaos toward the barn, covering their escape.
When Texas finally stopped shooting he pulled himself back into the car. Shaking his head he smiled at Liberty. “Hey.”
Gratitude washed over her. “Hey.”
Chapter 28
Texas took over when they arrived back at the conference center. He demanded a meeting with security, he arranged for U.N. aide workers to help meet the needs of the women who had been rescued, and he turned over the translator to the U.N. security guards explaining to them that the guy was in on the abductions of the women and he knew where they could find the rest of the women.
It took a couple of hours to figure it all out.
Hunter’s man had been a life saver, showing up with a machine gun and an SUV just in the nick of time.
But, Hunter’s man hadn’t stuck around and been part of the ‘official’ dealings with the police. He was ex military and hired to do a job. That was it.
Texas was pleased as he watched Liberty keep a cool head and work with the reporters covering the conference to write this story. Pride filled him as he took notice of the professional way she organized the other reporters to make sure the story got out and the women’s families were located.
Texas couldn’t believe he’d found her. God had worked a miracle.
When Liberty finally got loose from the reporters, and finished making sure all the women had accommodations at the conference hotel, she came to him.
Before she reached him, he opened his arms, and she fell into them. “Thank you.”
Without asking, Texas picked her up, cradling her close to him and headed to her hotel room. “I’m not going to say that I’m glad you came here, but I am going to say that I’m proud of the fact those women are now going home to their families.”
Her eyes closed, and all the energy drained out of her. Part of him wanted to yell at her for being such a stupid idiot. Part of him wanted to kiss her. Part of him knew he could never let her go again.
Chapter 29
When Liberty woke early the next morning, she jolted to a sitting position. She’d been dreaming she was back in that van. Back with those greasy, ugly men. Trapped with the other women.
“Shh.”
She opened her eyes and saw Texas standing next to her. He sat on the bed beside her and gently rubbed a hand over her head. “The nightmares will get better with time.”
She stared into his eyes, feeling this surge of love. “You came.” It was astounding to her.
He grunted. “After that article I had to prove myself.”
She smiled and felt moisture
start in her eyes. “I’m so sorry …” Her body began shaking.
He pulled her into him.
She remembered him carrying her back to the room. She remembered getting in the shower and crying. Remembered him waiting for her, those deep blue eyes filled with compassion when she’d come out of the shower dressed in clean clothes.
He had pointed to the bed. “Sleep, we’ll talk in the morning.” She’d fallen into bed and been out.
Until those dreams. Or rather, nightmares.
Texas pulled back from her. “Your body is processing everything. Eventually, you’ll be okay. I promise.”
Looking up into his eyes, she knew he spoke from experience. “Texas.” Her voice broke. “I … wanted to trust myself. But, I realized when I was captured … you were right.”
He stared at her. “Well, of course I’m right, but you need to be more specific.”
She let out a long sigh. “I can’t get killed changing the world.”
He laughed and pulled her in again. “Finally, she speaks some common sense.”
She let him hold her for a few moments, then asked. “Why did you come?”
It was apparent to her that he’d showered after she’d gone to sleep last night. His hair was soft, and he smelled like the hotel soap. She could get lost in his smell.
He pulled her back. “Because I have a hero complex.” He winked at her, teasing her.
Unable to resist, she let out a laugh, feeling lighter for a moment.
“I do have to admit there was this girl … she’s kind of special to me.”
“Oh yeah?”
He shrugged. “Pretty much a groupie kind of girl.”
She laughed. “You got to use that hero streak of yours?”
He smiled.
Their eyes held and then turned sad. “I don’t deserve you.”
Staring into her eyes, it felt like he could see into her soul. “Or maybe you do.” He lifted and lowered his shoulders. “If you’re not doing that on again, off again thing anymore.”
