Page 65 of Taken By Him

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kasia

There isn’t exactly a directory posted at the train yard, but I remember this place. My father took Diana and I here when we were kids. He let us play on the empty train car while he talked with men in suits. They talked too fast for me to understand them. My Polish wasn’t as good then.

A quick look around the car and I find what I need. A gun is hidden in the middle console.

“You may want to draw your weapon,” I say to Michael as we climb out of the SUV. We’ll have to walk down several rows of cars before we get to the place my father took me.

“This isn’t a good idea. Let’s wait for Dominik to get here,” he says.

I pause a moment, then realize my error. “There’s GPS in the car. He knows exactly where we are.”

“So maybe we should wait,” he urges me but keeps his voice low.

There’s a sound up ahead that makes me stop. I put a finger over my lips to keep him quiet too. He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. He’s probably done this a million times and doesn’t need me to explain to be quiet.

“Almost loaded, Marcin.” I hear a familiar voice carry to me. The car’s already loaded on the tracks.

I wave Michael to follow me and run toward the sound.

“Don’t forget the fucking water this time. Last week two of them nearly fucking died. I had to take half price on them.” My father’s voice booms. He’s not even trying to maintain a low profile. But why would he?

I look over at Michael, at the gun in his hands, then at the one in mine. I’ve never fired one before. I swallow, fear claws at my throat. No matter what I think I know what I’m going to find, it could be worse.

There’s never been much love between my father and myself, but I’ve always thought him decent. As good as a man in his position could be, but now, I’m being faced with a horror that was meant for me. A terrifying scene that he’d planned for me.

“Kasia.” Michael’s whisper shakes me from my thoughts. “What are you hoping to accomplish here? Your father has many men here. There’s just us. Let’s wait for Dominik. He’ll have others with him.”

It’s a sound plan. But I’m tired of waiting for backup. It’s never come before, and it’s not going to start now. My father wanted me to grow up alone, he sent me with a man who would keep me in solitude. I won’t cow to it. I can be strong all on my own.

He curses when I move forward. I won’t be talked out of this. When I get to the next row, I press myself against the car before looking around the corner.

What I see twists my stomach.

Women tethered together at the ankles and hands stand at the bottom of a ramp leading into the open train car on the tracks. They’re dirty, their clothes are tattered, and they’re scared. Their muffled sobs tear at my heart. Not even the gags in their mouths are helping to keep them silent. This was meant for me. That was to be my future.

Tears prick my eyes, but I dash them away. There’s no time for that.

“Kasia—”

“No.” I put my hand up in Michael’s face. “No more.” I glance back at the women. My father is walking around the five of them huddled together. The moonlight strikes his face and for a moment I can see his features. How pleased he is with his capture.

“Come with me or don’t. That’s your decision.” I cock the gun and take a deep breath. “I’ve already made mine.”

He calls for me again, but I’m already walking toward them, toward my father, those women.

“Tata!” I call out to him. He freezes like he’s been struck in the back. When he turns toward me, two of his men flank him, weapons drawn and pointed at me. That’s fine, mine is aimed at him.

“Kasia?” He squints, the darkness probably makes it hard for him to see me. “What are you doing here?” he demands. “You little fool. Is your husband here?” He looks past me, but there’s only Michael. I can feel him close to me.

“This is what you wanted for me?” I stop several feet from him. The women huddle closer together. “You wanted to put me on this train? Where’s it going, anyway?”

“Who told you this?” he asks. His hands fidget at his sides. “Who lies to you? Your husband? The Staszek asshole?”

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