Page 39 of The Dragon's Dream Mate (Savage Shifters Special Ops 3)

While some of the law enforcement people were fishing for bad guys, other people rallied around the kids with bottles of soda and water.

When the social services people showed up, the kids were relatively calm. They were already giving out their names, birth dates, addresses, their parents’ names, and phone numbers so their families could be contacted.

The oldest girl had a story that was a lot like Simone’s. She was lonely and started talking to someone online. They had arranged to meet, and the next thing she knew, she was in New York on a boat. Some of the other kids had simply been taken from the park or their front yards.

“What happened to the times when people valued children and would never dream of doing any of this?” I asked Agent Mendenhall.

She put her arm around my shoulder. “Was there really such a time? We just know a lot more about it because of the media and technology, which allows us to track at least some of it.”

“This kills me,” I said.

“Yes, but like me, you’ll keep doing it, because each battle won is at least one child saved and one more scumbag put away.”

Her partner was calling her.

I handed her my card. “Look me up. I think we’d be good friends,” I said.

She smiled and nodded, “I’d like that. I don’t have too many of those.” She turned with a small wave and walked back to her partner.

Gage, Jared, Damian, and Lucian approached me with tired smiles.

“Another win. Let’s go get some sleep,” Gage said.

17

Rainey

Although none of us had got much sleep in the past few days, we were jubilant in the car. It was a significant win for us. Between the two raids, we’d managed to save twenty-two children, plus the boy waiting at the bus stop for his ‘friend’ to come get him.

“Hopefully, the guys we captured will give law enforcement some information about their higher-ups. The FBI might be able to work with international police forces to break down the entire network. It has happened,” I said.

“That’s very true,” Gage answered. “It always amazes me how many people in power are a part of these groups. Judges, lawyers, politicians, doctors, and others. People we are supposed to trust but really don’t care who they hurt.”

We got back to the hotel, and the exhaustion hit us. The four men headed into Gage’s room to update the team back home, debrief, and do some paperwork that needed to be completed while the events were still fresh in their minds.

I popped into my room to check on Simone, Kami, and Bobby. Kirk was in the room watching over the kids. He was doing a phenomenal job.

I gave him a hundred dollars, and he left after thanking me profusely.

“Well, we got them all,” I said. There were sixteen kids locked in a room at the bottom of the ship. They were all safely rescued and in the process of getting reunited with their parents, as are the kids who were found in the house.

Simone was grinning widely.

Kami, on the other hand, looked worried. “What about Bobby and me? Mama didn’t want us. She got money for someone to take us.”

I could have kicked myself. In all of the chaos, I hadn’t explained what I had planned. I didn’t know whether Ms. Lynn had said anything to her or not.

“Well, I applied to be yours and Bobby’s foster mother for the time being. If your father or someone you are related to can’t take care of you, then, you’ll just stay with me permanently, if that is okay with you. When I'm on assignments, you’ll hang out with Simone’s mama. Cool?”

Kami’s face brightened. “That is awesome. I love Simone, and I love you, too.” She jumped in my arms and hugged me tightly. I felt the prickle of little tears form in my eyes.

“We love you,” I said.

I ordered the kids some pizza and soda, with brownies for dessert. They were so excited.

“Are you guys going to be okay in the room tonight? Do you want me to stay with you?”

Kami said, “No, we are big people. We can stay here and take care of Bobby. Can we watch tv?”

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