Page 33 of Beaches

“That’s the plan, brother,” smirked Nine. Major came running toward them, his huge body looking like a lineman ready to tackle and kill.

“We gotta go now! Burkhard said he’s sold the girls, and buyers are on the way to get them. We’re faster, but we have to go.” Gaspar nodded.

“Then let’s go.”

Near Kuala Dungun, Malaysia, team two was hidden in the bushes just at the edge of the compound, grateful that darkness was on their side. Men were scrambling around, grabbing women, pulling them out of the makeshift shelter, and forcing them to take their seats on the benches.

When they were lined up, they were ordered to strip. Obediently, the women dropped what little clothing was covering their bodies, and then a man turned on a hose. He sprayed them down with the water, soaking them to the skin. The women, so used to not being allowed to wash, were almost enjoying it, ignorant of what was to come.

Trak looked at Noah, the big man practically steaming with anger. He nodded at his friend, and they circled around the side of the compound, watching each of the men carefully. The fools were so distracted by the rows of naked girls they never even bothered to see the massive men circling them.

Otto walked straight toward them, yelling something in German.

“Who are you?” asked one of the guards.

“I’m the buyer,” said Otto in German.

“No. No, we were told the buyer was Chinese,” said the distinctly American accent.

Behind Kaplan’s men walking toward Otto in the darkness of the tent, he saw two dark figures moving like panthers in the night. Before the two men reached him, Otto had the great pleasure of watching five men fall silently at the hands of his amazing teammates.

“You know what?” smirked Otto. “You’re right. The buyer is Chinese. But no one is buying anything tonight. No one.”

What happened in the next few moments was one of the most epic one-sided battles the team had been a part of. Gaspar, with his little brother, Luc, took on two men. While on the other side of the compound, Whiskey picked men off like fish in a barrel. All the while, the women just stood soaking wet, not moving.

When it was done, Noah slowly walked toward the girls with Trak. Most women would have cowered in front of the men or at least grabbed for their clothing. These girls were so mind fucked, they had no idea what was right or wrong.

“We won’t hurt you,” said Trak. “You are safe now.”

“Safe?” asked one of the girls, confusion on her face. She couldn’t have been more than ten or twelve. Trak’s blood was boiling at the thought of these children and what they’d endured.

“Safe, little one. No one will hurt you or touch you again. We are taking you to someone who will help you.”

Once again, the girls were so obedient, so blind to what their lives should have been like it was disturbing and shocking to the men. Two of the girls were unable to walk due to a recent beating. Noah carried the first one, while Whiskey carried the second. Gaspar turned to his friend.

“Trak? Leave nothing. Otto, pile the bodies inside the tent. Send an unmistakable message.”

Team four, with Max, Titus, Eli, Skull, Nine, and Zulu, neared Bãi Xép, a beautiful beach community in Vietnam. Just a mile from the beach was a living hell for more than twenty young girls.

“No holding back,” said Nine. “We’re all too old to fuck around and act slick. Kill them all and get the girls out.”

“Roger that,” they said quietly.

With their own comms quiet, they had no way of knowing where the others were in their process. All they knew was that it was time to move. With six of the deadliest men moving in, the guards had no way of knowing that this would be their last night.

Just as they were about to move forward, Skull saw a guard rip the dress from one of the girls, forcing her to turn so he could beat her. Nine never saw a man that size move so quickly. Skull was gone before the others could follow.

Jerking the leather whip from his hands, he tossed it aside and snapped the man’s neck, letting him fall to the ground. Not willing to leave it like that, he fired three bullets into him, then turned in time to kill two men coming toward him.

Eli and Nine looked like they’d stepped out of the OK Corral. Firing with both hands filled with weapons, they moved toward the fight as Max, Titus, and Zulu created absolute melee. When they were done, thirteen men were dead, and only Eli had a scratch on him, and it was caused by a tree branch.

“Eli? You look the friendliest. See if the girls will listen to you,” said Nine.

Eli frowned at Nine but knew they needed to get the girls out of there fast. He walked slowly toward them, kneeling before the bench where they were huddled.

“We won’t hurt you,” he said softly. “We want to get you to safety. Someplace where we can get you food and medical treatment. Do you understand?”

“I-I understand,” said a girl with a soft French accent. “I’ve only been here two years. I think. They’ve been here their whole lives. I understand what you’re trying to do.”

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