by Janie Crouch
That’s where this had all started, with Major Pinnock asking for help to stop Cline and find this guy Stellman. Aiden didn’t care about that anymore. “I’m not going after Stellman, Finn. I respect the hell out of the major, but I’m only going back under to try to help this woman. That’s it.” He’d already told Finn all about Firefly.
Finn held the bag as Aiden took a few more shots at it. “I think you’ll want to hear Pinnock out. He’s bringing someone with him who might have information about your girl.”
That was the first even remotely good news he’d heard. Aiden stopped punching the bag. “Who?”
“Gabriel Collingwood. Remember him from the military?”
Aiden reached up and grabbed the Velcro strap of his fighting mitt with his teeth and pulled it loose. “Sure, from those crossover missions we did with his SEAL team. He got out of the navy, right?”
“Yeah, like seven years ago when his parents had died. He took over Collingwood Technology.”
Aiden ripped off the other glove. “What’s Collingwood got to do with any of this?”
“His company is the government contractor that had the access code to the drones. That second set of symbols Charlie saw was from Collingwood’s company. Stellman was blackmailing him for the information.”
Aiden grabbed a bottle of water. “Fine, but why is he here now? He should’ve notified Pinnock he was under duress way before today.”
“I’ll let Gabe tell that story. But I think you might find it interesting.”
Aiden doubted it. “And why’s that?”
“Because of how Stellman was blackmailing him to get the information. He kidnapped Gabe’s sister.”
Violet Collingwood.
An hour later, Aiden was staring at a picture on his computer tablet of the woman he knew as Firefly. His Firefly was Violet Collingwood, Gabe’s younger sister.
In the picture on his screen she was laughing, standing next to her brother, whose cheek she’d obviously just smeared icing on. Gabe’s look into the camera was exasperated. Hers was impish. So very different than the woman Aiden had seen at The Barn, when she’d barely been holding it together.
What was happening to her right now? What had happened to her last night? Had Randy taken her to another private gathering where she’d been at the mercy of whoever had “bought” her? Aiden’s fingers tightened around the tablet until he was forced to set it down so he didn’t damage the computer.
Gabe Collingwood had the same bloodshot eyes and unshaven cheeks as Aiden, the same burning fury that had already gotten the man out of his seat twice and pacing. It was a helplessness that went against everything he’d ever been trained to do.
The Linear conference room was full of men of a similar nature: Gabe, Major Pinnock, some guy Gabe had brought with him, as well as Aiden and Finn.
Aiden had already reported to them all about what had happened at The Barn. He hadn’t elaborated on Violet’s appearance, but he hadn’t withheld details just to save Gabe’s feelings either. The man would make the best decisions if he had as much information as possible.
Aiden didn’t flinch when he told Major Pinnock that not only had he been willing to blow his cover, but he had been in active pursuit of blowing it when he’d lost sight of Randy and the women. He’d do the same thing again to save Violet.
He gave Gabe a pointed look. “Why didn’t you notify Pinnock immediately if you were being blackmailed? Most contractors of your company’s nature have contingency plans in place for that sort of thing. Doesn’t yours?” Maybe if the other man had enlisted help when he’d first found out about Firefly—Violet’s—kidnapping, she wouldn’t still be in jeopardy.
Gabe didn’t flinch. “We have contingencies in place for me being under duress and needing a way to signal the military, but I made the decision not to inform Pinnock right away.”
Aiden’s hands clenched into fists under the table. “Oh really? And how did that work out for you? How did it work out for Violet? Oh wait, she’s still being kept against her will and suffering God knows what even as we speak.”
Gabe slammed a hand down on the table. “You think that because you’ve met my sister for a total of two hours that you know what’s best in this situation? What’s at risk? You were ready to jump ship on your cover at the first sight of trouble.”
Aiden’s chair flew backward as he stood and leaned his weight on his fists on the table. “I was willing to do whatever I had to in order to get her out of there. Obviously, that’s more than you’re willing to do.”
