At 7pm sharp Kayla comes walking through my door looking like a fierce sexy spy all decked out in black. She has on dark leggings, thigh high leather boots and a black tank top. Her long blond hair is pulled into a low pony through the back of a black military style hat. She’s also sporting a pair of aviator sunglasses even though the sun has started to set.
“Wow, you look hot!”
I look down at my dark blue jeans and black tank top. It’s too hot to wear a sweater but after seeing Kayla’s boots I decide I’m going to wear mine as well. I’m wearing a similar hat with my hair pulled back in a ponytail.
“Thanks,” she says pulling stuff out of a back pack she brought in with her. “I figured since this will be the last time the asshole sees me, when I kick his ass, I’m gonna look good doing it.”
I’m glad to see this fiercely pissed-off woman over the devastatingly sad one I saw a few days ago.
She hands me a walkie-talkie, “Here, I stole this from the top of our closet, turn it to channel 9.”
“Why do we need these?”
“Just in case we get separated. Especially if I need you to be on the look-out while I try to bust the fucker.”
I nod my head in understanding.
“You look great too. Do you have a pair of sunglasses? I don’t want him noticing us.”
“Sure, I’ll go grab them.”
“Where’s Jaxson?” she asks while I’m coming back down the stairs.
I shrug, “I don’t know. He made himself scarce when I told him we were hanging out tonight, either here or at your house. He’s probably out with Sawyer and Cade.”
“Did he suspect anything?”
I shake my head, “But I almost messed up when Coop was over here the other day.” I tell Kayla about how hard it was to hold my anger back and act like nothing was wrong.
“Tell me about it, I’ve been trying to work as much as I can, taking other people’s appointments then trying to be asleep when he gets home. The other night he tried getting some and it took major self-control not to cut his dick off. In the end I feigned being sick.”
She shrugs looking sad now, “It sucked because I still wanted him, even after knowing what I know. I’ll probably always want him,” she whispers while a tear escapes.
I wrap my arms around her, my own throat feeling tight, “You never know Kayla, maybe we will find out tonight that we’re wrong. There’s still that possibility.”
She smiles sadly, “I don’t think so Jules. I can feel it. All the lies he’s told and her hanging up on me, there’s no other explanation.” She shakes her head and stands up straight, looking at me with fierce determination, “Alright! Let’s do this shit.”
We walk out my door and I look at the black SUV we’re about to get into. “Who’s is this?”
“A co-workers’, we switched vehicles. We will be parked right out front of the motel when he shows up. I had to take a vehicle he wouldn’t recognize, so that leaves out either of our cars.”
I nod again in understanding, all of this feeling so surreal.
About 20 minutes later we pull up to the motel which is just off highway I-90. There’s a truckstop/bar right next to it. It’s a seedy looking place, where I suspect truckers probably bring company to from the bar next door.
We park at the gas station that’s just across the street. Kayla shuts off the car and its lights. It’s dark out now but the motel is lit up bright with neon pink flashing lights.
I’m feeling a little silly with my sunglasses on since it’s dark and all, but Kayla still has hers on so I keep mine in place.
“Right there,” Kayla says pointing to a door across the way from us, “room 23 is what the text said she would be in.”
We sit in silence and stare at the door, as if it’s our life line.
Kayla gasps, “Shit! There’s Cooper, get down!”
We both slide down our seats as Cooper’s truck pulls into the lot across the way. The truck blocks half our view from the door. I notice Kayla start to shake; I grab her hand and squeeze tight. We sit up a little bit so we can see what’s going on.
We both let out a gasp when Cooper’s passenger door opens first. “What the fuck?” Kayla says confused when we see Jaxson exit out the passenger door.
What the heck is right!? What is he doing here?
Kayla and I look at each other in confusion, then her eyes widen in shock. “Oh my god, do you think they’re both fucking her?”
My heart stops beating and I start to feel sick. But then I come to my senses quickly and shake my head.
“Ya you’re right, that sounds a little too out there. But what’s he doing here then?”
I shrug having no idea.
