Chapter 15
Carter
Crews are pulling away and wreckers are all around us pulling cars onto them to remove them from the expressway to clear it out.
Still no more information and Scott hasn't gotten any feed from the drone yet. I'm still holding on to hope, but a lot of time has passed. It's now pushing 11:00 p.m. and I'm dwindling quickly. My hope can't break, I won't give up.
He's toying with me and it's not about Andrea at all. Not really. This is a personal vendetta because even when he had Andrea….her heart was always mine.
So much of this situation is rubbing me the wrong way, with reminders of just a few years back when Nick and I were helpless just as I am now. Chantal and Shannon were kidnapped and being held. The situation was very different but no less frightening, especially to Nick. Chantal was his world and thankfully she's here and still is.
Shannon was a fun loving, beautiful fire fighter that reminded me so much of Andrea, that was what drew me to her. I had missed her so goddamn much then. I needed her. She was taken to spite me then, and was executed to show just exactly how much of a game the situation we were in was not.
I'm feeling sick to my stomach at the thoughts that any moment I could get a similar call with Andrea, that I will bear witness once again to the cruelty of individuals on a power trip. And once again be helpless to stop whatever is going to happen.
“Get the fuck out of your head, Carter,” Scott says from my left. “This is far from over, just remember we have an insider that will use any and all things at his disposal to make this a win for us.”
I bend over and dry heave a little, trying to quell the sick feelings churning in my gut. “I sure hope this is over sooner rather than later, Keller,” I say standing back up and slapping him on the back. He smirks at my use of his last name, I don't do it often.
His phone starts ringing and he excuses himself back to the cruiser. I check my phone again. Nothing.
I start to walk over to see what assistance I can be, instead of just standing here like an asshole. My phone starts going off for a FaceTime call from Andrea’s phone.
I doubt it's her. I don't know what I'm going to see and there's no way to mentally prepare myself. Scott comes up behind me and stands to the side as I pull the phone closer to answer. Staring at the screen, I accept it.
“Hey buddy, you're not looking so hot,” Trent laughs as he comes into focus on the screen.
My eyes are looking anywhere I can around him, taking in anything I can or any glimpse of Andrea.
“It's been a long fucking day, Zito. What can I do for you?” I ask, trying really hard to stay level. Last thing I need is to send him into a rage. I need him calm and levelheaded if possible.
“Our beautiful Starfish has roused, she's sure got some fight in her now. She never used to be this exciting,” he says on a wink.
What a sick fuck.
“Can I see her? Please?” I ask barely above a whisper.
“Oh absolutely, where are my manners. That's why I called, I didn't want you to miss out on our little reunion. Isn't that right, sweetheart?” he says turning with the camera and sitting down on the bed. Behind him is Andrea, she's tied to the bed in her jeans and T-shirt. Her eyes are barely open, which tells me she's clearly been drugged. It's so painful to see her there, and not knowing where there is. She's thrashing her head back and forth as she's trying to come to, she's sluggish but she's in there. My strong fighter, my girl.
“Say something to her, Carter, let her know you're visiting.”
“Carter…..,” she closes her eyes with a painful wince, her eyebrows drawn together.
Trent gets down and sniffs her. He sniffs her. What in the ever loving fuck? Right from her chin along her jaw and into her hair.
“She reeks of you Avery, we’re gonna have to fix that,” he says as he sets the phone up on something so it's fixed on the bed. It falls down, and lays flat against the surface and the screen is dark.
“Goddamn phone,” is all I hear through the dark of the screen.
“Samson, that your name? Come over here and hold this phone, keep it aimed right on me and my lady here.”
The phone screen suddenly lights back up with the room again, and is focused once again to the bed. Suddenly and just for a few moments, the screen is flipped to see the person holding the phone. He's looking into the camera with a stare and looks right at me. He wears a black beanie on his head and his thin chiseled face is covered in stubble. His blue eyes are staring into me. I hear Scott’s intake of breath, and I know.
This Samson, he's our Sam. Our undercover detective from Oakland County. He seems to get my thoughts and just quickly nods before turning the phone back to face Trent next to Andrea.
“You miss me, sweetheart?” he asks her close to her ear. It's then I see her eyes widen and she tries to back away realizing her arms are tied above her head.
“Now, now Andrea. Is that any way to greet your man after two long years?”
“Where am I and where's Carter?”
“He's on the phone, I'm gonna give him a little taste of our reunion. You're in my world now, let me show you how beautiful it is,” he says as he runs his hand along her stomach.
She's thrashing now and trying to back away from his touch.
I can't watch this, it's killing me to see her like this. I can feel myself shaking with rage and the phone in my hand is trembling. Scott's hand comes behind my back and just holds it there away from the view of the camera. A silent support and telling me I need to hold it together, for her.
“Wha...what world are you talking about,” she says now looking around the room.
The camera pans the room to about six guys all standing around. They are all various sizes and builds, most with tattoos and greasy looking. The look of appreciation on their faces is what makes my stomach drop.
“This is my group of guys. We come together for a bit of fun, and they pay a good price for a little slice of heaven. I've told them all about this sweet little cunt of yours, and well, they're gonna try you on for size.”
Now I'm ready to puke all over the ground. She's been with two men in her life. Me and this douche about to feed her to the wolves. He's part of the trafficking and has obviously been calling some shots from prison.
I pull the phone away from my face and release my stomach all over the ground, the tears burning my eyes and throat. I have to find her, I have to get her out of there. She may never recover from this. I can't lose my girl, my sweet Starfish.
Scott urges the phone back to my face by guiding my hand holding it. He just gives a silent nod and I assess and look at each of the guys. Trent clearly has no idea that Sam is panning the room and showing me just who's there. They've all just punched their ticket to hell.