Chapter Eighteen
“How do you wanna handle this?”
They were standing outside the mansion, by the doors. No one had made a move toward the warehouse or wine cellar, or whatever the crap they were calling it, including the man who’d been on the phone.
After the evening concluded, people were milling around the room finishing off the crab puffs and downing the rest of the champagne.
Frankly, Aggie hoped they choked on it.
She glanced at Ten, waiting for his answer, but he appeared to be deep in thought.
When she wasn’t watching the pervert who’d bought Luna and Maria for a pedophile, she kept an eye on Santiago. Ten had pointed him out to her earlier. Like every other man, he wore a tuxedo. No doubt he’d paid for it with the sale of children. Aggie would love nothing better than to blow a hole clean through it.
They had a score to settle. Any second now, his bill is comin’ due.
But they had to play this carefully. If they hurried off in a group, someone might suspect they were up to something.
So Jasper had quietly pulled the car out to the far lot, near the rear of the property. Once it was done, he contacted them on the com and reported his progress. Jasper would watch and see if anyone approached the wine cellar as well as give them the lay of the land, so they knew what to expect.
Ten finally spoke up. “I want you to slip away and wait for me in the woods. We’ll come and get you after all of this is over.”
Nice try.
“Ten, you aren’t side-linin’ me. We both know you need my help.” She bit her lip. “I promise I won’t do anythin’ stupid.”
“I don’t believe you, especially after what you said yesterday.”
Aggie regretted scaring Ten, but she wouldn’t let Polly and Coop die in vain, no matter what the cost.
“I’ll take care of Santiago, and you get the kids.”
Ten shook his head. “No, Aggie.” This time, he couldn’t hide behind those shades, and she could read the anguish in his eyes.
“Please, Ten, they need you.” She grasped him by the lapels and pulled him down to smother his objections with kisses. “They might as well be in a bunker,” she said, against his lips, “I’ve never breached such tight security before, but I bet you have.”
“Yes, I’ve gotten into compounds before.” His voice was raspy and hoarse with suppressed emotion.
“Then you can get in and out of there with the children.” Aggie was trying to appeal to his rational side, the soldier. “Santiago will run out of here at the first sign of trouble and I can’t let him get away. And neither can you.”
“No. No way, absolutely not. I don’t want you to do this.”
“Look, I can’t go all Rambo on them, but you can. You kept hintin’ you had the tools to handle a full-on assault, so do it. In a few hours, they’re going to ship those children off to God knows where. This is our last chance to save them.”
Ten sighed, but he didn’t contradict her. Instead, he pulled back to gaze down at her, as though memorizing every square inch of Aggie’s face.
She’d seen the way the auction had affected him—his disgust, the way his lips curved into an almost imperceptible snarl. No doubt all kinds of buried memories had surfaced, plaguing his thoughts.
Who knows? Freeing those children might help him in some way. No one had come for him, but he had a chance to save someone else.
“I can’t talk you out of this, huh?”
“Nope, so save your breath.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.” Ten gripped her shoulders. “Aggie, before we start, we should discuss a thing or two.”
“I know what you’re gonna say.” If Aggie allowed herself to think this through, to even hope for a future with Ten, she wouldn’t have the nerve to go through with this operation.
He sucked in a breath. “Fair enough. We’ll talk about it later. It’s best to keep our heads in the game anyway.”
Ten reached into his left cowboy boot and grabbed a silencer. “Here use this. You’ll have to watch out for his guards, at least until Jasper and I breach the warehouse, then they’ll be after our asses instead of yours.”
“How’d you hide it from the guards?”
He winked. “They didn’t think to check the boots. Keep low and use the cars for cover. Don’t shoot unless you have to, or you’ll give up the element of surprise.”
“Got it. Any other parting advice?” She could use a tip or two.
Ten kissed her fiercely, and she closed her eyes, clutching him, saying goodbye. And then he released her, even though it clearly pained him.
“Yeah, don’t die, Giselle.”
“You either.”
***
“You’d better get your ass over here,” Jasper said in his ear.
“What’s up?”
Ten was making his way to the wine cellar. He was so worried about Aggie he couldn’t see straight, but he knew she couldn’t be stopped, no matter what he said. At one time, he’d lusted for vengeance, too. And he hadn’t been satisfied until he’d quenched it.
