AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I slipped my arm around Marigold’s waist and drew her close. “Don’t I know it.”
She took Rocco’s arm and they said goodbye before wandering farther into the park.
“What was that about?” Marigold asked. “What needed healing?”
I groaned. This was not a flattering story. “I don’t want to tell you.”
“Well now I really need to know.”
“Fine. One night when I was feeling particularly shitty because I thought you were too good for me, I ran into Sandra. She was drinking her feelings after a fight with Rocco. I joined her and, after way too many drinks, we wound up at the tattoo shop. She wanted to get her nips pierced and I thought it sounded like a great idea, so I did one of mine too.”
She pulled away, her eyes wide. “You had your nipples pierced?”
“Just one and I took it out right away.” I rolled my eyes. “Actually, I had to get my mom to take it out because I couldn’t make myself do it. Can we change the subject now? This story does not make me look manly.”
She laughed and ran her hands gently up my chest. “Don’t worry. I find you very manly. And I’m also glad you took it out.”
“Yeah, not my thing.”
“Could have been worse. I heard one of Grace Bailey’s older brothers once got a unicorn tattoo across his ribs. Apparently he didn’t remember getting it.”
“That would be Cooper Miles. I met him once and he showed me the tattoo. He was pretty proud of it.”
She laughed. “That’s hilarious.”
I pulled her in for a kiss, just because I could. She kept smiling while I kissed her and I couldn’t help but think I was the luckiest guy in the whole damn town.
Marigold’s friend Isabelle came over with her husband, Elias, and their two kids. Isabelle gave her a long hug.
“How are you feeling? Are you doing okay?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. Promise.”
Garrett approached and nodded to the side. I stepped back, letting Mari talk to Isabelle, and stood next to my brother.
He lowered his voice. “I’m not supposed to say too much, but what was left of Preston’s network is already unraveling. They’ve found at least half a dozen girls who’d been missing, some of them underage.”
I shuddered. “That bastard.”
“No shit. They’ve made a couple of arrests, but it sounds like he kept his operation pretty lean. A few guys who ferried the girls around, kept tabs on them, that sort of thing. But they flew under the radar by staying small.”
“Is that why there was only one other guy at that dock in Pasco?”
“Probably. Their guy in Pasco was just a middle man. He’d have taken them on that boat out to a port where they’d have been smuggled onto a larger vessel, bound for who knows where. It sounds like Preston liked to keep most of the girls he coerced into working for him. But if they didn’t behave, being sold off was their punishment.”
“Fucking disgusting.”
“How’s Marigold? Don’t forget, she took a guy out. That can be hard to live with, no matter the circumstances.”
“She’s okay. It’s definitely a lot and I think she’s still processing the whole thing.” I gazed at her. “She saved my life, man.”
“Yeah, she did.”
“How are you?” I asked. “You’re trained for it, but you had to drop two guys that day.”
“I don’t ever want to have to draw my weapon. But sometimes it’s part of the job. And in this case, I have no regrets.”
“Thank you. You saved my life, too.”
