“You shouldn’t be here. Come before they find you.” She waved me out.
I followed Avery into the packaging room with a strong sterile smell, reminding me of a surgical suite in the hospital. I shivered from the drop in temperature. She offered me a mask and latex gloves.
“We need to show you how to do this before Tony comes back to check.”
Putting on the mask and gloves, I walked over to the long table with several Yeti coolers. Farther back in the room were more tables occupied by younger people, looking like teens.
Oh my God.
I leaned into Avery and asked, “Are those teens?”
She nodded. “They’re packing drugs.”
Hailey moved to stand across from me, holding up a checklist.
I glanced at it, and nausea rose in me, making me feel lightheaded. It was a list of organs with ID numbers and who they were going to.
“At least we don’t have to cut them out this time. Just package them.” Hailey jerked a chin at the cooler in front of her. “These organs have been flushed with a cooling solution to sterilize them.”
A stream of sweat slid down my spine. I didn’t dare look into the cooler.
Avery continued, “They have been infused with a specialized chemical mixture to minimize cell swelling, prevent acidosis, and supply nutrients to the cells during storage and transportation.”
“They taught you all of that?” I asked.
“No. I’m a medical student. Organs like the heart and lungs only have four to six hours to get to the buyers.” Tears welled in Avery’s eyes as she described the process to me. “Kidneys are more resilient. They can last up to thirty-six hours.”
“I’d rather die than get a transplant this way,” I said.
“Me too,” Hailey agreed. “Ready to package your first organ?”
“No,” I said, but I knew they were just doing their job. If they failed to teach me, they’d be punished.
I closed my eyes, trying to steel my body for the sight. Then I peered into the cooler and saw two bloodied human hearts that looked more maroon with purple sections than the red usually seen in pictures. The tissues pulsed slightly, and I stared at the thick vessels—the arteries and veins—jutting out like tubes. Heat flooded my body, and bile climbed upmy throat. My body trembled, and my vision blurred. Someone called my name, but I couldn’t hear it clearly.
I swayed and blacked out.
Chapter Fifty-One
Kain
I left Andrew’s body for Godfrey and rushed back to meet Milo. Harry had given the apartment number on the first floor of Eva’s building.
I knocked on the door, and Harry opened it. A woman stood next to Emilio and smiled. She had a friendly face with caring eyes, looking familiar, but I couldn’t remember where I’d seen her. Right now my mind was muddled, and all I could think about was Eva’s safety.
“Hi, I’m Camila. Nice to meet you.” She extended her hand, offering a firm shake.
“Kain,” I said. “Nice to meet you too.”
She turned to Emilio. “Can you ask Milo to come out now?”
“Sorry to bother you this late at night.”
“It’s no bother. We all want to get Eva back as soon as possible.”
Harry gestured for me to follow him to the dining room, where a tray held bingo cards and chips.
I pulled out a chair for Harry and one for myself.
