Page 16 of Kept By the Bratva
“We won’t sell them. We can figure out how to get them back to their families. Or ship them somewhere to start a new life. I don’t know what Alek will determine, but we have to finish this step first.” I watched as Ivan joined us.
“That’s the last of it.” He lifted his chin at me. “Let’s go.”
Our plan, so far, was to simply relocate them at one of our buildings. They were still captive. We couldn’t risk their running to the cops around here, not tonight. If the cops were allies with the Ortezes, and the women could identify us, we wouldn’t succeed at all. This was intended to hurt the Cartel, not merely delay their operations.
Fucking Murphy.Dirty cops were the worst. If the law enforcement weren’t likely helping the Cartel, then yeah, we could release the women and leave it at that.
“That’s all of them?” I asked, needing to know for sure. Tension pulled my shoulders tight. My body wouldn’t relax until we were out of here, but I had to know we were done.
A muffled cry sounded to the left. Now that the gunfire had faded, most of the men dead, we could hear other things.
Together, the three of us ran in the direction of that sound. I tried the door and found it locked, so I stepped back a bit and fired at the panel.
Once it fell open, creaking as it swung in, we hurried in with guns up.
Two Cartel members stood in here, firing as they protected the last few women. The stink of blood, piss, and vomit assaulted my nose, and I grimaced as I ended the last man.
I drew in deep breaths, gesturing with my hand for the soldiers to get the women out of this last, more hidden, room.
The one at the end captured my attention, and I scowled as I approached.
She was a girl. A child. Bawling and shaking with the extent of her cries, she tugged at her wrists tied to the wall.
“Nik,” Dmitri said, noticing where I headed.
“She’s a fucking…” I couldn’t say it. A child. The Cartel’s preference to sell women was gruesome, but enslaving someone underaged like this? A minor who hadn’t even reached adolescence?
Rage filled me. Deep, sinister wrath consumed me, and I growled as I lifted my hand and brought my knife down on the rope in a swift cut.
She screamed, cowering back from me, but Dmitri caught her and held her.
“You’re going to run home,” I told her, unable to keep my fury out of my voice. “Run home, and don’t tell the cops who you saw or where you were.”
Her nods were broken with vigorous shudders. From head to toe, she shook with fear. I’d never forget the utter fear in her round eyes still shedding tears, but I hoped she’d listen.
“Go!” I roared, pointing at the door.
Dmitri helped her stand, but he didn’t grip her or prevent her from escaping.
“Let me go!” one woman insisted, fighting the soldiers.
“You released her, so let me go too! I won’t tell anyone. I won’t say a word!” another begged, sobbing.
I tuned them out, stalking back to the door.
A grunt sounded, and I paused to turn back and watch a soldier bend over, wincing in pain. He cupped his nuts, and with her bloody leg lowering back down, I realized she’d kicked him.
“Let me go, asshole!” She wrestled to get free, turning her shoulders hard. With one more jerk to the side, more of her blonde hair shifted back.
I tensed, my abs constricting and my lungs seizing.
That voice. Firm and stubborn.
Full of fight.
My feet carried me over the floor as I ran over, half convinced I had to be delirious or dreaming.
It can’t be.