Enticing Their Mate (14 page)

*     *     *

As soon as Sarah and Riley entered the warehouse with their purchases, Connolly met them, his face strained. “The buyer just called and said his assistant will be here in two hours.”

A band tightened around her chest. “That’s not enough time to get the women ready.”

“You’ll have to do your best. I’d help, but I don’t think—”

She didn’t need him touching them. “That’s okay. All I ask is that you stand guard to make sure they don’t get the drop on me.”

“Can do.”

She nodded to Riley who was standing there holding most of the items. “If you’ll set the packages inside the door, I’ll get started.

He followed her in. “Call if you need me.”

As if his comment had been difficult for him to say, he turned around and left. She didn’t have time to figure out what that was about. The man could go from charming to demanding to distant in a heartbeat. Didn’t he understand that a little bit of honesty could go a long way in helping him heal? If he’d be willing to discuss his issues, she might have been able to convince him of that…she stopped her train of thought.

Convince him of what? That she wouldn’t leave him? Sarah wasn’t ready to commit to anything right now. Given what they did for a living, perhaps it was for the best not to become too emotionally involved.

Focus
.

While she wasn’t going to tell the women the reason for the clothes and makeup, most likely they’d guess.

“Ladies, I have some presents for you to help cheer you up.” Sarah wanted to puke at the lie. Most pushed up on their elbows, and for the next five minutes, she distributed the clothes. “Put on what you can, and I’ll be around to unchain you one at a time. You should be aware there are guards right outside the door.”

The women grunted, but they genuinely seemed pleased with their new gifts. One by one, she helped them dress, and then led each one into the bathroom so she could apply the makeup. Sarah had to admit a little color went a long way in making them look presentable.

Of the ten women, seven looked healthier than before, but even with makeup, their skin appeared sallow and their hair lifeless. If she had the strength and ability, she’d kill Statler herself. Riley’s comment about it being easier to save the girls once they were on their way to the buyer helped boost her energy.

As she was finishing up with the next to last girl, Connolly knocked and opened the door. A tall man with graying temples, wearing an expensive suit, strode in.

“I want all of the girls lined up against the wall. Now.” His command had a military roughness to it.

Sarah stood. “Would you like me to unchain all of them?”

He advanced. “Didn’t you hear me?”

She straightened her shoulders like a good Statler employee would. “Yes, sir.”

Sarah prayed none of the girls would be stupid enough to try anything. Connolly and this man could easily take out all five girls in seconds. She unchained them, but only three managed to walk on their own to the wall.

The buyer’s agent strode over to Nancy. “Get up.” Nancy groaned and the bastard kicked her side, eliciting a whimper.

Sarah saw red. What she wouldn’t give to be a werewolf right now. With her long talons, she’d gouge out his eyes. “Leave her alone. She’s ill.”

He spun around and faced her. “I’ve come to check out ten women. If she’s too sick, I’ll need a replacement. Seems to me you’d do just as well.”

She bit her tongue to keep quiet.

Connolly stepped forward. “There are five others across the hall.”

“Let me take their pictures and show my boss how pathetic these women are. Where’s Statler?” the man asked.

“He’s not at the facility,” Connolly responded.

“Just as well. Show me the others. I hope they’re better than this pathetic lot.”

She should chain them again, but her heart was already breaking. The ass had demanded that she show him the others, so that was what she’d do. Across the hall, four of the women looked good to her, albeit too thin and pale, but the fifth one had a bad cough and had trouble standing.

He snapped each of their photos. “This is pathetic.” He faced Connolly. “My boss will be in contact with yours.”

With that he strode out. Sarah wasn’t sure if she should be happy the women failed inspection or not. On the one hand, they’d be forced to stay at this horrible warehouse for an indeterminate length of time. If they had been acceptable, she wasn’t sure there would be enough time for Jay and Riley to complete a rescue.

“Sarah?” One of the women called out.

She rushed to her. “Yes?”

“I’m not feeling well.”

Sarah escorted her back over to her mattress and helped her lie down. If something wasn’t done soon, not only would some of these women die, so might she.

W
hen Statler spotted the name on his phone, he smiled, already counting the money he was about to receive from this buyer. “Hello, Charles.”

“What the fuck are you trying to pull?”

Statler gripped his cell. How dare the ass use that tone with him? “I’m not trying to pull anything,” he ground out. He motioned the redhead to leave the bedroom.

“I sent my man to check out the merchandise, and what did he find? Ten women who were barely able to stand without help. And their living conditions were horrific. What kind of operation are you running?”

Fuck
. “I had some issues at the clinic and had to change locations. If I hadn’t left, there wouldn’t be any women to sell you.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass what issues you’ve had. You haven’t provided them with the care they needed. I expect quality and these women fall short. I’m not buying them. Goodbye.”

“Wait!” Shit. He told Sarah to make those women look good and she’d failed. The woman would pay for this. His mind raced. “Give me a little more time. I’ll get them the best medical care possible.”

“Time? That’s all you’ve had.”

Charles was the only buyer Statler could find where there wouldn’t be any repercussions. From past dealings, Charles had paid on time and was able to ship out the women with no one the wiser. It would take weeks if not months to find someone else willing to pay such a high price. By then, the women might be dead. “Give me ten days. I’ll make sure they’re in good health.”

“You’ll get seventy-five percent of what I promised, but only if they are healthy.”

As much as Statler wanted to rant, Charles had him by the balls and knew it. “Ten days then.”

His buyer disconnected and Statler tossed the phone on the bed. Fuck. Killing Sarah and Amy right now wouldn’t help the women improve, so he’d leave that pleasure until after they were in Charles’s hands.

