Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28678 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28678 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
“Liar,” Colt mutters as he steps over the man. He crosses the room to cup my face in his hands. “If you trusted me, you wouldn’t be here right now.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” I answer in a hushed whisper. “That’s the only reason. He threatened you and I can’t watch anything happen to you.”
As it is, just being apart from Colt for this long has left a crater in the spot where my heart should be. But if he weren’t alive anymore, it would be even worse. The idea steals the breath from my lungs. Black spots float in front of my vision and the floor beneath me tilts.
He must sense my growing panic because he moves his hands down to my shoulders. His thumbs rub slow soothing circles. “Breathe for me, Sierra. Just like this. Copy me.”
I follow his deep breathing exercise until I’m calm again.
“Good girl,” he croons softly and cradles me into his chest. My arms go around his waist automatically and my body sags with relief. This moment can’t last forever but I silently will it to. I don’t want to leave this cocoon of safety.
There’s a soft knock on the door and I stiffen instantly. I force myself to be brave instead of begging him to save me. “They’re here. You should go.”
“That’s my people,” he answers.
“Your people?” I repeat numbly as I step back to search his face. What is he talking about? Surely, he didn’t drag anyone else into the middle of this. That’s just more people that could get hurt, all because of me. “Colt—”
He interrupts, glancing between me and the door. “It’s the FBI. They’ve been after Von Hagel for years and if you’ll talk, they’ll finally have a shot at him.”
Instantly I think about the gun tucked in Curtis’s jacket. He and his friends won’t think twice about killing me. I shake my head.
He grips my upper arms, but his touch is gentle. His thumbs are once again doing that circle thing that calms me. “Von Hagel has a private island filled with women just like you. Girls too. Most of them underage. And they can’t rescue them. I know you’re scared right now but you don’t have to worry. I’ll be your shield. Anyone that wants you will have to go through me first.”
It clicks in my brain then what he’s saying. I’m not the only one. I was so stupid. I assumed I was Von Hagel’s first. But then Curtis’s words from earlier come back. Mr. Von Hagel likes his women silent.
“They can’t rescue them?” I repeat again. I feel helpless and I haven’t even been shipped off to the island yet. The poor women and girls—who knows how long they’ve been there?
Sadness flickers across Colt’s face. “No, they can’t. If you want to leave now, we can do that. We can leave and forget about everything.”
I clutch at his arm. “We can’t leave them behind. But you’re sure we’ll be safe?” I search his face for reassurance because I desperately need it. I need to know that he’ll be safe.
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “This will be over in two days if all goes as planned.”
I let out a shaky breath. I’m standing on the edge of a cliff and just agreed to jump. Still, I manage a nod just as another knock sounds. “Let them in.”
12
SIERRA
“Why are you staring at me?” I murmur sleepily from my place in the hospital bed. My voice feels scratchy and my head is too heavy to lift. The hospital lights are bright, and I slam my eyes closed again.
After giving my testimony to the FBI in the expensive hotel room, everything became a blur.
We were whisked away in a black SUV to a non-descript brick building and placed in a gray conference room. I don’t know how long we were there. But Colt and I were with his friends, Brody and Ryker. They were instrumental in setting this up. I didn’t get to talk to them too much. No one was feeling very chatty including me.
Besides, time seemed to lose all meaning. Every so often, a new agent would show up to bring us snacks and sometimes ask me more questions about Albert, Curtis, and Mr. Von Hagel.
I shared everything I could think of and for each interview, Colt was right by my side. He held my hand through everything, giving me gentle squeezes whenever I became overwhelmed.
Then the news came that the raid had been successful. They recovered over two dozen underage girls and ten women, all being held against their will. Just like that, they were being freed.
Everyone let out cheers when we heard. I hugged Colt first, squeezing him close to me. Then I stood up to hug Brody and Ryker who were across the room. But the floor tilted, and the lights went out and that’s the last thing I remember.