Aiden couldn’t get his hands on Randy at the moment, but he’d be more than happy to beat the shit out of Collingwood instead. Who the hell would just leave his sister in a situation like that if he had the means to help her?
Finn grabbed his shoulder and Aiden spun around. “What?” he barked.
He knew he had no reason to yell at Finn, but Jesus, why were they all standing around in here talking rather than doing something?
But what could be done?
“Gabe saved Charlie’s life,” Finn said.
“What?” he asked again, wrenching his tone into something more reasonable.
Gabe sat down in his chair, Aiden and Finn following suit.
Gabe ran a hand across his face, rubbing his eyes. “Once Stellman proved he had Violet and told me he was going to kill her if I didn’t provide the access codes for the drones, I did what I had to do to save as many lives as possible.”
“And what exactly was that?” Aiden asked.
“I gave Stellman the code he wanted but then immediately wrote a shell program and changed where the code would lead.”
“That bastard would very definitely have killed Charlie if the code she’d memorized had been fake,” Finn said.
Gabe let out a breath. “The fact that she held out as long as she did, giving me time to build the shell program, was amazing.”
Finn smiled. “You know how it is. Not all girls are made up of sugar and spice. Some are made of hurricanes, intelligence, cuss words, and courage. That’s Charlie.”
Nobody in the room doubted the courage and strength of Charlie Devereux after what she’d endured.
“Violet would’ve been killed too,” Gabe said hoarsely. “If I hadn’t provided what they wanted, they would’ve killed Violet. Buying more time was the best option I had.”
“And as far as Stellman knows,” Major Pinnock continued, “Gabe provided the right code. Unfortunately, Stellman’s partner happened to get killed trying to access the drones.”
“So you think Violet is still alive?” Aiden whispered.
Gabe nodded. “Yes. I think she’s too valuable a tool for Stellman to give up. Using her to control me worked once. He’ll try it again.”
“Then why would he pimp her out at party for a couple hundred dollars?” Aiden rubbed his forehead, which was starting to pound again. “It doesn’t make sense. Someone might recognize her, or like with me, she might be able to get a message out.”
Gabe looked over at the man two seats down from him. With dark skin and darker eyes, he had taken in everything said so far without saying much. The warrior in Aiden recognized the warrior in this man. Gabe gestured to him. “This is Kendrick Foster, recently promoted to Collingwood Technology’s head of security. He’s been separately gathering as much intel as possible about Violet’s location.”
Kendrick gave them a brief nod. “My team reports that the man you saw Violet with is named Randy Villarreal. He hasn’t worked for Stellman for long. We think he took her to that club because he doesn’t know who she is and just wanted to make extra money with a pretty face. The fact that Randy told you that intercourse was not an option supports that theory.”
Every jaw in the room tightened at the words and the reminder that just because there was every reason to believe Violet was alive didn’t mean she wasn’t suffering.
“Violet’s not like your Charlie, Finn,” Gabe said, voice cracking at his sister’s name. “She’s y
oung, just turned twenty-two last month. And she’s not tough at all. She’s quiet, just about to finish her chemical engineering degree. Brilliant, but gentle.”
Not the type that was going to recover easily from something like this.
“What’s the plan?” Aiden asked. “Sitting around waiting for Stellman to blackmail you again doesn’t seem very proactive.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Gabe said. “We need your help.”
“Whatever you need.” Aiden meant every word.
Gabe looked over at Kendrick and gestured for him to continue. “We’ve been scouring and analyzing any data we can on Stellman, Randy Villarreal, and a red-haired female who might be in his company.”
“Where are you getting your data?” Finn asked.
Kendrick’s eyes were hooded. “Let’s just say I haven’t spent my entire life in corporate circles. I have contacts.”
