Page 108 of Ruthless Vengeance
Margot’s brow furrows as she sighs. “I hate that we’re even having to do this. But what’s done is done. All we can do is make them feel comfortable and safe.”
I nod.
As I lead Margot around to the sliding door of the SUV, I notice that Andre has wandered off toward the edge of the property where a bunch of men dressed in all black with guns strapped to their backs have appeared.
I must let out a small sound of surprise as Margot’s gaze follows mine, and she gently places a hand on my arm.
“They’re just the security. They won’t hurt us.”
They might not hurt us, but Cillian will if he learns of what Marco has done…
It turns out that Margot speaks fluent Spanish, so she is able to communicate with the women a lot better than I could.
They silently file out of the car, and we lead them inside the safehouse, all while Margot continues to talk in a calm tone. A few of the older girls speak to her in return, no doubt asking her questions, but the younger ones seem too shell-shocked to speak.
My heart aches for them, and I wish I could wrap them all up in my arms and tell them that everything will be all right. But thetruth is, even once Cillian is taken care of, what will happen to these women?
The interior of the safehouse is all open plan, with a huge sectional couch and a fire blazing in the hearth. There are piles of blankets and plates of food and bottles of water laid out on the table, which Margot immediately starts handing around to the girls.
She translates some of what the girls are saying to her as we get them settled, and with each story she passes on to me, my heart breaks a little more.
Some of these girls were escaping violent parents, gangs, or war zones. They knew what they were signing up for when they agreed to be smuggled here, but they just didn’t realize how bad it would be, howtrappedthey would become.
“Why would they ever agree to this?”
“Because despite everything, sex work, even if not by choice, was still a better option.” Margot’s expression is grave. “At least here it was just another price to pay for the hope of a better future.”
I fight the urge to throw up at her words.
One of the younger girls catches my eye, and her lip trembles as she inches closer to me. She looks to be about thirteen or fourteen, with rich brown eyes and hair to match.
“Safe here?” she asks in broken English.
I blink back tears as I gently reach for her hand, nodding my head. “Yes. You’re safe now. Andre and his men will protect you.”
Margot repeats the message in Spanish, and something shifts in the girl's eyes, a mix of hope and disbelief.
I know she wants to believe me, but after everything that she’s been through, she likely doesn’t know how. But she squeezes my hand back, and I force myself to smile despite the lump in my throat.
I have to stay strong for these girls.
Once they’re all settled and tucking into the food, I step away for a moment to grab some more water bottles from the fridge and to check in with Andre.
He’s pacing near the front door, staring at the phone in his hand with a deep frown on his face.
Hope and dread war inside me. “Have you heard from Marco?”
He shakes his head, his eyes still fixed on his phone. “Not yet, but I’m sure he’s fine.”
I want to believe him, but I catch the flicker of tension in his eyes, and my stomach twists.
Something is wrong. I can feel it deep in my bones.
As much as I want to push him to tell me if he knows something, anything, I need to keep my focus on the group of women currently huddled around in front of the fire.
Marco only agreed to let me come along tonight because I promised I could help, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
I trust Marco enough to stay safe. He wouldn’t leave his children without a father, so I’m sure whatever is going on is likely just a complication.