Goons were swarming the grounds, and Ten offered them smiles as he went by because he didn’t want to raise any suspicions. As far as they were concerned, he was taking a leisurely stroll.
“The phone pervert is headin’ inside. I repeat the phone perv is active.”
Ten rolled his eyes. “You’ve watched Top Gun, one too many times, haven’t you?”
“Maybe. You should see this wine cellar. It’s partially submerged in the ground without any windows, and there’s only one entrance.”
“Yup, they couldn’t have picked a worse location to stage a rescue.” Ten knew exactly what the structure looked like. He’d studied the satellite photos for hours. “Did you park near the rear of the lot, like I told you? By the woods?”
“Who do you think you’re talkin’ to? That idiot Rebel?”
“Fair enough. Do me a favor, and pop open the trunk. I stashed some goodies inside.” Ten waited for him to find it.
“Shut the front door!” Jasper crowed in satisfaction. “You’ve got all the best toys. Ten, you’ve been holdin’ out on me.”
He’d hidden two AK-47s, plenty of ammunition, grenades, flash bangs, along with flak jackets and other useful items. They’d disappear into the trees and gear up, and then the fun would begin.
“One question.”
“What about the military and CIA?” Ten asked.
“Yeah. Accordin’ to Vick they’ve got folks stashed all over the place, watchin’ everything.”
“Exactly. They’re here to watch, not intervene. If they show themselves than the perverts change up their operations, go into hidin’. If they came after us, all the intelligence they got would be worthless.”
“So they’ll let us do our thing?”
“It’s a gamble.” No plan was foolproof, by any means.
“One you’re willin’ to take?”
“Any day of the week.”
***
“Come on, where the fuck are you, Santiago?”
While Ten and Jasper were about to go commando on the warehouse, she’d been searching for the prick who’d taken Luna and Maria. The crowd had broken up and people who hadn’t bought anyone else were heading out, while the buyers were meandering toward the back.
Earlier, Aggie had to argue with Miss Delilah about the shoes. The old lady had tried to talk her into stilettos, which would’ve been impossible to walk in. They’d settled on kitten heels. It wasn’t exactly like wearing her favorite Nikes, but they were better than the alternative, and at least her feet weren’t aching.
While her ankle was still tender from the injury, it was nearly healed. Her shoulder was in decent shape, too, thanks to the painkillers and antibiotics.
She found Santiago in the rear parking lot leaning against the wall of the wine cellar while a young blonde knelt before him. The woman had to be in her early twenties, pretty, and exactly the kind of “merchandise” Santiago traded in.
Aggie turned down the volume on her com, so she wouldn’t be distracted.
The blonde’s hands were duct taped together, and tears streaked down her face. Unlike the other girls who’d been dolled up, she was dressed in a pair of ragged jeans and a dirty t-shirt. Evidently, she belonged to Santiago and wasn’t an item up for bid.
Her mouth was open, and he’d jammed his cock down her throat.
Aggie’s stomach turned at the sight. If she made it out of here alive, she’d be showering for weeks. Aggie couldn’t wrap her head around the depravity, couldn’t understand how people could stoop so low, and she wasn’t sure who was worse, Santiago or his buyers.
Time to end this.
“Hello, Santiago.” She walked out of the shadows, moving quietly.
“Do I know you, politto?” He squinted at her in the darkness.
The man didn’t look perturbed by the gun and didn’t raise his hands in response. He probably assumed she didn’t know how to use it, which was far from the truth.
“Yeah, I told you I’d share my feelings with you in person, and here I am.”
Understanding dawned in his eyes.
Aggie lifted her chin. “Just so we’re clear, if you call out for one of your guards, I’ll nail you right between the eyes.”
“I almost didn’t recognize you in that dress.” Santiago whistled. “I approve of the hair color, and those librarian glasses are caliente.”
“I’m so glad you approve of the makeover.” She tossed the specs away, because she no longer needed the disguise.
He snorted. “Brave, beautiful, but stupid, just like I thought. As soon as my body hits the ground, they’d execute you.” Santiago gestured around them. So far the guards were preoccupied with his customers, guiding them around the grounds and making sure they didn’t try anything.
