Page 50 of Pax

“No. I’m not disabled, but doing this to anyone, able-bodied or not, is heinous, and we won’t tolerate it. We’re going to get you somewhere safe and get you help if it’s available. After that, we’ll take you home.”

“Who will help the others?” asked the girl.

“We’ve got other people helping them right now. They’ll be alright. We promise. As we get closer to San Diego, a Navy ship will be coming alongside us and will take all of you somewhere safe until we can return.”

“The man’s name is Carr Mason,” said the boy. “He didn’t even try to hide it.”

“I know,” nodded Moose, kneeling in front of the boy. “He’s not a good man, and we’re going to make sure he knows how we feel about that.” The boy stared at him for a moment and then asked something Moose had never been asked before.

“Can I watch?”

CHAPTER THIRTY

“Brother, I owe you one,” said Brax, handing the last child off to Aaron.

“You don’t owe me shit,” he said. “We’re going to get them to the medical center and tell them we found them on a loose raft. That way, no one knows anything about what you’re doing.”

All of the victims were asleep and barely moved when they were transferred to the small Navy vessel.

“The others should be coming along soon,” said Pax. “Once they get the victims off the boat, you’ll be free to arrest those left on board.”

“We can’t, Pax. We’ve been told to stand down on this, and I still don’t know why. Even the Coast Guard is being told to stand down.”

“What the fuck does this guy have on us?” asked Moose.

“Alright,” nodded Brax. “We get the victims off the boat, chain the others, and sink it.”

“Sounds like equal justice to me,” said Aaron. “You’d better get moving. They should be coming into view in the next thirty minutes. It will be daylight in two hours.”

“Can’t thank you enough, brother,” said Brax, shaking his hand. Moose and Pax did the same.

“Believe me, this was one I was happy to stick my nose in.”

“If you get any feedback from the Navy, call us. We can probably help,” said Pax. “Either way, when you’re done here, give us a call.”

“Seriously?” smirked Aaron.

“Fucking right. You showed us what you’re made of and how you operate. Appreciate all you’ve done.”

Racing against the sun, they took off up the coast, where, with any luck, the others would handle the other boat and put it in high gear, meeting them to take down Mason and Moravo.

“Heads up,” said Dan. “They’ve just chained everyone to the deck. Get ready to board that fucking boat!”

TheIrenesped up, running alongside the slower vessel that was grossly overcrowded. With the boat and everyone on her in stealth, they easily leaped from one deck to the other without anyone noticing.

The victims were already well aware that something was wrong. Many were crying, others praying and calling out for help.

“Shut up!” yelled a deckhand. “It will be over quickly. Geez, these fucking gimps. They never stop whining.”

“Man, they’re scared,” said another deckhand.

“I don’t care.”

“I do,” said the deep voice. The two men turned, staring at their crying victims.

“Who said that?”

“I heard it too,” said the other man.

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