Page 33 of Liberator

He nodded and said, “Me too. But be that as it may, you broke your vows to the club and must be punished. Due to the circumstances, you won’t be banished. I need all of my men, and Vikki will need you once she’s back. Banishing you would be punishing her, which I refuse to do. I could have you lashed until you were close to death, but that wouldn’t really serve any purpose.

I think it’s time you learned some humility, maybe even anger management. Therefore, you are sentenced to the life of a prospect, one that has shown too much defiance for authority. You will be treated with all the disdain, disrespect, and contempt the Sinners can come up with. Anger will get you treated worse. For now, you are nothing in the eyes of your brothers. When you think they are being too harsh and begin to show rage, think of Vikki and what she is enduring. Nothing you receive will top that.”

Chapter 23

Vikki

The black SUV wasas plain in appearance as possible, yet Zoe had told me that it was bullet proof and had a special engine that made it faster than most sports cars. It belonged to the mafia and there were guns beneath the seats and in the glove compartments to prove it. It was also being tracked by Petrov’s men. I figured that was more for Zoe’s safety than mine. She was their most prized possession.

Sitting inside the vehicle was like being in an isolation chamber. No sound came in from the surrounding world. I was alone with my thoughts and Zoe. I wasn’t able to stand the silence, so I began to ask questions.

“Can I really trust that your father will come for me if things go wrong? I’m afraid he’ll just write me off as a necessary fatality.”

“Father is a difficult man to understand. His heart is hard when needed, but he does have a small sense of loyalty whenit comes to those who take risks in his name. You angered him with your eavesdropping and interference. However, you changed his opinion of you when you volunteered so quickly. He will not go back on his promise. We will be watching over you from afar though we cannot interfere every time you are forced to follow through with your undercover duties,” Zoe answered.

“I knew what I was going to be forced to do when I volunteered. What I didn’t realize was how badly it was going to affect me. I’m having symptoms of PTSD. I’m so sick and terrified that I’m ready to jump out of this SUV in hopes that you’ll run over me,” I admitted.

I was telling the truth. Every inch of me was vibrating from the trembling of my body. My skin prickled. Bile kept rising in my mouth and I had to swallow it back down. My heart couldn’t seem to make up its mind. Either it beat so rapidly I felt as if my chest would burst open or it slowed to the point of halting. A cold sweat popped out as we got closer to the drop off point that Prime and Petrov had chosen.

Zoe reached across the distance between us and took my ice cold, shaking hand in her warm, steady one.

She squeezed it gently and said, “You are so brave to go back to such a terrible place and endure such horrible things all over again. It is something few others would have the courage to do. I understand why you feel the need to jump from the vehicle, possibly to your death. You have every reason to be terrified.”

“I can’t back out. There are children being damaged beyond repair who may never get away from the cartel. They’ll die by the hands of a customer or take an overdose of drugs just to end the suffering. This has to end, and I need to be a part of it. I no longer count, only the children do,” I replied through chattering teeth.

“I believe you do count, more than you can imagine. I swear I will do everything in my power to see that you survive. I oweyou that much because you are doing what I wish I could do but cannot. I wanted desperately to volunteer. I did not simply because Father would have locked me away. To him my entire worth is my precious virginity. To sacrifice that would make me useless and unworthy. I am a pawn in his games. I had to barter with him in order to be allowed to be the one who brought you out here today. It was important to me. You see, I truthfully believe it will be the women who will bring about change in this world. We will be the ones that get things done properly, in a manner that the men cannot,” Zoe confided.

Zoe stopped the SUV beside a derelict building. Its brick walls were crumbling into the street and there were no lights to illuminate it along the narrow, broken sidewalks. Inside it, on floors that could fall through at any time, I noticed the flickering of small fires. The homeless were living in that dangerous environment. They’d do anything to survive. I took courage from their actions. I would do whatever I needed in order to get back to Rage and the Sinners.

“Here is your phone. It is the only link we have to you. Hide it well. You will be searched and made to strip at some point. Do what you can to keep it. Send pictures and video to us as often as you dare. If you are in grave danger then ditch it. If its tracker shows it hasn’t been moved for more than eight hours we will know you need help,” Zoe explained.

“I’ll send everything I’ve gathered before I dump it if possible. I’m not going to let myself be ruined for nothing. Let’s go before I freak out totally. Not even the lowest of the low will buy what appears to be a crazy woman, and I’m on the verge of losing it,” I stated.

We slunk through dark alleyways between buildings where the stench of trash, urine, and blood made us gag. When we finally reached our destination Zoe put cuffs on my hands and took myupper arm to begin shoving me along. I fought her to show that I wasn’t a willing prisoner.

She approached a man with greasy black hair, shiny shoes, and a suit that was meant to show his authority but smelled of stale cigars and sex. He was currently slapping an older woman who already had several bruises on her face.

“You stupid bitch! Did you really think I wouldn’t notice you giving a blow job to that piece of shit without my permission? How long have you been stealing from me? I should just shoot you now and dump your old ass into a dumpster. Nobody would give a fuck. You’re past your prime anyway,” he said as he shoved her to the ground and kicked her.

“It looks to me like you need some fresh meat,” Zoe said as we approached, using a thicker accent than normal. “I came bearing a gift and I seem to have found the right person to receive it.”

“Who the hell are you, and why is it you think you can drag your fancy ass into my territory and live to talk about it?” he demanded, motioning for men with guns to come from their hiding places and surround us.

“Do I look scared you piece of shit? My fancy ass can have you killed and send someone to take your place in less than thirty seconds. You will not touch me. I know you are at least intelligent enough to recognize by my voice where I come from. You do not wish to tangle with those I work for. You will call off your dogs if you want to live another day. It is better to simply take the deal I am offering and say thank you. We will both win if you do as I say,” she answered.

He scowled but he wasn’t as stupid as he seemed. He motioned for the men to move a few feet back. They didn’t disappear but stood nearby.

“What brings a high-flying madam to these parts?” he asked with a sneer. His foot remained on the older woman’s back asshe laid motionless on the ground. He ignored her moans, but the noise made me sick to my stomach.

“This is your lucky day. I have a special deal to offer you. This woman is still young and ripe. She is clean and healthy. I want to sell her to you,” Zoe claimed.

“If she’s so great then why sell her down here? You could get big bucks for someone that pretty nearer your own territory. In fact, why sell her at all?” he asked suspiciously.

“She caused too many problems with an important client, one we cannot allow to be offended. I was ordered to kill her, but it would be a waste of all the time and money we put into her training. I cannot sell her to anyone who would flaunt it in my boss’s face, or he would know I had defied his order. So, I decided I would get what little I could for her where she will not be found.”

“You’re an enterprising bitch. I like that. What the boss doesn’t know can’t hurt us, right? Maybe, I will take her off your hands. I never could pass up a fine piece of ass,” he replied with a chuckle.

I growled and fought hard against the restraints while they negotiated a price. Before I knew it the handcuffs were removed, and I was shoved into the man’s steely arms. Up close the smell of cigars, unwashed male, and stale sex was so strong I gagged.

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