Page 39 of Hurting Hunter
The knock at the door jolted him and he told Dani, “They’re here.” Ending the call, he sprang up and rushed to open the door.
He didn't care about anything but the freedom he was about to reclaim. As the officers moved to remove the ankle bracelet, he held still, trembling with anticipation.
When the bracelet finally clicked open and fell away, Ethan felt like he could fly, his entire being soaring with the exhilaration of the moment. The only thing that would make him happier was hearing back from Hunter. He needed to know his lover was safe!
Chapter 27
Hunter's heart pounded in his chest as they descended into the basement. The air grew thick with the stench of human waste, rot, and decay, a nauseating assault on his senses. A flickering bulb cast eerie shadows on the damp, moldy walls, revealing the squalor in which the captives were held.
The women and children were huddled against the cold, stone walls, their clothes torn and filthy. They were gaunt, with sunken cheeks and hollow eyes that held a flicker of hope amidst the overwhelming fear. Some rose to their feet as Hunter and Thomas approached. They all were trembling, but two older women stepped forward, brave enough to seize their chance and willing to defend the others.
A couple of the others remained curled up on the floor, their bodies battered and broken.
Hunter moved among them, his eyes scanning each face, looking for one in particular. "Aubrey?" he called out, unable to keep the desperation from his voice. "Where's Aubrey?"
The woman they had rescued in the room upstairs stepped forward, her expression somber. "Aubrey isn't here," she said quietly. "She and three others are scheduled for auction today."
Hunter's heart sank. "Where are the auctions?" he demanded.
Tears welled in her eyes, and she shook her head.
Hunter wanted to hit something.
Fuck! So close and yet so far!
He turned to Thomas. “Are any of the guards conscious?"
Thomas spoke into his headset. “Kevin? Four of the hostages are missing. Can you come down and lead the others out? Hunter and I are coming up. Roger that. Over.”
Hunter didn’t hear the reply, nor did he wait. Urgency riding him hard, he took the rickety stairs up, two at a time.
Halfway through the hallway, he ran into Kevin.
Kevin’s gaze slid from him to Thomas—hot on Hunter’s heels—and back. Giving them a firm nod, he informed them, “Guards are all secured in the front room on the right. Max is watching them.”
“Thanks.” Hunter didn’t slow his steps, but rushed past him toward the front of the building.
Entering the room, Hunter glanced at a dozen unconscious guards strewn across the floor, their ankles duct-taped and hands cuffed behind their backs.
“Max, we need to talk to them.”
Thomas entered the room holding a bucket. Before Hunter could ask where he got the thing, Thomas came forward and threw the contents over the guards. Hunter did a hasty step back as he was splattered with the icy water.
Spluttering and cursing erupted as the men jolted awake.
Hunter went to one knee and gripped one of the assholes by the throat. Bringing his face close to the man’s face, he demanded in a cold and growling voice. “"Where is the auction?"
The guard next to them sneered, "Why would we tell you?"
Thomas bent forward and pressed the muzzle of his gun against the man's knee. "Because you can get arrested with functioning legs or without. I don't care.”
Hunter’s blood froze at the chill in Thomas’ words and the iron expression on his face.
The man Hunter was holding started to tremble and whimper.
Another guard began yelling, "Shut up, Emilio! Shut the fuck up!"
The man who was risking his kneecap cursed under his breath and glared at his fellow captive. "Fuck off, Donny!" he snapped before turning to Hunter. "The auction... it's on a boat.”