We watch Cooper now as he exits the truck too. He waves at Jaxson as he starts his way over to the motel.
Jaxson goes next door to the bar. Oh my god, he’s going to go drink while Cooper sleeps with her? How could he do something like this?
Kayla scoffs, “I really shouldn’t be surprised.”
Silence descends on us now as Cooper knocks on the motel room door. We both hold our breath, waiting to see what happens. The door opens and we get a view of a beautiful brunette that looks to be close to our age. My stomach drops when Cooper enters and closes the door behind him.
“Oh my god!” Kayla whispers in agony.
“I’m so sorry Kayla.”
“Did you get a good look at her? Did you recognize her?”
I shake my head.
“Me either,” she says sadly, then she clenches her jaw, “come on!” She says angrily getting out of the SUV.
I follow quickly, “What are you going to do?” I whisper trying to catch up to her.
“I want to get closer, see if I can see anything in the window. Go stand by his truck and watch for Jaxson. Radio me if he comes out,” she says holding up her walkie-talkie.
“Ok, be careful.”
I go to Coop’s truck and stand a little distance away so I can get a good view of the bar door in case Jaxson comes out. I look to my left and try to see Kayla but I can only see some of her. “Anything?” I whisper into the radio.
“Not really but if I listen closely enough I can hear a little bit. The bitch is giggling a lot,” Kayla says sounding pissed.
I get so caught up in watching Kayla that when I look back to the bar door I panic when Jaxson walks out.
“Oh shit!” I whisper into the walkie-talkie. I duck behind Coop’s truck and get on my hands and knees crawling around it, praying he didn’t see me.
“Kayla get out now! Hurry Jaxson is out.”
“Julia?”
Shit!!
I swing my head around while I’m still on my hands and knees to see Jaxson standing right behind me. “What the hell are you doing?” he asks looking at me like I’m a complete loon.
I stand up and look towards the motel room door to try and see Kayla but she’s not there. I look back at Jaxson and start to feel angry. “I can’t believe you would do this Jaxson, you should be ashamed of yourself!”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
I scoff, “Oh don’t give me that…” I gasp, my words dying in my throat when I hear glass shatter.
I run over to the other side of Cooper’s truck to see Kayla with a bat. She just smashed in Coop’s driver side window and she’s whacking the shit out of the door and side mirror.
OH NO!
“Holy shit Kayla, what the fuck are you doing?” Jaxson’s eyes are wide with shock, his hands on top of his head and he looks like he’s about to be sick.
I stand there frozen not knowing what to do. Jaxson tries grabbing the bat from Kayla but she raises it at him, “You stay the fuck back asshole, or you’re next!” she screams psychotically. Then she walks around Coop’s truck quickly smashing out his tail lights and anything else she can hit.
“Goddamn it Kayla! Stop!” Jaxson starts coming at her again but before he can reach her Cooper comes running out of the motel room, the girl following close behind him.
Oh god, this is so bad.
“What the fuck!?” Cooper screams running towards Kayla. His eyes are bugged out of his head like he can’t believe what he’s seeing.
He goes to reach the bat but Kayla turns around and swings at him just missing his shoulder.
“You lying piece of shit!” Kayla screams taking another swing at him.
Cooper turns her around and wraps his arms around her, trying to restrain her. She swings the bat wildly behind her trying to hit him. They come close to me as they struggle, I know I should move but I’m frozen, watching their struggle.
“Jesus Christ!” Jaxson pulls me out of the way before I get whacked.
Cooper finally pries the bat out of Kayla’s hands and throws it across the parking lot.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing!?” he screams at her.
“You lying cheating bastard!” Kayla is still trying to fight him as tears stream down her cheeks.
Her anguish causes my own tears to build.
Cooper spins her around and holds her upper arms tightly, “STOP!” he screams, shaking her.
I walk towards them, scared for Kayla with seeing how mad Cooper is, but Jaxson grabs my arm stopping me. He’s looking pretty mad too right now.
There’s a bunch of people from the bar outside watching the scene unfold.
“I hate you!” Kayla screams in agony, “how could you do this to me, after everything we have been through!” She gets more energy now and starts trying to kick him again.
