Page 89 of Auctioned Surrender

Marenah walks out the door and comes around to my side. “I’ll just be a minute,” I tell

Layla, before getting out to talk with Marenah. “Thanks for meeting us here. We don’t have the

entire story on the ladies. Just that they were getting ready to be shipped out and intended for

the overseas group. Tommy and his boys are dealing with Bernatelli now, and they’ll send him a

message about trafficking in this city, but you and I both know he’s just one man in a long list of

traffickers sending innocent women into sex slavery. I know you’re getting the division up and

running as fast as you can, but the effort needs more resources.”

“I was telling Matt that myself. We could use an army, Dereck. Sheldon needs help in New

York City. He met some girl, and he’s concerned about her safety. I think Trent and Liam are

going to help, but right now, we’re always pulling people to put fires out, and there’s no one left

to do the research and find these people,” Marenah says.

I gesture to Layla, who sits in the front seat, turned toward the women in the back, talking

with them. “She was a cop. I still need to get her vetted officially and talk with Brian, Chase,

and the entire team about her, but I think she would be a formidable asset if you’re willing to hire

her, and she's agreeable after everything that happened. Layla’s been relentless in finding her

sister, and we know she’s dedicated and honorable. She’s more than proved that tonight.”

Marenah smiles and nods. “I would welcome her help, Dereck! You get it cleared with the

guys, and when she’s ready, you know where to find me. In the meantime, I’ll take the rest of the

ladies off your hands. I called a couple of friends who will help me get them cleaned up before

the doc arrives.”

“I appreciate that, Marenah,” I say before opening the van doors, letting the ladies know

the plan for the night, and allowing Marenah to take the lead with the young ladies.

Layla’s quiet as I get in the van, and we head back toward the condo. “What do you think

they will do with Bernatelli?” she asks.

“He’ll get a message he won’t forget for a long time if I know Tommy’s boys, but they’ll

keep him alive. It’s better for the city and for the Larussios to have Bernatelli at the helm. They

can keep him under some sort of control, as opposed to an unknown moving into the territory

and having to deal with that,” I tell her.

Layla is pensive, too quiet, and I can feel her anxiety from across the front seat of the van.

“Breathe, princess,” I tell her, inhaling and then exhaling deeply so she can follow my lead.

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