Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“Yes, sir,” Luke said.
Anthony glanced at Luke and he saw the smile. It wasn’t a horrible smile, but it looked like he was relieved.
“Right, let’s get these girls and get out,” Lash said.
With that, they made their way into the house, taking their time. There were no lights on, and it was dark. Anthony held his gun tight to his body and looked around, waiting. There was no sound, but the stench inside the house was terrible. The house was decaying. Wallpaper fell from the walls, and black mold covered the walls. There were damp patches everywhere and missing floorboards. He was pretty sure he saw rat droppings as well.
And then he heard the sniffles, the silence, and the movement, the slight shuffling. They rounded the corner and locked behind cages had to be close to thirty girls, no women. They all looked too young. The smell was disgusting, and Anthony had a strong constitution.
“Holy shit,” Luke said.
Anthony glanced toward him.
“I knew, I mean, I knew what they were capable of, but I hadn’t seen ... I mean, this is...” He didn’t finish.
“Real,” Anthony said.
Luke nodded. “Yeah, this is fucking real.”
Lash was already calling it in to the Billionaires. Once he ended the call, he approached the cages.
“Right, I am going to open this cage and you are all free. This is not a joke. There are people on their way, and they want to get you home. They want to take care of you. They do not want to hurt you.”
None of the girls talked.
Lash broke the lock off the cage door, and then opened it, taking a step back. Not a single girl moved.
Anthony watched them, and it was like the doorway was a trap. They were all terrified, and he didn’t know how to get them to move. None of them would leave.
“We can’t leave,” one of them said.
Anthony turned toward the sound and the flashlight was shone in her direction, to which she winced.
“The door is open, you can come out.”
There was a whimper.
The one that had spoken stood and moved toward the door. “The last time one of us tried to escape, they made an example of her.”
Anthony had a feeling he didn’t want to hear about it.
“I’m not going to make an example of any of you,” Lash said. “You’re safe now, but once help arrives, you will see. No one is going to hurt you now.”
“First, they beat her until something snapped—a bone, we think. She wouldn’t stop screaming. She just wanted to get home to her mommy. Then they raped her, one by one, five men, one after the other, until they were bored. After that, she could barely breathe, but they all pissed on her, like she was nothing. Then, they started to cut her, piece by piece, and she was still alive. Then teeth extraction. They tortured her for hours, then shot her in the head. They made us all watch.” Tears fell down the girl’s face. She held onto the door, and Anthony watched as she tried to fight that fear. Her foot was poised right at the doorway.
“They’re not going to hurt you anymore,” Anthony said. “They’re gone, and we’re not going to let them. We’re not like them. We’re here to help you.”
The girl looked at him and took a step, then another step. He held out his hand, and much to his surprise, she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him, and sobbed. The girls in the cage watched. They stared at him with fear.
Anthony looked toward his dad. There were only two people in the world he hugged—his woman and his mother. He didn’t want anyone else’s touch, but in that moment, he knew he didn’t have a choice. She trusted him, and he placed a hand at her back and held her as she sobbed. All of the girls had been hurt and traumatized.
This is why his father did what he did. It was why he didn’t take out the Monster Dogs when he had the chance.
Helping these girls was more important than settling a score, and he understood that now.
****
Daisy sat up in bed and smiled at a shocked Tabitha and Miles. The nurses and doctors had already rushed in to check on her. The first few moments of waking up had been a little crazy, fun, and scary as well, but she got through it. They all got through it.
“Hey,” she said, smiling at Tabitha and turning that smile to Miles.
“You have no fucking idea how happy I am to see you,” Miles said, getting to his feet. She was shocked as he cupped her face. “Don’t ever do that to us again. You got that?” He kissed her forehead and then hugged her tightly.
She let out a little gasp but sighed. “It’s not like I meant to do it.”