“Goddamn it, that’s enough, I am not cheating on you!”
“Oh my god! You’re seriously going to lie to me again, after I just busted your sorry ass.”
“You don’t know anything, you have this all wrong!”
“Oh ya, then who the fuck is this whore?” Kayla shouts pointing at the shocked looking brunette.
“This is Sarah Miller, a friend of my sisters’, she’s a jewelry designer. I’m here picking up your fucking engagement ring from her!”
Kayla freezes as my stomach sinks with dread.
OH SHIT!
“My engagement ring?” Kayla whispers in shock.
Cooper clenches his jaw and nods his head at her.
“But the text, she hung up on me when I answered your phone, you told me you were working late when you weren’t.” Kayla is rambling quietly, trying to absorb what’s happening.
“Ya I kinda wanted to keep it a fucking surprise and all.” He shakes his head, “You really thought I was cheating on you?” His tone comes out furious, but you can hear the hurt in it too and it makes me feel horrible. I can only imagine what Kayla is feeling right now.
“I’m sorry.”
Cooper pushes her away angrily, “You’re sorry? Look at my fucking truck!”
“I’m so sorry, I’ll pay for it to get fixed…”
“Shut up! Go to the fucking car and wait for me.”
“Cooper please, will you just…”
“Now Kayla!” he yells pointing her away.
I walk up to Kayla and tug on her arm, “Come on.”
She watches the rage on Cooper’s face for a few more seconds then allows me to pull her away.
“Follow them!”
I feel Jaxson trail behind us. I link my arm with Kayla and rub her back as she cries all the way back to the car.
Jaxson opens the back door of the SUV. “Get in. I’m gonna help Cooper clean up the truck and let him know what vehicle you’re in, since you aren’t driving your own.”
Kayla gets in, continuing to cry. I look at Jaxson before I get in and he looks as mad as Cooper. I don’t say anything and follow in behind Kayla.
A soon as he slams the door Kayla breaks down and sobs hysterically, “Oh god Julia, what have I done?”
I wrap my arms around her, “Shh! It’s going to be ok. You didn’t know Kayla, the evidence was damning. I would have thought the same thing.” I leave out that I probably wouldn’t have beaten his truck in. I think she feels bad enough.
“He’s so angry, he’s never going to forgive me,” she says through her sobs.
“Yes he will. We’ll explain it to him, we’ll make him understand.”
Kayla shakes her head and before we can say more Jaxson opens the driver side door and gets in. He doesn’t say anything but I look up and see his furious gaze on us in the rear view mirror. A minute later Cooper gets in on the passenger side. He slams the door making both Kayla and I jump. I hold her hand as she continues to cry. Angry silence fills the car as Jaxson pulls away. I debate whether to say anything, but I’m really scared. I’ve never seen Cooper this angry before and I don’t want to make it worse.
A few minutes later Cooper breaks the silence, “Ya know girls I just have to ask, what the fuck is with the outfits? Especially the fucking sunglasses?”
I look over at Kayla, she’s crying too hard to answer so I try my best, “We didn’t want you to notice us.”
Cooper laughs bitterly, “Oh ya, because I’m not going to notice 2 fucking chicks wearing goddamn sunglasses in the dark. Smart one ladies.”
I stiffen at his sarcasm, “You know Cooper, I get that you’re mad but you don’t need to be so rude. The evidence was pretty incriminating.”
“So that makes it ok for you girls to dress up and fucking play Charlie’s Angels for the night!?”
Kayla cries harder and I decide to not respond. He’s too angry to understand where we were coming from.
20 minutes later we pull up to Kayla and Cooper’s house. Coop gets out and reefs open the back door that Kayla is against, “Get in the fucking house.”
“Don’t talk to her like that!” I get out and meet Kayla around the side. “Why don’t you come sleep at my place tonight? Give him a chance to calm down,” I whisper quietly, but not quiet enough because Cooper hears me.
“Stay out of this Julia!”
