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Tears drip down onto my chest. I didn’t realize I had shed any tears, but hearing my mom’s story is heart breaking.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” I choke out.
“It isn’t your fault, honey, but if you know anything that could help other parents find peace then you need to speak up. Let Clay protect everyone.”
“I know you, Shay, and this must be killing you. You don’t walk away from anyone in need of help,” says Clay. “I’ve followed your ass into combat to save the enemy, babe. I know you.”
I take in a deep breath. Everyone is right. This goes against everything I believe in. I’ve never walked away from anyone in need, no matter what race, gender, or religion.
“It’s like a concentration camp. I don’t know where, or how far I travelled to get there. Josh and I walked on foot for possibly days. Then we walked for a while with Keir and the soldiers that found Josh and me. This is bigger than just three of you.” I point to Clay and his brothers.
“We have a team of people at Shawland Security, and they’re all willing to help,” Clay reassures me. “We’re not alone.”
I nod several times. Reliving everything I saw or heard is soul destroying. “It’s a big part of a human trafficking ring.”
Clay and his brothers close in the gap at the bottom of my bed. Caleb hits record on his cell and places it on my table.
“They take women of all ages and sell them on. They take women of childbearing ages and sell their babies to the highest bidder. These women don’t want to be there. I watched a baby being ripped out of its mother’s arms to be given to a family who paid.”
My tears are falling freely as I relive that memory. I can still see the woman’s pained face, her sobs and pleas.
“That same woman helped me cause a scene so I could call you from the office. I don’t know what happened to her because I was tossed into a cold, dark cell after that. I didn’t see anyone familiar after that call.”
“And do you recall any names that might be useful?” asks Clay.
I shake my head. “All I know is that it’s run by Americans. I’ve heard American voices. The main guy gets called The Boss. They’re ruthless. They don’t care who they hurt. I don’t know why I got out of there when I did.” I shrug. “I thought I was going to die.”
“I think you have Clay and Carrick to thank for that. They kicked up a storm here with the media and the mayor. They weren’t accepting your MIA status lightly,” says Caleb.
I look over at Clay, but he’s looking down at his feet. I’ve never once witnessed this beast of a man looking embarrassed or shy. He has always oozed confidence; a good trait to have while working in the army. What changed that?
“Thank you. Both of you. I never once thought you’d give up on me.”
Clay finally looks up at me and smiles warmly. “The thought of giving up on finding you alive wasn’t worth thinking about, short stuff.”
“And the thought of never hearing that sassy mouth should have been enough for me to sign off on you, but I just couldn’t do it,” says my smart-ass brother.
I laugh, but soon stop when the pain in my body and face stops me. Seriously though, Carrick has always made me laugh, even in terrible situations. I can’t imagine him being the grieving brother.
“Never give up your day job, Carrick, because you wouldn’t make a good comedian.”
He holds his hands over his heart as if I’ve just wounded him. The room is a lot lighter since Carrick opened his mouth, but we’re not finished here.
“What happens now, son?” my dad asks Clay.
“We want you to come and stay at our compound for the time being, Darryl. We’ll protect you to the best of our abilities; you, Mhairi, and Carrick.”
“What about Shay?”
“I’ll be on Shay duty until she gets out of here, then we’ll all take it in turns at the compound.”
“I can look after myself,” I snap petulantly.
“I know you can, but you don’t need to anymore, Shay. You’re not in the army now. I’ve got your back again, and I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“And this starts now?”
“It does. We can’t be sure that walls don’t have ears, and Chris and Caleb are going to tail you back to the compound. From now on, don’t leave the compound without one of us, even for a couple of minutes. Once we get settled into this routine, I’ll get Caleb to send someone else over here to protect the outside of Shay’s door. It will also let us see if anyone passes through this corridor that shouldn’t.”
