Page 56 of Regressive

“I may live out here alone, minding my own business, son, but your leader is a dangerous man. There are protocols put in place in case he,” he glances at me, “or his minions, decide to overstep.” He laughs. “You kill me and a tremor will travel across Anex’s enterprises, and you’ll be the one to feel the aftershocks.”

I lunge, grabbing him by the shirt, and lifting him off the couch. My nose is less than an inch from his when I hear the trigger cock. Somehow, somewhere he had another gun and I feel the hard press in my gut.

The two of us are in a stand-off, my gun pressed against his throat. His to my gut. Silas covers the wife and fuck it all, we’re screwed.

“You may want to lower the gun.” Rex’s voice amplifies the tension. My eyes are locked with Jeb’s, and he doesn’t take his eyes off me, but a panicked whimper from his wife forces me to break contact. Rex is standing at the entrance to the hallway, a young teenage girl in his grip. Sweat drips down my back. Fuck, shit just got worse, way worse.

“Jeb,” the woman cries.

“Not now, Doreen,” he snaps.

“Daddy?”

That’s when it clicks—the pieces falling into place for Jeb. He turns, and the distraction is all I need to grab the pistol, turning it back on him with sweaty hands.

Rex grins at the man, smile wide and evil. “The woman you tried to purchase yesterday is my mate,” he growls. “How about I take your daughter back to Serendee with me, sell her to the highest bidder.

The girl shakes her head, fat tears running down her cheeks. I want to feel bad for her, but her father needs a lesson.Andwe need to get out of here alive.

“I thought we were making a deal,” Jeb says, voice less sure. “You owed me.”

“Bullshit,” Rex strides forward, dragging the girl with him. “You wanted my woman. You wanted to put your filthy hands on her.” He pushes the girl toward Silas who catches her, holding onto her tight. Rex grabs Jeb’s arm and drags him over to the fireplace, pushing him to his knees and slamming his forearm against the stone surface. “You wanted touseher.”

Seamlessly, Rex, pulls a knife out of his boot. Doreen and the daughter scream.

“Don’t hurt him,” the girl cries, turning her face into Silas’ chest. As angry as he is, I see his hand curl around her shoulder. It’s just his nature to provide comfort even while he has a gun to her temple.

Rex ignores her pleas and presses down on his wrist. “Maybe if you don’t know how to keep your fucking hands to yourself, I should just remove the temptation. “

“No! Please! Don’t! I didn’t know she belonged to you! I thought that’s why you brought her!”

Rex, lays the blade of the knife across Jeb’s wrist, pressing gently. One move and I know he’s got the strength to cut his hand clean off. I’m only a few feet away but I can barely hear him command, “Tell me everything.”

“I-I got a message.” Jeb’s body trembles, head to toe. “Word about a new product. Women mostly, but a few boys if that’s what’s desired. Cash only. I seriously thought that since there was the product screw up, you’d brought me a bonus.” He lifts his gaze to me. “No one has ever brought a woman to a drop before. Especially not one that looked like her.”

The statement stings and the accusation is clear. I’m the one that put her in danger. He’s not wrong.

“Let me make something clear,” Rex says. “The people of Serendee are not for sale.”

“You may want to tell your Daddy that, but between us, it’s understood.”

“That’s not all,” Rex says, pressing down. Blood beads and drips down his wrist. “Since you’re so fucking connected, you notify everyone you know that we do not sell people.” Jeb nods, but Rex continues. “If someone, including my father, tries to traffic any member of our community, or any other community, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”

“Yes. I understand,” Jeb says, eyes pleading. Rex doesn’t move, considering Jeb’s commitment, but finally releases him. I nod at Silas, and he lets the girl go, too. She runs to her mother, folding into her side.

“This ends today,” Rex says. “Your relationship with Serendee is over. Find another distributor.” He looks over at Doreen and the girl. “And learn to treat women better. They aren’t objects or possessions to buy and sell.”

Those words haunt me as we leave, striding away in the dark, worming their way into my brain.

Serendee does sell people. Maybe not for money but good behavior. Loyalty. Devotion. Service. Girls are separated and trained. Arranged with a mate. There’s no other option. It’s all at Anex’s choosing. And with Imogene? The four of us came along and made her our possession.

Fuck.

“We’re going to pay for that,” Silas says from the backseat. More than anyone he understands the consequences for defiant behavior. “He’s going to find out and when he hears you cut him off as a buyer…”

There’s no need to say anything else. We all know.

Ahead I see a junction, the split in the highway. One leads back to Serendee. The other to a little town I’ve never visited, but the address is stamped in my brain. Memorized just in case.

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