Page 44 of Claiming Charlotte

Arthur spoke up. “Just relax, guys. They don’t know how this stuff works yet,” he reminded me.

Rowan pointed at Arthur angrily. “What better way to teach them than to let them learn by mistake,” he growled.

They were chest to chest, sizing each other up, faces unwavering.

“You going to punch me? Come on big man,” Arthur challenged.

“I’ll rip your heart out and eat it with my morning coffee, don’t test me Davies.”

“Alright, meeting dismissed. Everyone out…now.” I said quickly.

The last thing I needed was a fight between two of my best, most loyal men. I’d hate to have to make a lesson out of two of the closest people to me.

Everyone filed out of the room silently, not daring to make a statement as Arthur had. I caught his eye as he ripped his gaze from Rowan’s and shuffled toward the door with a smile. Good, he’s not mad… I felt relieved, he’s one of the only people who had the balls to stand up to him like that, even Thomas held a certain respect, having his own experience with Roe’s anger.

I pulled Rowan into an embrace, surprisingly content with how the meeting had gone. I loved the feeling I got when he stood up for me in front of everyone. It made me feel safe and secure, like I could take on the world.

I whispered into his ear. “You need to play nice. Save your anger for them, Rowan. But don’t forget to clean up after yourself.”

He laughed a deep laugh that rumbled through his whole body and into mine. It was the kind of laugh I hadn’t heard from him in weeks.

“I love you, Princess,” he said, and he took my lips on his own. “Like I said before, they have no idea what's coming.”

Shortly after Rowan left, Arthur and the new kid came into my office noisily. The pair were clearly having a good time, and it made me smile to know that my men were able to return to their normal selves after the ordeal we overcame. At the same time, envy filled me; I yearned for that kind of happiness to come to me, yet, it lingered still.

They took the empty chairs across my desk, and I shoved my papers aside to begin the meeting.

“How’s it going, Arthur?” I asked warmly.

“It’s going alright, Lottie. I want to introduce you to Brain. He’s taken over for Benny,” he said with a hint of sadness, motioning toward the kid.

He was young and stick thin, as if he’d been starved for too long and now it was just a part of him. “Nice to meet you. Why do they call you Brain?” I asked.

“You’ll see,” Arthur responded for the kid, punching him playfully in the arm.

“Alright, well. Show me what you’ve got,” I responded, all too happy to get down to business.

After some digging, we were able to find the site Walker frequented for his auctions, my own torture crossing my mind as video after video showed men and women, in the same predicaments and I swallowed nervously.

Brain opened his laptop and turned it so Arthur and I could watch as he worked. We’d decided that we needed to try and save who we could, with my pen in hand I scribbled down any information I could to help our cause.

“There are too many people here,” Brain said, his tone melancholy. “How do we choose which ones to save?”

“We don’t think about how many,” I said dryly as Brain continued scrolling through the videos.

“But we have to try and start with the ones who are being auctioned first…. Just go in and save who you can.”

My words stuck in my throat when I recognized the girl in the video— and the room, and the sickening cries that left her lips. It was one of my videos. Was it really that bad? My eyes were glued to the screen as they took turns with me. I was moaning for more, and I felt increasingly dirty at that moment. I became complacent, doing what I needed to do to survive. This was what my life would have been like if Roe didn't make it in time. I felt shame rise?as these two men looked upon me as I begged for more. Brain gasped as he realized who he was looking at and he closed the laptop.

Arthur had his jaw clenched, and looked sick, and Brain looked mortified. I swallowed past the lump in my throat as my heart hammered against my chest.

“Do what you need to do,” I said. “Make sure those videos get taken down and save as many as you can. We’re done here.”

The last part was mostly to Arthur but was also an internal reminder to myself that I had a job to do. I couldn’t let my own feelings get in the way of saving innocents from torture, abuse, rape, and trafficking.

Brain nodded and left the room hastily with his technology in hand, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“About earlier Charlotte, I’m sorry.” Arthur apologized quickly.

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