Aiden didn’t care where the information was coming from, as long as it was accurate and helpful. “What are your unmentionable sources saying?”
“Randy was spotted last night at a nightclub outside of Reddington City.”
“With Violet?” Aiden doubted it but asked anyway.
“No. He didn’t have any women with him. He was purchasing narcotics.”
“By the time we got someone to the club, Randy was already gone.” Frustration colored Gabe’s tone.
“What exactly were you planning to do to this Randy guy if you’d gotten to him?” Major Pinnock asked, eyebrow raised.
Gabe didn’t flinch. “Just ask him a few questions about the whereabouts of my sister.”
Aiden caught Gabe’s eye. “If you do catch up with Randy and need help asking your questions, I’d be more than happy to help with that.” He already owed the man five broken fingers.
Gabe nodded, an understanding firm between them. If they could catch Randy, he would tell them where Violet was being held.
“What we did find out,” Kendrick continued, “is that there’s a private party tonight at an undisclosed location. Similar to the one where you saw Violet—lots of girls available for an evening’s pleasure. Whether these women have any choice about it doesn’t matter to a lot of these people.”
“You think Randy will be there with Violet?”
Kendrick shrugged. “I think he blew a wad of cash on drugs and now wants to make some of that money back. This will look like an easily controllable situation to him.”
Hope began to build for the first time since Aiden had realized he’d lost Violet at The Barn. “Okay, so we move in. Call Sheriff Nelson and get law enforcement on the scene.” Aiden looked over at Finn, who nodded in support.
“It’s not that simple,” Gabe said. “First, the location is unknown and evidently there will be all sorts of cloak-and-dagger shit getting people there. Private vehicles with blacked-out windows, no weapons or cell phones allowed. The invite list will be highly selective. We’re hoping your cover ID is established enough to get you invited.”
Kendrick rubbed a hand over his closely cropped black hair. “I can’t say for certain, but I think this event tonight is going to be a human auction. Scumbags there are going to be trying to buy women.”
Shit. That was bad. “Look, I’m willing to do whatever you want me to do, but even if I do find her, I’ll run into the same problem I had at The Barn. Getting her out with no weapon and no way of calling for backup is damn near impossible.”
“We have this.” Gabe took out a small box and slid it over to him. Aiden opened it and immediately recognized a tracking device.
Aiden shook his head. “If they’re as paranoid as you said, they’re probably going to scan everyone for active transmitters. Plus, if you come in guns blazing, Violet and a lot of the other women may get hurt.”
“No, storming in won’t work,” Kendrick said. “And we have every reason to believe they’ll be blocking all transmissions from this location anyway, so even if you could get into the building with a tracker on and running, it wouldn’t do much good. This tracker is for you to put on Violet once you find her. Put it anywhere on her person or clothing, then turn it on once she leaves.”
Understanding dawned. “Then you’ll move in on wherever they’re holding her.”
Gabe nodded. “We’re not bringing in law enforcement. I can’t take the chance on something going wrong. I want to send in you Linear Tactical guys. If you’re still up for missions like this.”
“We are,” both Aiden and Finn said at the same time. They had no doubt the rest of the guys would feel the same.
“You’re the next best thing to my SEAL team—one of the tightest Special Forces groups I’ve ever worked with.”
“We’ll be ready,” Aiden assured him.
“I want Kendrick as part of the team too.” Gabe’s words weren’t a request. “He’ll be my personal eyes and ears. I would be going in also if it weren’t for my knee. I won’t take a chance on slowing you down.”
Aiden turned to the younger man. “Can you keep up?”
One dark eyebrow rose. “Don’t doubt it.”
Major Pinnock cleared his throat. “Look, I want to get Violet home as much as anyone, but you need to be aware of the other factor here, Aiden. Security is probably as tight as it is at this private party because Stellman is going to be there. We want you to get the tracker on Violet, but being able to ID Stellman . . . we may not get another opportunity like this.”
