Page 38 of Second Chances

“You’re going to need help. I can’t leave you alone at the moment. The doctor says moving around will be difficult for a few weeks until your leg heals.”

“I’ll figure something out—maybe I’ll arrange respite care until you get back.”

“Elena, I don’t want to leave you.” Ryan strokes down my face.

“It’s your job. We both know you’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t do this. Go, phone your boss, and tell him you’ll be there shortly.”

He sits back in his chair and rubs his face. He looks tired, so very tired. I don’t even know how long I’ve been in hospital. Has he been here the entire time?

“As long as you’re sure? What will happen to those girls is horrendous.”

“Do it now,” I order and try to suppress the growing unease in my stomach…I’ll be alone.

“Ok, but I’m going to phone my mum and dad. If I can’t be here for you, then I’m entrusting you into their care. They’ll look after you better than I ever could.”

Ryan takes out his phone and presses call before leaving the room.

His words about me staying with his parents bring more tears to my eyes. My own mother left as soon as she knew I wouldn’t lose a leg. I can’t pretend it doesn’t hurt. I’m going to miss Ryan so much, but I know he has to do this.

My injury is nothing compared to what those girls will suffer if my man doesn’t save them.

Chapter Sixteen

Ryan

“Bring them in,” the man in charge, who was tasked with gathering the girls together, orders the other men. I’m sitting in the shadows of the large warehouse we’re based in. The girls have just landed after a five hour flight from England. The plane hadn’t been given legal take-off clearance from the UK, but as part of my role in this plot, I’d cleared its path through MI5. We need to capture all those involved here in one place. I know at the moment army officers and special operatives have secured the perimeter around the building and are ready to capture anyone inside. The girls will not be married against their will as they fear. We’ll bring this ring of vice down, and in doing so, we’ll capture several evil men who want to harm our country and our citizens.

“We got a pretty lot this time. Lucky fuckers,” the man in charge leers.

He slaps the ass of one of the frightened girls and looks my way. I glare at him. They’ve strict instructions not to touch the merchandise. That was one of the rules I insisted was put in place when I made this deal. My reasoning for this, as far as these men were concerned, was because it increased the value of the girls if they were virgins. In reality it was one of the only ways I could ensure the girls were not forced into acts against their will before I had a chance to rescue them.

Looking at these girls, I do wonder how they’d have coped with the restrictive lifestyle they would have been forced to live, breeding soldiers for the future. All their rights to have a say in their lives would have been taken away from them. Their bodies would have become their husbands’ property to do with as they wished, and their brains would probably be dulled by drugs to keep them compliant. It would have been an awful existence for so many of them.

One of the quieter of the girls walks reluctantly into the room. She stares around at the assembled crowd. I can feel the fear coming off her in waves.

“Get moving,” the man in charge orders and pushes her along.

She’s young. I’m not sure she’s even sixteen yet, but that doesn’t matter here. Once her relatives decided it was time for her to marry, she was sold and placed on that plane. Her family may have had a false belief that she was heading off to support a righteous cause, but the reality is very different. There are no heroes or enemies in this war that’s been declared.

The girl stumbles a few steps and falls over.

“Oh for fucks sake.” The man goes to kick her, but I’m on my feet and grabbing him before his foot touches her.

“Bruise her, and I’ll take the cost out of your paycheck,” I inform him and swing him around to face away from her.

“She’s been a pain the entire time, whimpering and sobbing. How’s she supposed to look attractive when she’s got red eyes and a snotty nose,” he sneers at the girl.

“No reason to kick her. How old is she anyway?” I question.

“How the fuck am I supposed to know?”

I lean into his face, making myself look imposing.

“It’s your job to know.”

“She’s old enough,” he spits back, trying to intimidate me, but it doesn’t work.

“You,” I say, pointing at another man. “Take over here.”

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