“Open thisdoor.”
The squirrely assistant came at him with his arm raised. Years of karate training kept Crockett calm and in control. Just before Francois struck, Crockett grabbed his wrist, twisted his arm around and put him in a choke hold. Then he started counting. By the time he got to ten, Francois wentlimp.
He dragged him into the bathroom, took his cell phone, and left. Before continuing his exploration of the back wall, he tossed the phone on the sofa, then shoved it against the bathroom door ensuring Francois couldn’tescape.
Several agonizing seconds passed before he located a lever near the floor. The panel slid open and he stepped into a dimly lit stairwell before the door slid closed behind him. After taking the steps three at a time, he yanked open the fire door and crossed thethreshold.
The room he entered was an exact replica of the greeting room, though quiet and darker. And filled with children. At least ten teenagers—mostly girls—sat on the brown sofa as if they were posing for a photo shoot. Their subdued smiles couldn’t mask the fear in their eyes. The hair on the back of his neck prickled. Three more kids leaned against the wall, also striking stilted poses. The girls wore makeup and provocative dresses; the boys were in button down shirts and skinny suits. Their vacant expressions reminded him ofSage’s.
For several chilling seconds no one moved. No one spoke. Crockett’s worst nightmare had been confirmed. The ad Decker had found offered sex with minors. His body stiffened as he fought to control his fury. The children resembled mannequins. The emptiness in their eyes broke his heart. It was as if their innocent souls had been sucked from their bodies and their shells were all thatremained.
A tall, rail-thin woman sailed around the corner. Unmasked, her sunken cheeks, melancholy eyes, and sallow skin struck a chord. Pain pounded his chest. It wasSage.
“Are you here for rejuvenation?” sheasked.
Though desperate to find Alexandra, he didn’t want to frighten her away. He removed his mask. “No, Sage, I’m not. I’m here to help you. Where’sElectra?”
Her blank stare led him to think she didn’t understandhim.
“I’m here to help youandthe children. But first, I need to find Electra. Take me toher.”
As she studied his face, a deep line creased her brows. She appeared to be having trouble comprehending hiswords.
“Please.” He kept his voice low and steady, though adrenaline pumped through him at a frenzying speed. “She’s in a lot of danger. We need tohurry.”
Fear flashed in her eyes. Sage flew down the hallway, her long wispy hair trailing like feathers in the wind. Though unsure if she was taking him to Alex or running him into a trap, Crockett had no choice but tofollow.
He rounded the corner and almost bumped into Sage. With a haunting laugh, Jase pulled a door closed and headed toward them, a sardonic grin erupting over his face. “You’re too late, pretty boy. Our little Electra is about to get the fuck of herlife.”
The rage that Crockett had fought for years to contain exploded from the depths of his soul. Jase surged toward him and Crockett’s hands tightened into coiledfists.
Sage squeaked out, “He’s got a stun gun,” at the same time Jase yanked it from his pocket and sprinted towardCrockett.
With the weapon inches from reaching him, Crockett raised his knee to his chest and launched a punishing heel-stomp kick to Jase’s sternum that send him flying backward and crying out in pain. He crashed to the floor, gasping for air. Fury clouded Crockett’s thoughts. He wanted to wrap his hands around Jase’s throat and choke the life out ofhim.
Instead, he grabbed the weapon, pressed it to Jase’s shirt near his ribcage, and pulled the trigger. Again Jase cried out. His body went rigid. But the pain and incapacitation wouldn’t last long, so Crockett landed a right hook squarely on Jase’s jaw, knocking himout.
Crockett sprinted to the door, but it was locked. “Open this,” he said toSage.
Her hands trembled as she tapped the Silver Towers card to the keypad. The light blinked green and Crockett burst into theroom.
Dracule stood beside the bed, unbuttoning his tuxedoshirt.
An unmasked Alexandra, wearing only her bra and panties, lay spread eagle on the bed, her wrists and ankles buckled into bands that were strapped to each bedpost. Her blonde wig was all that remained of her disguise. Her cheek was red and swollen. Dried blood clung to her arm from a gash on her shoulder. But it was the fear in her eyes that flipped hisswitch.
Crockett thundered toward him. “No!”
Dracule threw his arms in front of his face like an “X”. Crockett delivered an uppercut to the solar plexus that brought Dracule’s hands to his stomach. Then he wrapped his hands around Dracule’s neck and body-slammed him against the wall so hard, the table lamp crashed to the floor. “I’m gonna fucking kill you, you son of abitch.”
Fear flashed in Dracule’s eyes, his face turning bright red from lack ofoxygen.
“Don’t do it.” Alexandra’s voice snapped Crockett’s headaround.
“Sage,” Crockett barked. “Freeher.”
Crouching in the corner, Sage rocked back and forth, repeating, “No more Payne, no morePayne…”
“Please, Sage, help me,” Alexandrapleaded.