I glare at him, “No you’re being irrational Cooper. You’re not even trying to understand where we are coming from…”
Cooper advances on me like he’s going to kill me, “Just shut the fuck up, you have caused enough shit!”
Before I can register his anger Jaxson’s in front of me holding Cooper back. “Watch it Coop, I know you’re mad and I don’t blame you, but no one fucking talks to her like that.”
Cooper scoffs, “Of course, this is where your loyalty lies.”
“Jesus, this isn’t about loyalty man…”
Before Jaxson can finish, Cooper shoves him, “Whatever you’re so fucking pussy-whipped by her and the worst part is she doesn’t even give it up to you.”
“Cooper!” Kayla gasps at the same time Jaxson raises his fist and punches him in the face.
Oh god!
It’s obvious that Cooper not only anticipated a fight, but is also happy about it. He charges at Jaxson, primed for the fight. They take each other down and roll around on the lawn trying to pin each other.
“Stop! Both of you, right now,” I scream terrified.
“Cooper please let’s just go inside,” Kayla begs, crying hysterically.
Finally Jaxson gets the upper hand and manages to pin Cooper, “You need to stop picking a fight with me and take your girlfriend into the house and figure out why the hell she thinks you’re fucking cheating on her.”
Jaxson shoves himself off Cooper and Kayla runs into the house crying. Cooper glares at Jaxson for a second longer then he shakes his head and follows behind Kayla. He punches the side of his house on the way in and slams the door behind him.
I look over at Jaxson, “What do we do? I can’t leave her here with him while he’s like this?”
“Jesus Julia he’s not going to hurt her. He’s just majorly pissed off, with good fucking reason,” he shakes his head, “let’s go!”
I follow hesitantly.
The car ride home is filled with silence, except for the sound of my crying. When we walk into the house Jaxson looks at me for the first time since leaving Cooper’s. “What the hell were you girls thinking? I mean Christ Julia, this is fucking Cooper we’re talking about here.”
“I know Jaxson, believe me we feel terrible, this isn’t something we just assumed over petty jealousy. The evidence was damning.” I tell him about everything that happened and why we thought he was cheating.
“Ok fine, but what about after you saw me there with him? I mean right there didn’t that clue you in?”
I look away from him now, remembering what Kayla and I first thought, and it must show in my expression.
“Holy shit! You guys thought we were both fucking her didn’t you?”
I don’t bother to confirm.
He shakes his head and laughs bitterly, “This is too fucked up, even for me. I’m going to bed,” with that he turns and walks upstairs, without another word.
After locking up I crawl into bed but I can’t help being worried about Kayla. I send her a quick text telling her to call if she needs me then I cry myself to sleep.
I don’t know if it was from the fucked up night that happened earlier with Kayla and Cooper or from Sawyer bringing up what the Admiral wants from us, but somehow I knew nightmares would plague me that night and I was right.
I’m back in that fucking hell hole, the cold damp cell reeking of blood and death. My wrists are chained above my head, as my broken body burns and aches from the pain I had endured earlier. Christ! A part of me almost wishes they would pump those fucking drugs in us that they did at the beginning, at least then I would be too fucked up to feel all this.
No. It’s good they stopped, I need to keep a clear head if I’m going to get out of this. I look over at Sawyer and Cade. Shit! If I look as bad as they do, then no wonder why those assholes think they don’t have to worry about incapacitating us with those fucking drugs anymore.
Sawyer groans and looks over at me, “You look like shit!”
I grunt, then immediately regret it, “Ya well, you don’t look too fucking pretty either.”
I’m hoping Cade comes around soon. They really did a fucking number on him after what he did to that sick fuck who was rubbing Faith in his face. I drop my head down, feeling too weak to hold it up. Panic floods my system when I look down at my chest.
“FUCK!”
Sawyer looks over at me, “What?”
“My fucking chain, it’s gone.”
“They ripped it off you,” a quiet female voice says.
My head snaps up in surprise at the cell to my left. There’s a girl chained to the fucking bed. Jesus Christ! When the hell did she show up here?
“How long have you been here?” I ask her.
