Page 92 of Trapped Truth

Sounds like a madam of sorts. A lady of the house. Gael didn’t employ such a hierarchy, but it isn’t unheard of. Her significance to Madden is what has me intrigued.

“Do you remember what she looked like?”

“A little.” Gracie’s eyes ricochet around the room. “I could draw a picture? I used to be pretty good at sketching in school.”

“Please. What about a name?”

That seems to take a little more thought. Names and faces become blurred so easily. A lot of the women who came and went in the years I was held failed to stick in my mind, no matter how sick that admittance makes me.

“Something… like Angel.” She rubs her temples. “Angela?”

“Where was she from?”

“Here, like us. She still had a faint accent.”

Something unknown is sending swarms of prickles over my scalp. I can’t pinpoint what. Watching Gracie sketch a rough drawing, I try to fathom what significance another purchased woman would hold for someone as heinous as Nolan Madden.

“Here.” Gracie pushes the paper towards me.

“You did good to remember all this.”

“When will you come back so we can start training?”

“Soon, I promise.”

Folding the piece of paper, I rise to my feet. Gracie wraps me up in another hug. Letting go is hard. All I want is to tuck her away and shield her from all of this, but it’s not that simple.

“I don’t want you to leave,” she whimpers.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. There will be two trusted Sabre agents posted in the street night and day. You’ve got my mobile number and the rest of the team’s too. Any problems, you call me.”

“Thank you, Em. For everything.”

“Be brave. I know you can survive this.”

“I’ll try my best.”

When I leave the room to check on the guy’s progress, Gracie doesn’t follow. Walking away from her cracks my bleeding heart clean in two. I’m blinking back tears by the time I make it outside to find the others.

“You okay?” Warner slows to a stroll, box in hand.

“Yeah, all sorted. I need to come back to teach her to fight in exchange for her intel.”

“Hell. That’s a good deal.”

“I’ve got a list of names, some other victims being held with her. Including a woman… Someone in charge of the flock. Apparently, she’s a favourite of Madden’s and received special treatment.”

His baby blues widen into spheres. “Shit, that’s big. Let me finish up here then you can brief me.”

“I’ll wait in the van.”

He nods, ducking inside the house to deposit the remaining box and say goodbye. Blaine leans against the side of our vehicle, twisting an unlit joint between his long fingers. He tucks it away as I approach.

“I overheard. Who is the woman?”

“I don’t know.” I hand him the folded scrap of paper. “Could be nothing, but I have a likeness.”

He takes a peek at the new intel. Glancing around, I’m not paying much attention to his reaction. Not until his feet stumble and he almost drops the damn thing, his lips parting with fast, panting breaths.