Page 188 of Chasing Infinity

“Who arethey?”I ask her, hoping she can give me any type of clue as to who our captors are.

“I don’t know,” she says, shaking her head. “I’m sorry I know I’m being utterly useless.”

“No, it’s okay. We need to be ready just in case an opportunity to escape arises,” I tell her. “Do you think you can do that?”

She nods enthusiastically. “I’d do anything to sleep in a real bed again. Don’t realize how much you take things for granted until they’re gone.”

I give her a sad smile, knowing exactly what she’s talking about.

She wasn’t lying. Time seemed to be non-existent down there. I have no idea if I sat in that dank basement for minutes or hours. The two of us stayed close to each other, curling up closely to preserve warmth against the cold floor.

After what felt like an eternity—though it could easily have been mere minutes—footsteps resonate against the ceiling. The two of us jump, startled by the prospect that there are other people here.

A scraping sound echoes throughout the basement. “What’s that?” I ask, alarmed. It sounds as though something heavy is being dragged across the floor above.

“Quick! Get down!” the girl shouts at me, grabbing my arm and pulling me down into a squatting position next to her. “That usually means someone is coming down here.”

Before I can respond to her, the sharp sound of squeaky door hinges draws my attention away. I look over to the staircase just in time to hear a deep shout and see someone tumble down onto the hard floor of the basement. The man collapses into a limp heap as soon as he hits the ground. I scream out when I recognize the man as Noah.

He tries to push himself up but fails, falling again to the ground.

Another man walks down the stairs, taking his time as if he’s the guest of honor. Finally, the light catches just right, and I can identify him too. Declan McCoy. Behind him is another man who I don’t recognize. He stands at the base of the stairs, crossing his arms like a guard.

“Oh, I’m sorry, did that hurt?” Declan sneers as he takes a fistful of Noah’s hair, wrenching his neck back. Noah hisses out in pain but doesn’t respond. He’s blinking rapidly, and concern blooms in my gut. He hit his head pretty hard on his way down the stairs.

Noah’s still trying to come to his senses. And then, finally, he spots me. I see the clarity come back into his vision as he stares at me, huddled against the other woman across from where he’s now kneeling.

Tears spike in my eyes as I hold his gaze. I have never felt more helpless in my entire life.

Declan pulls on his hair again, and Noah audibly growls at the sharp sensation. His father is looking from Noah to me and back again. His lips curl up in wicked amusement as he finally settles his eyes on me.

“Well, well,” he says. “About time we have a little chat, don’t you both think?” I swallow thickly, unsure what he couldpossiblywant to talk about right now.

I look between father and son, unsure of what will happen, but I remain silent. Declan watches me, and I feel like a mouse in a lab, under watchful eye following an experiment. Finally, I get the courage to squeak, “Why are you doing this?”

Declan laughs, “Because it’s myjob, Ms. Parks. I’m sure my son has been gracious enough to fill you in on all the elicit details of my business. If not, I’m sure you’ve at least got a suspicion of what industry I deal in.”

I look at the woman sitting next to me. She’s curled into herself, her knees pressed tightly against her chest, her eyes downcast. I turn back to Declan and scowl at him. “You’re a monster!”

“Hardly,” he chuckles, giving Noah’s head another yank for good measure. “I’m simply a businessman.”

“You’re a criminal,” Noah taunts.

Declan shrugs. “To some, it may appear that way. But in my opinion, the difference between good and bad depends on what perspective you view it from.”

I frown at him. Declan catches my expression and laughs heartlessly. “Ahh, you have questions. Goody. Well, go on then.” He waves his hand as if telling me to get on with it.

“How could you possibly believe that selling women into slavery could be good?” I spit at him.

Declan stares at me. “As I said, Ms. Parks, it’s all about perspective. You might think I’m a villain, but the way I see it, I’m simply a good businessman. It’s hard to turn down an opportunity such as this one when it’s staring you right in the face.”

“How did you even get wrapped up in this?” I question him. Noah shoots me a sharp look as if willing me to shut up, but I can’t. The desire to know exactly how he got to this point is too strong.

“You’re a curious little thing, aren’t you?” Declan muses. “It was an accident, really—wrong place, right situation. I didn’t start my adult life thinking I would run the largest human trafficking ring in the North East, but here we are. All it took was a little schmoozing, and a few power plays. People want someone in charge who can make tough decisions and who won’t put up with insubordination. I happen to be that kind of person.”

“So that’s it then?” I challenge him. “Youaccidentallybecame the biggest slave dealer in the North East?”

Declan pauses as if to think about it and then turns to me again with a sardonic smile. “Yes, exactly like that. What can I say? It pays well, and I had a family to provide for.”

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