“I don’t know, I think a few hours,” her voice is shaking with fear, I also realize she’s American and she sounds fucking young.
“How did you get here?”
She starts to cry, “I don’t know. I’m travelling with my school, a friend and I snuck out at night to go to the beach. These boys were trying to take my friend home, she was drinking and something didn’t seem right with her. I was only drinking pop but now I don’t remember anything and next thing I know I woke up in the back of a van and I haven’t seen my friend since.”
“Your school travelled to Iraq?” Sawyer asks the question I was just thinking. What school travels to a fucking war zone, something doesn’t make sense.
“Iraq? No we are in Thailand.”
Jesus Christ! Knowing that she was shipped here from Thailand confirms my original suspicion, that were smack fucking dab in the middle of a human trafficking ring.
She whimpers when I don’t say anything, “We, we, aren’t in Thailand?”
I let out a heavy breath, “No, you’re in Iraq.”
“Oh my god, they’re never going to find me, I’m never going to see my parents again,” she starts sobbing, her fear robbing her of breath.
My chest constricts at the sound of her agony. And something builds up in me that I haven’t felt in a long time… protectiveness. “Hey it’s alright. Listen everything’s going to be okay. What is your name?”
“A, Anna.”
“Hey Anna, I’m Jaxson and these are my buddies Cade and Sawyer.” I’m hoping she doesn’t consider addressing Cade since he’s still out of it. “We’re Navy Seals, do you know what that is?”
Her cries start to settle, good the distracting is working. “I think so, isn’t that like soldiers?”
“Ya kinda…”
“Except we’re way more bad ass.” The girl giggles at Sawyer’s interruption, but soon she quiets and I hear her crying again.
“How old are you Anna?”
“Fourteen.”
Fuck me!
“Well Anna, we have every intention of getting out of here and I promise we won’t leave without you okay?”
Christ! Please let me be able to get her the fuck out of here.
“O, Okay.”
“Where are you from?”
“I live in South Carolina.”
“No shit?” Fuck! I shouldn’t have said that. “So am I. What part?”
“Summerland.”
“That’s only a few hours from where I grew up.”
She goes silent again and I leave her be, thinking she fell asleep. But she proves me wrong when a few minutes later she says, “It was the fat smelly one.”
Huh? “What’s that?”
“The guy who ripped your necklace off. He’s fat, smelly and his teeth are disgusting. Do you know which one I’m talking about?”
“Ya,” and I did know, the dick whose nose I broke when he took my picture of Julia and made his goddamn remark about fucking her.
“Was it special?” she asks quietly.
“Ya.”
“Sorry.”
Me fucking too.
“What are they going to do to me?”
Her fearful question hits me like a blow to my chest, “Nothing if I can help it.”
After that she did fall asleep. I look over at Sawyer, “You need to keep working on Irina. She’s our only hope of getting the fuck out of here.” I whisper, making sure not to wake Anna.
Sawyer nods, “Ya, I know.”
We doze off and wake up some time later to a fearful scream.
“No, don’t touch me! Ow stop!”
I look over and see two guys grabbing Anna, one of them the perverted fuck whose nose I broke and took my chain. The mother fucker has her by her hair.
“Come on bitch, we have a customer who can’t wait to break you in.”
Oh fuck. No!
Anna screams louder, “No! Jaxson help me! Please, help me!”
I shoot awake drenched in sweat, my heart pounding so loud in my fucking ears it’s all I can hear.
I fall back down till I get my heart under control again. Looking to the clock I see it’s 5:00 am. Knowing I won’t be going back to sleep I get up and hop in the shower and try to wash the fucking guilt away.
The next morning I wake up and look at my phone, hoping Kayla texted me back, she didn’t. I send her another one asking her if she’s alright, then I get out of bed and throw on my robe before I head downstairs. Jaxson is up already sitting at the kitchen table with coffee and the paper. He doesn’t look at me as I walk in and it makes me want to cry all over again.
I walk over to him tentatively. Grabbing his face in my hands I make him look at me, “I’m sorry, please don’t be mad at me anymore,” I whisper sadly.
