Page 34 of Sold Blood
"I'll have food sent up before I head downstairs to close out my other purchase. They wanted to make sure everything was cleared with the doctor first. I told them I wouldn't sign the contract until they did. I'm more than sure the kid's arm was dislocated, and his ankle was in a bad way. It could slow us down if he isn't able to keep up with us. We never know when we'll need to run."
"Maybe you should skip it then."
"Skip what?"
"The auction. We can always leave as soon as Trenton gets up here."
"They will know something is up if we suddenly leave and I decline my invitation at the last minute. I'll have to continue with the plan and attend the auction."
"Okay," I say, fumbling with the blanket.
Carlos picks up the room phone and orders food while I enter the bathroom. I turn on the shower and the warm water washes over me. I close my eyes, hoping this won't be my last bit of normalcy after today. What happens to us if we get caught? There's no doubt they would stick me in a worse place and make me suffer more than I already have. I dry off and put on another pair of clean underwear, accompanying them with a long T-shirt this time. I inhale Isaiah's familiar scent as it slides over my body.
Carlos is sitting at the table, laying the food out when I walk out of the bathroom. He picks up a sandwich and takes large bites, swallowing each one so quickly I wonder if he even had a chance to taste the food first. We eat with only the sounds of our movements filling the room.
The more I watch his hands move, the more I think about the way they’d touched me last night and how soothing each stroke of his hand was down my back. My mind is racing all over the place and my heartbeat is erratic, feeling like it could break through my chest. I close my eyes, inhaling deeply before exhaling.
A large hand slides over mine. The weight and warmth are automatically comforting. "We're going to get out of here. I have never failed a job before and I won't fail this either, especially since these assholes have now made it personal. I've always considered Isaiah family and since you're a major part of him, that includes you too. No one fucks with my family." He stands up and grabs his coat, sliding it on and I already miss the heat of his skin on mine. "I'll be back to drop off your friend. Make sure he eats and make sure you're both ready by the time I'm done. I need to make a trip to the woods before the auction."
"I've left the cuffs attached to the bed frame, in case anyone decides to come in when I'm not here. Even though they swearup and down they don't enter guest’s rooms without permission, I don't trust the assholes. Their word means nothing to me. I'm to have you restrained at all times now that your bracelet has been removed."
"Don't worry, I'll be okay. Go do what you have to do."
He smooths out his coat and grabs the hotel card. "Be good, Little One. Try not to get into trouble while I'm gone." He walks out the door before I can say anything in response. I relax back in the chair and keep my eyes on the door for what feels like forever. The room is too quiet. I hate how I can hear my own breathing and heartbeat. It reminds me how alone and vulnerable I am. Being in this place for such a short time has changed me. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but never have I felt so weak.
The knob twisting open has me jumping in my seat and I'm not sure how many times it'll take watching Carlos come through that door until I no longer react this way. I quickly get to my feet the moment I see Trenton walk in behind him with his hands tied and a blind fold over his eyes. The door jabs shut and I run toward my trembling friend and pull him into my arms. His soft sobs grow louder. "Shhh...it's okay, I'm here. We're in this together." My words have his body settling against mine and I know if he could, he would wrap his arms around me. "Help me get these binds off his wrists," I say in hushed tones to Carlos.
He sighs and pulls out a pocketknife, cutting the binds from his wrists. Once his arms are free, Trenton yanks down his blind fold and stares at me with red rimmed eyes. "Joey, you're really here and it's not just my imagination."
I nod, smiling softly and sweep his hair from his face. "I'm here and I won't let you out of my sight this time, I promise."
"As touching as watching this reunion is, I'm afraid I can't stay long. Make sure you're both ready to go when I return again. We will have to be out of here as quickly as possible and we maynot be able to leave quietly which is why I brought you this." He hands me a loaded gun. "Just in case."
Trenton stares between us blinking in confusion. "What's going on, Joey? Who is this man?"
I smile again with my eyes landing on Carlos. "He's a friend. He's the man who's going to help get us out of here."
Trenton's bottom lip slips between his lips and his eyes narrow in on me. "Does that mean I'll get to go home?"
"If everything goes according to plan, then we all will," I say, squeezing his shoulder, wanting more than anything for my words to be true.
The door jams closed after Carlos steps into the hall and I stand in the same spot, holding onto Trenton, scared of what will happen when I let him go. Even with the gun weighing heavy in my hand, it’s not enough reassurance. A thousand guns could never make me feel safe enough in a place like this. Trenton pulls away from me, staring at the food on the table. “Is that for me?”
I nod. “Yup and when you’re done you can have a shower if you want.”
His face brightens and his eyes light up. “With hot water?”
My heart sinks in my chest at how happy he is over something so small. Something he could have anytime he’d wanted before being brought to this place. It reminds me even more of everything that was taken from these boys and all that will continue to be stripped away if I don’t get them free from these monsters. Some of Isaiah’s words from before plague my ears. “Don’t be a hero, Roo.”
It’s hard not to be when Trenton is taking slow bites of his food, savoring each bite like it may be his last. The more he hums around each bite, gripping on tightly to his sandwich as if it may be taken away at any minute, the more I want to ignore Isaiah's words.
“Don’t be a hero, Roo,” I hear them again but this time louder. A loud bang comes to the door and my gaze darts between the bed and a frozen Trenton. The door handle jiggles, and I know right away that’s something Carlos wouldn’t do. Not when he has the card. Something bangs loudly against the door and a loud gunshot hits the lock. I dash toward the bed, grabbing the gun with sturdy hands. “Get under the bed, Trenton.”
He doesn’t hesitate and quickly drops the rest of his food, rushing between the window and bed. He drops to the floor and his body rolls over the carpet. Another loud bang goes off. “I know you’re in there and I know that lover boy isn’t. If I were you, I’d open the door before I have one of my men blow his head off before he arrives at the auction."
I remain where I am, gripping my feet to the floor and tightening my grasp on the gun. The door handle jiggles again and with a loud kick, the door swings open. Cornel is standing in the doorway with a smile on his face, pointing the gun right at me. “He gave you a gun? I guess he’s a little smart. Gotta give him credit. I do have a question though, why would someone give a bought slave a gun?”
“I don’t know, maybe you should go to the auction where you’re supposed to be and ask him yourself. I’m sure he’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.”
