Page 118 of Never Quiet

Elijah’s eyes went wide and Hayden’s hands tightened on her.

“I always knew it would come to this. When the bounty topped twenty million, I knew. I needed training and a platform. A big one. It’s why I’ve insisted my family not visit.”

Noel added, “Something I agreed with from the start.”

Amanda held Hayden’s gaze intently. “I want him dead so I can get my family back in the present. I want to destroy him first for what he did in the past.”

“I don’t want this, Amanda. The danger to you…”

“How many people do you think he murders or destroys in some way every day? Let’s say one and I think we all know that’s laughably conservative. At one life ruined per day, that’s almost fifteen thousand people over forty years.” She curled her hands around Hayden’s wrists. “War crime numbers.”

From the other side of the room, a voice announced, “I like the way she thinks.”

A man stepped forward and Amanda tensed a moment before tilting her head. She pulled from Hayden’s hold and walked to the person who’d spoken.

Staring into eyes that should have been the same but were nothing like those possessed by Winston Winters, she said, “Your eyes aren’t cold. Not like a snake. Who are you?”

Extending his hand, she placed hers in it. “My name is Hudson Winters, the monster’s bastard nephew. I want him dead as much as every person in this room.” Placing his other hand over hers, he patted her gently and released her. “However, ruination, to a man such as him, is far worse.” He crossed his hands at his low back.

“You look like him and yet…remind me of Harper.”

With a small grunt, he replied, “I’m aware.” Looking around the room, he said, “Miss Lang has valid points. It comes with substantial risk but I cannot see that the risk is less than the man confronting her in a public place, tagging her, threatening her, and confessing to the murder of her biological mother. I believe there’s a part of him impressed that she dared to look him in the eye and call him a monster.”

Warm black eyes returned to Amanda’s face. “There are few in his lifetime who have dared such a thing and lived. Those related to him by blood, his own children, are among the lives he’s destroyed.”

Shaking his head, he explained, “Everyone here has worked to save the victims but he always manages to escape a bullet. You’re right, Amanda. He leaves the auction of human beings and returns to his life of luxury. There is never so much as a ripple to his alter-ego’s world.”

She asked, “Are you worried about sharing the name?”

“Noah Winters, according to my mother, was a good man. She was very much in love with him and it is his name she gave me when I was born. Winston’s filth won’t touch me because I’m no more part of his circle than you are. Never have I been prouder to be common.” With a slight bow, he added softly, “Proceed to shake the castle walls, Miss Lang.”

Turning to the room, she took a deep breath. “I have millions of people following me on social media and the news outlets search constantly for information about where I am and what I’m doing.” She met her aunt’s eyes. “I want to record a video, upload it to the internet, and give news outlets something interesting to report on.”

She walked to Hayden and held his face. “Cover me as well as you can but I understand the risks. Let’s destroy him together. Let’s take his legit money, make it impossible for him to move freely in daylight, and drive him into a deep, dark hole where you can put a bullet in his brain.”

“Amanda…” he whispered.

“I know you’re afraid for me and I am, too. I need to do this and I need you to let me. He’s never going to stop…it’s up to us to stop him.”

“If you die, I’ll follow you instantly.” There were gasps around the room. “Bear that in mind, Amanda.”

“You have more to live for than you realize. If you quit, I would be so angry, so disappointed.” He frowned and started to speak but she put her fingers over his lips. “Will you back me up?” After a long hesitation, he nodded. “Thank you.”

Half an hour later, she handed Tawny her phone as she stood in front of a blank wall. When the record feature was ready, the redhead motioned to Amanda to begin.

My name is Amanda Lang. Since I was twelve, I’ve had a bounty on my head, placed there by human traffickers. Then, it was three million dollars because rich child rapists wanted to buy me.

Winston Winters, you are the man who placed that bounty. You make your real living buying and selling people. I know what monstrous, horrific things you’ve done your entire disgusting life, Winston Winters. I know you. I’ve researched you extensively.

Tonight, you confronted me at the theater. Minutes later, your hired thugs tried to k-kill someone important to me and injured my bodyguard.

Winston Winters, you can accuse me of lying and keep me wrapped up in court for the rest of your sorry life…be my guest. You can simply have me killed. That’s another option.

However, I should warn you that I’ve left data packs in twelve locations around the world with details of your atrocities…the many I know about that are nothing in comparison to all you’ve done.

Now my bounty is over twenty million because wealthy rapists want to own me like a breathing sex doll.

This isn’t a new problem. Every year, more than forty million humans are trafficked around the world. This happens to innocent men, women, and children every single day. They don’t have my platform. They don’t have men like mine who keep them from being kidnapped, taken god-knows-where, used in forced labor, made to fight, raped, tortured, murdered.

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