Page 53 of A Twist of Poison

I still didn’t fully know why, and to what extent. I had theories, of course; it wasn’t hard to conclude that the flesh market was what they were trading in.Sex trafficking. Even thinking about it made bile rise in my throat.

I was in deeper now, more so than I ever was because now… now, the main orchestrators would be aware that I knew their names, their faces. Because this man standing before me wouldn’t be able to keep secrets from his employer.

Who did you run to for help when those in positions to protect and lend a helping hand were involved? A catch twenty-two situation, whatever way I looked at it. In every direction I faced, there was no out, nothing would change. I didn’t doubt I had a mark on me, my every step observed in case I veered out of line.

I had brief thoughts of reaching out to Texas, Preston, and Hollis, but I fought back against that route. The major issue: they didn’t trust me, so would they even believe my version of events when I laid out the cold hard facts? Would they dismiss me and everything I’d discovered and been put through? I think it would break a part of me if they batted the issues I brought to the table away so easily. They wouldn’t be the men I believed they were. Or could be. However, if they decided to trust my words, realistically what could they do against the Mayor of this town, with enough officials in his pockets to make any insignificant problem—or person—disappear in the blink of an eye?

Nothingness. I believed it was the beginning of the end, and I guessed I was right in part, it may be, for my life, my sanity. Whatever was left of the crushed and fractured parts of me. My body was just a vessel. It healed, repaired itself from wounds inflicted. But my soul was tired. So unbelievably weary. That tiny, meagre patch of hope, that childlike optimism… obliterated. Gone.

Just. Like. That.

“Does he know?” I muttered.

“No,” he replied curtly.That’s good.

“Lizzie is looking rather… interesting,” he drawled, switching the subject.

I stared at him blankly, indifferent to his words. Nothing was penetrating the haze he’d sent me spiralling into headfirst.

“I would say Delaney. However, she’s a bit young. Even for our tastes.” He smiled cruelly, but spoke so monotonously, so… normally about subjecting a twelve-year-old child to the level of depravity he’d exposed me to.

A flicker of challenge rose within me until it quickly swept away, smothered out. “You don’t have to threaten me. I understand the consequences now, more than ever,” I told him truthfully, my voice devoid of emotion. I could tell it pleased him.

After he left, I dumped the ruined eggs in the bin and grabbed a bottle of wine from the side. It wasn’t even to the chilled temperature I preferred, but I didn’t give a damn. Unscrewing the top, I gulped deeply, not bothering to pour it in a glass. What would be the point? I silently toasted to all the girls whose fathers had broken their hearts more thoroughly than any other man could.

Chapter23

Hollis

Stripping off my hoodie to reveal the black t-shirt underneath, I wiped the splattered blood off my face and hands, getting the worst of it off.

Amir had set up at a distance, giving him a bird’s-eye view of the entire area with his high-precision rifle. It was technically designed for the infantry, but we had good contacts. So, any laws and blocks placed in our way, we diverted around with ease, a few promises here, money greased in the palms of hands there. That was what made the world go round.

After the knowledge Preston collected for us, we’d focused our attention on this property as surveillance provided the confirmation that we needed. Several unwilling persons were being kept here, under an array of different owners.Owners.

Bile rose in my throat knowing this was going on in our territory, right under our noses, and they were sneaky bastards. But bit by bit, we were chipping away at their depraved empire getting closer to their master. We were closing in. And when we did, it would be a very bloody affair.

I stepped over the dead body I’d just taken care of. He was the gatekeeper and had to be dealt with in close range, seeing as Amir couldn’t get a clear shot on him. He would have raised the alarm and barred us entry anyway.

Amir was our best sharpshooter. His accuracy was stellar, and he rarely missed. I dragged him off round to the side, hiding him from view as I retrieved my phone sending a group message to everyone.

Hollis: Sorted, gates opening. Park up.

As I pocketed it, I strolled into the mini office set up with many camera screens and a metal lockbox containing keys to easily access the property. It surprised me that they had keys, not more high-tech security measures, to keep people out and their victims in.

Deciding to forgo smashing the box to bits I wandered back out patting down the guy as I pulled his master key from the bag pocket. I let his body flop back down and I carried on with my task. A smile overtook my face seeing every single key with a chain telling us exactly what lock it was for.Perfect.

I pressed the release button as two black vans with darkened windows to hide those inside pulled up, waiting for entry. The large white wrought iron gates, with spiked spindles on top to finish the look, opened. It took a few moments for the vehicles to squeeze through, parking where we’d previously arranged. Round the back and to the left, staff parking where it wouldn’t ruin the aesthetic look of the old colonial style mansion. Ostentatious and bright white—the purity colour—standing for everything on the outside that we knew wasn’t within.

Miles jumped out first, followed by Texas, Preston, Drew, Ronnie, and finally Aaron. In the second vehicle was Chris, followed by three of the Omega team, the generation above ours. It was rare to see Chris in the field, he only attended when it was something major.

This case had been sending us in loops for far too long. We were all keen to crack it wide open and eradicate the consequences. Amir turned up a few minutes later, joining us from his perch, whistling happily with his rifle slung over his shoulder. I shook my head. If only his little girl could see how scary her daddy really was; I felt sorry for any of her future lovers.

Slinking off under the shadow of the night, we broke off into our arranged formations to approach the mansion from a variety of positions. It had been lit up like it’d just invited us in with awelcome homedoormat.Don’t mind if I do. Noiselessly, I unlocked the door. Miles and I slipped in, my eyes widened.

I was pretty shocked at what I saw. It sat within the high-end luxury category, décor that must have cost a fortune. I knew we were in the correct place. There’s no mistaking where we were. My back was to the wall. I listened to muttered conversation with nothing of importance. One peek round the corner confirmed a well-dressed guard and a sleek older man suited up, dressed like he was going to the opera house.

Holding my fingers up to Miles, he nodded in understanding as we snuck up behind both men. I stunned the guard momentarily as his mouth opened to shout but I slapped my hand over it, arm around his throat with his back to me. I swiftly twisted his neck to the side with a hard pull, he sagged in my arms. A fucking dead weight, literally. Dragging him to the corner of the room out of sight, I peered back at Miles. He had the other man turning an interesting shade of red.

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