Page 95 of Dark Truths

Mistake number two.

His heavy, loud footsteps through the overgrown yard, covers the sound of mine. He doesn’t even know I’m behind him until it’s too late. I really only need one of them and I can’t risk him alerting his partner. I’m not even sure if it’s only these two inside.

In one swift move, I snap his neck and end his life. A shiver runs down my spine as his dark soul departs for the underworld. I can already hear Jacob reprimanding me about killing the guy, but he also gave me the freedom to do whatever I need to, to get the job done.I don’t recognize the guy and need a name, so I pat his pants to find his wallet. Flipping it open, I readNickolas Ivanov. Russian. Great. That’s another nail in Sergei's coffin.

As I head to the back door, I’m not too concerned about making noise because as far as dumb fuck one thinks, I’m dumb fuck two coming back in.

“About time, Nick. What was it?” he asks from somewhere inside. Despite the exterior of the home, the inside isn’t in as terrible of shape. It could use a good dusting and the floors look like they haven’t seen a mop or broom in ages. There’s a musky, damp odor hanging heavy in the air. But hey, at least there’s electricity and water.

“Nick?”

I duck behind a chair and wait quietly for dumb fuck one to show up. It doesn’t take long.

“What the hell, Nick? You lose your voice or something?”

Or something.

His heavy footsteps grow closer until finally he passes by my hiding spot.

“Nick?”

I stand and grab him in a choke hold. He struggles and claws at my arm in a desperate need to breathe. I only tighten my hold. His body grows weak from lack of oxygen before finally going completely slack.

Setting him down, I check his pulse, ensuring that he’s got a pulse still. Once I find it, I grab my cuffs and lock him up for good measure. He’ll be out long enough for me to search the rest of the home and find these girls.

It doesn’t take me long to find them. There’s only one room with lights on, and the quiet sounds of crying float out from the open door. Still, I keep my gun raised in case of more surprises. But I find none. Only a half dozen terrified women. They stare at me with wide eyes, some of them flinching and cowering at the sight of my gun.

“I'm not here to hurt you. But I need to know. How many men are in the house right now?” I ask as my eyes continue to sweep the room.

“Tw-two,” one girl answers softly. “Are you here…to help us?”

“Yes.”

“Dimitri?”

My head snaps to the group of girls at the sound of my name, and my eyes land on a familiar blonde head. “Ana?”

She stands on shaky feet and stumbles toward me before she falls into my arms. Sobbing she holds on to me tightly. Her hair is matted, her clothes filthy, and her skin dirty and pale. She’s always been a skinny girl, but I can feel nearly her entire spine beneath my hand.

“What happened, Ana?” I ask, pulling her away to look at her. Well, now I know where she’s been.

“I was leaving work like I always do and I–I don’t know. I just remember…a bag being put over my head and then there was this sting in my neck…and that’s all I remember. Next thing I know, I woke up, and I was here,” she explains through her sobs.“They’ve been so mean to us. Barely feeding us and taunting us. Is it true, Dimitri?”

“Is what true?”

“Are we going to be sold as sex slaves?”

I frown, finding no need to sugarcoat things. “I think so.”

“Why?” she cries and backs away. “Why would you do that?”

“Why would I?” What the hell is she talking about?

“The men spoke Russian.”

I lean forward to meet her eyes, but she looks away immediately. “Ana, look at me.” She hesitates, but finally does. “I swear, I didn’t know. But I’m going to end it.”

Jacob whistles low through the phone. “Well, this is not what I expected to hear when you call me at midnight.”

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