by J. B. Havens
“Rook’s an idiot.” I tried to hide how my heart jumped at the thought.
“Maybe, maybe not. One day soon, we’re going to settle this between us. Now isn’t the time. When I finally get you under me, I need you healthy and healed. You’re going to need to be, to keep up with me.” He kissed me again and climbed the steps. I didn’t bother trying to pretend that I wasn’t watching the water slide down his golden skin.
“Just think. You could have this view every day,” he said over his shoulder as he ran a towel along his arms.
“Umm…” was the most intelligent response I could muster.
He left the room without saying anything further.
My thoughts swirled and mingled in my head in the same way that the water was swirling around my body. Exhaustion pulled at me, but it didn’t stop me from worrying about the girls we saved, or my aunt, or myself and Jordon, for that matter.
The Russian girls were my primary concern. I needed to know how they were brought into Mexico and who was doing it. How many more girls like them were there? If I could stop even one girl from going through a fraction of what I had experienced, then it was something I had to do. I had to.
Holding my wrists in front of me, I stared at the rope burns encircling them. How many other girls were tied or chained right now? How many girls were suffering unspeakable cruelty at the hands of their self-proclaimed masters? Steel was powerful; we had the skills and resources to track this down.
A plan began to form in my head. To bring it to fruition, I would need help from both the U.S. government and those in the Eastern bloc. I stepped from the pool, drying quickly as thoughts raced through my head. I needed to find Jackson and Jones.
I pulled my clothes on over my soaking underwear and ran from the room as quickly as my leg would allow. Pressing and holding the elevator button, I considered using the intercom to confirm where they were, but the doors slid open just then. Rising quickly to Level Two, I bounced on my heels impatiently.
As soon as the elevator stopped, I hurried out, sliding across the floor in my rush.
“Jackson!” I yelled, startling everyone. They jumped up and began checking weapons. Shit.
“No, no. Everything is okay. Well, it’s not, but there is no threat to us. Not right now, anyway.”
“Shit, don’t fucking do that! You scared years off my life,” Flynn said as he re-holstered his weapon.
“I said I was sorry. Jackson, where are those girls?”
“As far as I know, they’re still in the hospital in Mexico. Why?” He was standing now as well, picking up on my urgency.
“We have to find who bought them. I mean, how Julio bought them. Where are they coming from? Who is moving them from Russia? We have to find the trafficker and whack his fucking ass.”
“Mic, slow the fuck down. This isn’t something we’re going to roll out on in the morning. First of all, you need to heal. If the girls are Russian, chances are the Russian mob is at least partially responsible. We can’t just waltz into fucking Russia of all places. Not if we don’t want to start a war. Let me make some calls in the morning when we get back to the compound.” Without further comment, Jackson left the room.
Pierce gently gripped my shoulders in his hands. “Mic, I know you want to help those girls, especially in the face of what you’ve just been through; and we will help them, but we have to do this the right way. You need to go get some rest. None of us, you more so, have had a decent night’s sleep in a few days. We can look at this problem with fresh eyes in the morning.” He patted my shoulders before he, too, left the room.
“He’s right. We need rest and we need to research this.” Rook nodded as he followed Pierce out. Flynn and Jones left without a word. Only Jordon and I remained.
“Screw them. Rest? Who needs that? Come here and we’ll watch a movie and make out.” Jordon patted the couch cushion next to his hip.
Laughing, I took the seat next to him. I decided as I slid closer to his side, that Jordon was good for me. He was a balm for my very battered and damaged soul.
****
He watched the sun rise over the mountains as snow softly began to fall. He wouldn’t be able to hide here much longer. His tracks would point out his location like a homing beacon. Observing a special operations team was challenging to say the least.
Snugly fitting his binoculars onto his eyes, he tracked the progress of the Suburban. It parked in the same spot it was always parked in. The one they called Flynn stepped from the driver’s seat and the leader, Jackson, got out from the passenger side. The rear doors opened and one-by-one the team stepped out. The newest man, Rook, was someone he would need to be careful of. He saw things that most did not.
She emerged last, limping still. He was shocked when she helped another woman step from the vehicle. A woman who looked remarkably like her, only older.
She’s got a relative? His heart skipped a beat at the tasty treat she made. Jackson surprised him further by putting a giant arm over her shoulders and pointing to his cabin.
What the fuck? She’s Jackson’s?
This was going to be good. Two Michaels’ women within his grasp. His hands shook with anticipation. Again, he had to adjust the front of his pants to accommodate his growing excitement.
This winter would bring many changes to Steel Corps... ones that he couldn’t wait to begin.
About the Author
J. B. Havens lives in rural Pennsylvania and is a wife and mother of three. When she is not spending time with her family, she is researching and writing her next novel.
Connect with her to learn about new projects and future release dates. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to contact her and tell her what you think of Mic and the boys.
www.jbhavens.weebly.com is her website where you can find character bios, photos, and an exclusive short story, A Steel Family Christmas.
Find her on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/jbhavens
And Twitter @havens_b.
Email her at [email protected]
