Page 20 of Thaddeus

“Well, yeah. That was the point of us being here. That and he was fighting two of the new dogs he’d recently acquired.”

“You said you spent eight months with him. Why?” That question came from the man I figured was the leader of the group.

“What’s your name again?”

“Declan.”

“Right, Declan, that’s none of your business. The Q and A portion of the evening is over. I have a stable of girls to find and you all have to find the man Jefferson was meeting with or whatever it is you all have to do.”

I wasn’t sure what time it was but it had to be nearing one in the morning, which meant I was running out of time. The sun would be rising in less than five hours and I’d lose the cover of darkness. It was time to leave.

“Tatiana, thank you for the clothes. I wish I had some way to pay you for them, but I don’t have my purse.”

“I already told you, Emerson, you’re not leaving.”

I forced my gaze from Tatiana and focused on Thaddeus. God, why did he still have to be so hot? Or I should I say hotter. In the last decade he’d gotten bigger, broader, meaner. Though maybe the meaner part was only directed toward me. Perhaps he was still the same good guy I’d known back in the day. Maybe he hadn’t changed at all and it was only me who’d turned into a criminal.

I didn’t know. I didn’t have time to figure it out. And I didn’t have the right to find out. He thought I’d screwed him over and it was best if he continued to think that.

We were nothing to each other.

My truth, was just that—mine.

He’d never understand why I’d done the things I’d done. And I was okay with that. I had to be. I didn’t deserve his forgiveness—not that he’d ever offer it.

“I am, Thaddeus, and you have no say about it.”

“I’ll cuff your ass to the bed if I have to.”

“And I’ll slit your throat before you get the first metal bracelet around my wrist.”

I shoved one hand into the pocket of Tatiana’s cargo pants and fingered the knife I’d always carried with me. Not that I’d actually have it in me to hurt Thad, but it sure sounded good.

Instead of pissing Thad off like I’d hoped, a broad, white, glorious smile graced his handsome face.

“That’s never gonna happen.”

“Which part? You cuffing me or me killing you before you do it? Seriously, we’re wasting time. None of you want the hassle of me being around and I’d think you’d all be happy I was going after the girls.”

“You’re not getting anywhere near those girls.” Thad’s smile faded and back was the scowl. “If you think we’re letting you finish what your boyfriend started you’re even fucking crazier than I already thought you were.”

“Finish what my boyfriend started?” I whispered.

That hurt.

“Yeah, you know, buy a stable of little girls to sell off to the sick fucks of the world.”

That didn’t hurt—it killed.

“Look at me, Thaddeus. Really look at me and remember who I am. You think I’d sell those girls?”

Thad’s eyes bore into mine and all I saw was disgust. Ugly, excruciating repugnance shone bright. And with laser precision, he gutted me.

“I am looking at you, Emerson, and all I see is filth. A woman who would fuck a man like Jefferson Garcia. A woman who would stoop so low she’d be complacent in young women being taken from their families and sold to men who would abuse them. To men who will torture them. Men who will take them against their wills until they wished they were—”

“Shut up!” I shouted.

Memories. So many memories flooded my brain. Crying. Pleading. Bruises and welts. So much damage to the body but more to the soul.