He lets out a breath and pulls me down on his lap, I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face in his neck. “We didn’t know Jaxson, all the evidence pointed to what we thought.”
“I know Jules,” he shoves his hand under my robe and rubs comforting circles on my upper thigh.
Looking up I rest my forehead against his and stare at the cut on his lip from the fight. I touch the wound gently, “This is my fault,” then I press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.
His eyes heat and his grip tightens on my thigh, “No it’s not baby.”
Suddenly the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it, you get yourself something to eat,” Jaxson kisses my forehead before I get up to let him answer it.
A few seconds later Kayla comes barging into my kitchen in her pajamas. Her eyes look the same as mine- red and puffy, but she has a huge smile on her face.
“Oh my god!” I run up and hug her, “I’ve been so worried about you. Are you ok? How’s Cooper?”
At that Cooper comes walking in sporting a busted lip, with Jaxson trailing behind him.
Cooper nods at me, “Hi Julia.”
“Hi Coop,” I whisper nervously.
I look back at Kayla who still has a huge smile on her face, “Everything is ok,” she lifts her hand showing me her finger. I gasp and grab her hand studying the massive rock. “We’re getting married!”
I look back up at her face, my own smile spreading, “You’re getting married?”
She nods her head with a huge infectious smile.
I hug her tight, “I’m so happy for you guys.”
Stepping back I look over at Cooper. He gives me a small grin, telling me we’re ok and it causes me to break down. I walk over and wrap my arms around him. “I’m so sorry I thought you were a cheating bastard Cooper,” I say blubbering into his chest.
He snickers and hugs me back tightly, “It’s alright Jules. Sorry I told you to shut the fuck up.”
Kayla comes over and Cooper lifts his other arm to pull her in tight too.
Kayla backs away first, “Don’t you have something else to say Cooper?” She asks, flicking her eyes back and forth towards Jaxson.
“No.”
“Cooper, apologize to Jaxson too,” Kayla whispers harshly.
I look over at Jaxson and see him smirking at Cooper.
“No fucking way.”
Kayla glares at Cooper’s response.
Coop lets out a deep breath then walks over and puts his hand out to Jaxson, “Sorry asshole,” he mutters under his breath.
“Cooper!” Kayla scolds and I can’t help but giggle.
Jaxson grabs his hand smugly.
“Jaxson don’t you have something to say back?”
He glares at me, “Why the fuck should I say sorry?”
“For punching him.”
He scoffs.
“It’s ok Julia, I’m used to being the bigger man,” Cooper says with a smirk.
Jaxson grabs him in a headlock, which Cooper gets out of easily, and they start play wrestling.
Kayla and I roll our eyes at their barbaric way of apologizing. Then she looks at me with a huge smile again, “Will you be my maid of honor Jules?”
I start blubbering again, “Of course I will.”
When we step back and look at each other we can’t contain the excitement anymore, we start squealing and jump up and down.
“This is going to be so fun!”
“I know! I’m so fucking excited!” Kayla saying laughing as we continue to jump around excitedly.
We settle down and see Jaxson and Cooper staring at us like we’re crazy.
Whatever! Guys don’t get stuff like this.
I turn back to Kayla, “We can reschedule our girls night if you want. I completely understand if you want to celebrate with Cooper.”
“No Coop has to work for a bit tonight anyways, so you, Grace and I can celebrate. Katelyn told me about this great club that just opened in Charleston.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Jaxson grunts, “How are you guys getting there?”
I shrug, “We’ll take a cab.”
“Coop said he will come get us after.”
“Perfect.”
We make our plans and decide to get ready together here at my place.
Cooper cuts in, “Alright lets go. I have plans for you for the rest of the day,” he picks up a giggling Kayla and hauls her out of the house.
“See ya later!” I yell laughing before he closes the door.
I turn around to Jaxson, a beaming smile on my face, “Oh my god Jaxson, they’re getting married!” I scream excitedly and launch myself in his arms, “Isn’t this so exciting?”
Jaxson catches me and laughs at my excitement. “I’m going to go call Grams.” I push out of his arms and bolt upstairs to my room.