“Not to mention, as long as Stellman goes free, Violet will always have to be looking over her shoulder,” Kendrick said.
Aiden looked around at each man in the room. “Then it sounds like tonight is going to be a big night.”
Chapter 6
My signature éclair needs a mixture of both dark and milk chocolate. Milk chocolate by itself would be too sweet. Also, a dash of cayenne pepper might add a unique and unexpected flavor.
Violet felt the pinch on her thigh at a distance. Through eyes that wouldn’t quite focus, she watched the man in the gold mask perpetuate the tiny cruelty.
The detached part of her brain knew she was disassociating again. Her mind was hiding from what was really happening here in order to protect her. Reality was too much to process.
This was a human auction and these people were monsters. Masked monsters.
“We need more wine, Timothy. Send the girl to get some more.”
The bored request came from the lone woman in the group of monsters, no less evil because of her gender. She was one of the six people Violet had been assigned to serve. The group had “rented” her for the night from Randy to meet their food, beverage, and entertainment needs as they decided if they would bid on any of the people being sold. Violet supposed she should be glad she wasn’t one of the people being auctioned off later. And she was thankful. But every time one of these people touched her, she wanted to vomit.
Two of the six people—Gold Mask and Blue Mask—were more violent. But the pinches and stinging slaps to her thighs and buttocks were easier to take than the softer, more intimate caresses of the others. Hands were constantly on her breasts, or between her legs, as she brought them whatever drinks or snacks they wanted.
It had been a relief when her mind had just completely shut down.
In here with her recipes, all the things she wanted to make when she got home, she couldn’t feel anything else. She didn’t squirm at the monsters’ touch anymore—which had just made them laugh anyway. She didn’t try to get away when they pulled her down on their laps. Here inside her mind she could survive.
And in here with her was Aiden. Somehow he was in her mind’s safe place, even though he had no right to be.
After the night at The Barn with him—Three nights ago? More?—she’d stayed awake all night waiting for his rescue. Was that what he’d been trying to tell her when he’d said he would see her again soon, that he was going to help her? When he’d crossed his fingers over his heart and looked at her with such sincerity in those hazel eyes?
&n
bsp; Part of her was still waiting for him to show up, even though it was obvious he wasn’t going to. What had happened? Had he even tried? Had he decided she wasn’t worth the trouble?
Was he some sicko, like these people, who got off on mentally tormenting others?
By the time her third meal had arrived in the dark room at the house with no sign of Aiden, Violet had just slid into the corner, wrapped her arms around herself, and cried. Having her hopes raised so sharply and then dashed had been so much harder than having no hope at all.
But still she couldn’t seem to hate Aiden. Maybe he hadn’t gotten her out like he’d crossed-his-heart promised, but he’d at least been gentle with her at The Barn. He could’ve been so much more cruel, as she knew now.
And at least the money Aiden had paid Randy at The Barn had made Randy happy. He’d left her alone, more interested in the drugs he’d scored than tormenting her. Or maybe Dillon’s warnings that Stellman didn’t want her damaged had taken root. Randy hadn’t set foot into her windowless room since she’d returned from The Barn. Until tonight.
He’d stripped her once again and thrown her in a lukewarm shower this time to wash her hair, leering at her the whole time. There’d been no sign of Dillon as Randy had loaded her back into the cage in the truck, then brought in the other six women. Once again they’d all looked completely blank before Randy had shut the door, leaving them in the dark.
When they’d arrived at the mansion and been escorted to a basement floor, each of the women, including Violet, had been assigned a group of people to serve. Most groups were sitting around on couches and comfortable chairs, waiting for their chance to bid. She’d been running around all night getting them whatever they needed. She endured their petting when she wasn’t serving.
One of the men pulled her onto his lap and mangled his hand around her breast, forcing Violet back into the situation. She shuddered as he licked and nipped his way down her throat. “Did you not hear the request for more wine?”
