Page 74 of Rage

MEADOW

All of us girls are half asleep on the couches in the main room of the clubhouse.

Over the last couple of hours, more of the women seemed to drift in.

Mia joins us with Trixie and Cassandra, and they plop down on the couch with us.

Alisha, Techy’s ole lady, comes in next with Shaylin and Tianna right behind her.

Lily is super shy and Reid decided to stay here with us girls just in case someone tries to mess with us.

My phone goes off and I answer without looking to see who it is.“Meadow, the shit we just found.”Caiden sounds shaken.

We all sit up a little at the sound of his voice, and I look to my mom and her eyes are wide.

“We found where Peterson has been hiding but we found a secret room and a dozen women.I can’t fucking say the shit we just saw, but they won’t go to the hospital.”He talks so fast that I can barely understand him.

Lily joins us.“I’m not medically trained, but I’m a good hand-holder.But from what it seems, these girls have been treated poorly and need a good hot meal.”She smiles at us sweetly and I look at Reid behind her.

“We need all the help we can get and a hot meal would be perfect for them.”

The front door opens and Aiden runs to the door, holding it open while Mason’s brothers, Cole and Harlan, are carrying in two women with others barely walking in behind them.

At the back of the line is Sarah.

My heart stops as I see Sarah stumble through the door.Her face is a map of bruises, eyes sunken and haunted.

“Oh my God, Sarah,” I breathe, rushing to her side.

She flinches at my touch, then recognition flickers in her gaze.“Dr.Beckham?”Her voice is a raspy whisper.“Is it really you?”

“It’s me,” I assure her, fighting back tears.“You’re safe now.We’ve got you.”

The clubhouse erupts into controlled chaos as more women are brought in.My medical training kicks in, overriding the horror threatening to overwhelm me.

“Mom, we need blankets, water, anything you can find,” I call out.“Lily, start that meal.These women need nutrients.”

I turn to Elle, her own eyes wide with shock while taking in the sight of the women.

I’m worried about her, at her pale complexion, and I look around for her mom or Amelia.“Can someone take her?”I ask, and Amelia runs over to help Elle onto the couch.

As the others spring into action, I begin triage.Some women are barely conscious, dehydrated, and malnourished.Others bear signs of torture—burns, cuts, broken bones set wrong.

Sarah clings to my hand as I examine her.“He… he kept asking about you,” she mumbles.“Wanted to know your schedule.Your routines.”

Ice floods my veins.“Sarah, I’m so sorry,” I choke out.“This is all my fault.”

She shakes her head weakly.“Not your fault.His.That monster…”

A sob escapes her, and I pull her close, mindful of her injuries.“You’re safe now,” I promise.“We’ll make him pay for this.”

As I work, my mind races.Where is Mason?Is he still looking for Peterson?

But I can’t dwell on that now.These women need me.I push my fear aside, focusing on the task at hand.

Hours pass in a blur of bandages and pain medication.

I step back, surveying the room.Women huddled in blankets, sipping broth and water.The haunted look in their eyes speaks of horrors I can’t begin to imagine.

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