*     *     *

By six p.m., Sarah was exhausted from trying to calm down the women. They’d asked a million questions about who the man in the suit was and what was about to happen to them. Telling the truth would have been too painful, so she said he was some kind of inspector. It was only a partial lie; he had been there to inspect them.

“This will hopefully turn out to be a good thing,” she told one of the women. “The man who runs this facility will have to get you better care.”

“So you can poke and prod us again?”

The captive’s bitterness ate a hole in Sarah’s gut. She’d been the one to draw their blood and perform tests when they were in the clinic. The thought of what she’d been required to do sickened her every hour of every day. Many times she’d considered asking for a transfer to a different department altogether, but only after she finished this assignment. She needed justice for these women.

After patting the woman’s hand, Sarah stood. “Amy will be in soon to check on you.”

Sarah couldn’t wait to get out of there. Because of all the changes in shifts, Connolly told her to check out with him. Normally, she waited for Amy to arrive, but Sarah wasn’t ready to confront her roommate. As soon as she returned home, she’d pack a bag and head on over to where Jay and Riley were staying. First, though, she needed to speak with Riley to find out the address.

As she headed toward the exit, he came in from outside, looking as tempting as usual. He lasered his gaze on her. That one sexy as hell look had her pulse soaring and delightful pulses tripping over her skin. Wasn’t she the one who was supposed to be tormenting him? Turnabout was not fair.

“You leaving?” he asked.

“Yes.” His shift was over, too. “I thought I’d take your
suggestion
and pack a bag and head on over to the motel. I really don’t want to have to deal with Amy and Russ, not when things are heating up around here.”

He nodded. “You need directions?”

“How about I drive you to my place? I’ll pack, and then we can go back to the motel.” She’d noticed that he’d driven in with Connolly.

Riley stepped closer and the urge to kiss him overwhelmed her. She was an FBI agent and should be able to control her libido, but this man seemed to cause her circuits to disconnect.

“Can’t leave right now. Something came up that I need to deal with. I’ll give you directions and let Jay know you’re on your way.”

She wanted to shake him and say it would be more fun coming with her, but she understood his need to do what was right. She also was smart enough not to ask what was so urgent. If she had to guess, it had to do with the fallout from that man’s visit. “Okay.”

“Hand me your phone and I’ll put the address in your GPS.” She did as he asked. “It’s only about a fifteen minute drive from your place.”

“Cool.”

He handed back her phone. “Do me a favor and text me when you leave your place?”

“Since you asked so nicely, I will, but should I expect trouble?”

Before he answered, the door behind him opened and Amy and Russ came in. Her skin crawled. If looks could kill, Sarah would be dead.

“Do as Statler asks and you’ll be fine,” he said in a tone so cold she could feel the chill. From the glance he shot Russ, his abrupt attitude change was for his sake.

She was about to step past him when out of the blue Riley stopped her, leaned over, and planted one on her. Wham. It was a toe-curling type of kiss and she would have staggered backward had Riley not pulled her closer. Her moan came out so loud that she bet both Amy and Russ turned around but she didn’t dare look.

She needed to leave, not wanting to have a discussion with Amy—or Russ for that matter.

“See you tonight then,” he said rather loudly. “Bring enough for a few days.” Riley winked then strode off.

Sarah swallowed, not sure what the hell that was about. Had Russ not growled, it might not have occurred to her that the kiss was for his benefit, too. Damn. She had to hand it to Riley. When Amy returned home tomorrow morning, she wouldn’t question why Sarah wasn’t there. The move out would seem natural.

Sarah quickly left the building and rushed to her car. She doubted those two would leave the warehouse to follow her home, but just in case, she kept a keen eye on the rear view mirror.

Once at her place, she didn’t dawdle. This day had been horrific and she needed a relaxing run worse than anything. It would be light for another two hours, so she changed into her running gear and tossed in several work outfits. With her new underwear, she hoped to entice the men into another wild sexual endeavor.

Riley had been skittish at the store, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t change his mind about a little pleasure seeking. On the other hand, would it be fair to him? She doubted she’d be anywhere near those two with her next assignment, so leading him on would be cruel. Jay seemed to want her no matter what, apparently understanding that she had a career with the FBI. Of late, though, her job wasn’t bringing her as much satisfaction as it used to.

Staying around the house much longer was asking for trouble, so she hurried out. Riley had already set her GPS, so she had no problem finding the motel—or rather the dump. She had no idea where Statler was staying, but suffice it to say, it wouldn’t be there.

She parked in front of their room and checked her surroundings before rapping a knuckle on the door. Before she was able to knock a second time, the door opened, and a grinning Jay greeted her. “Well, well. Riley said you’d agreed to stay with us.” He slipped her case from her fingers and placed it near the small table. “You get away okay?”

His concern warmed her. “Yes. Russ and Amy are at work, so I wasn’t followed. Did Riley fill you in about the visit?”

He dragged a hand down his jaw. “Yes. That must have been tough for you.”

“I’m still upset, which is why I really want to go for a run.”

He stepped closer and her inner walls cramped with need.
I can’t let him suck me in right now.

“Where do you run around here?”

She would have given him directions, but she needed to be alone to think. Her hectic and tiring schedule at the warehouse prevented any quality time. “There’s a National Park not far from here.”

“Great. Well, then, be safe.”

That wasn’t what she expected Mr. Protective to say. “I will. I usually only take about an hour.” She patted her hip pocket. “I have my cell in case I break down or something.”

He smiled, and for a second she was tempted to delve into that delicious man, but there would be time later for that pleasure.