“Yes, but at least I’d go out happy. “ She gestured with the gun. “Button it up, buddy, we’re goin’ for a ride.” The last thing she wanted to see was his junk. Aggie planned on boosting a car and driving for the border.
“There are other ways of satisfying you.” He smirked.
Aggie didn’t dignify the comment with a reply. His disturbingly flirtatious banter made her even more uneasy. Evidently, he thought it would throw her off guard, and he was right.
The woman at his feet pulled back, and he jerked her by the ponytail. “I didn’t say you could stop sucking, puta.”
“If you try to jam your dick back in her mouth, I’ll shoot your balls off.” Aggie lowered the weapon to the right angle. “It’s a tiny target, but I’ll hit it.”
“There’s nothing small about me.” Santiago waggled his dick at her as if she’d missed it.
Aggie shuddered. “Put it away, Santiago, nobody here wants to see it.”
“Fine. Leave us.” He smacked the girl, and she rolled away from him and then bolted from the area. Aggie prayed she got free of these bastards, but she couldn’t see to the girl’s safety at the moment.
“And where do you think you’re taking me?” He buttoned up and she sighed in relief.
“Texas. I’m gonna gift wrap you for the FBI and collect a tidy sum.”
Aggie wasn’t sure what she’d tell the Feds, but she’d better think of a decent story soon, one which covered all her bases. Although, she was betting they’d be grateful to have a human trafficking kingpin off the streets and not look too closely at the details.
There was a reward offered for information leading to his capture. Aggie would bypass the info part and head straight to the money. It was better than charging Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez for her services. As far as Aggie was concerned, the reward would count as her fee.
That way everybody wins, except for Santiago of course.
“And you think I’ll go quietly?”
“If you’re smart? Yes.” She raised the gun a bit. “If you open your mouth to call for your guards, I’ll shoot you in the back of the head and leave you here to rot.”
“Have you ever killed before, pollito?”
“Not yet, but you make me homicidal.” She tossed a pair of handcuffs at him. “Put these on.”
“I’ve got a better idea.” Lightning fast, he pulled his gun.
Aggie shot him in the upper thigh and darted behind a car to the left. She’d used a silencer, so the guards hadn’t gotten wise.
A rapid-fire string of Spanish came out of his mouth. No doubt he was cussing her ass out.
And then an explosion boomed in the distance and all kinds of hell busted loose. The buyers dispersed, jumping into their vehicles and taking off. A plume of smoke shot into the air and the guards scrambled toward the wine cellar.
She could hear Ten and Jasper on the com, but she switched it completely off, so she could concentrate. Aggie had no doubt Ten would save the trafficking victims.
When she peeked around the corner once more, Santiago was gone.
Oh shit.
“Now, I’ve got you where I want you.” Santiago wrapped an arm around her waist, reeling her in.
“Get down on your knees.” She heard the click of the trigger as he pulled it back and then Aggie could feel the barrel of his gun pressing between her shoulder blades.
Aggie knew with utter certainty if she did as he asked, Santiago would kill her. He’d shoot her, execution style, and it would all be over.
And then she had an even more profound realization.
Polly was right. I’ve been too scared to live.
And all of a sudden, it seemed so stupid, pointless even. She’d been preparing to die for a long time, but she’d missed the point.
Aggie had just been denying herself happiness.
Ten had given her something to look forward to, a purpose, a partner. They still had a lot to decide, but she wanted to see where their relationship led.
No wonder Ten had gotten so angry with her. She’d been flirting with death, and it was only by some minor miracle Aggie hadn’t gotten herself killed in the process.
I wanna live, dammit.
So I’ve only got one option here. Fight back.
Aggie sucked in a breath, preparing herself.
“I said kneel.”
“How about I do this instead?”
Instead of bowing down, she whirled around and punched him in the throat. He clutched his neck, gasping for air, and she shoved Santiago against a car. Aggie slammed his arm into the metal, knocking the gun from his grip.
It dropped to the ground, and she kicked it away. When he turned to grab it, she hopped on his back, and then he rammed her into another car, knocking the wind from her lungs, and she couldn’t call for help on the coms.
The next thing she knew, Aggie was sprawled on the ground, and he was on top of her, choking her to death. She clawed at his hands, trying to break his hold, but Santiago was much bigger and stronger.
The world went out-of-focus, and Aggie couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer.
Surrendering, she fell into darkness.