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“We took care of him. You never have to see him again. You can trust me.” I held my hands out to them. The older girl hesitated, before grabbing my hand. “I’m Luka, what are your names?”
“I’m Gabby and she’s Heather.”
“Gabby, Heather. Let's get you guys home.”
“Daddy Carlos says this is our home now,” Gabby said.
“He can't hurt you anymore. Come with me and I will get you back to your parents.”
Gabby grabbed my hand, looking up at me as she stood up, bringing Heather with her. She looked up at me examining my face, a tear rolled down her cheek. “You have kind eyes.”
“You can trust me.” I led them out of the room and down the hallway. “I want you guys to close your eyes until I get you outside, okay?” They both nodded, closing their eyes. I walked them past Arturo and Carlos, Carlos’ lifeless body almost completely in flames now. “Artie let's go.”
He looked at me and nodded before turning back to Carlos’ burning body. He kicked it, the fireball of a corpse crashing backlighting the couch behind him. He turned to me, all emotion from his face once again erased. He walked up and I led the girls behind him out of the house and to the SUV.
I helped the girls into the back, and we pulled off. We had been driving for an hour when Gabby tapped my shoulder. I turned around and smiled at her, “Yes.” Heather was asleep on her lap, Gabby stroking her hair.
“Heather doesn't have a family. She was a foster kid in an abusive home and ran away. When they found her, Carlos had already bought her. She’s only been with us a few months. He was getting her ready to take over for me. She can’t go back into foster care, they’ll find her.” Her voice cracked, and tears fell down her face.
I smiled at her and nodded. “I promise we will find her somewhere good, someone who will love and take care of her.”
Gabby nodded and wiped her cheek, looking down at Heather. “I’ve been gone for four years. Will my family even want me anymore? After everything I’ve done?”
“Gabby, you listen to me.” She turned and looked at me. “Nothing that happened to you is your fault. You have been in survival mode; you did whatever it took, understand?” She nodded. “How old are you?”
“Seventeen, Daddy Carlos was just about done with me, it was almost time for me to be sent somewhere else, and I was going to have to leave Heather.” She bent down and kissed Heather's forehead. She looked back up at me. “You guys killed him, didn't you?”
“We did.”
She shook her head, her tears falling quicker, as she looked out the window. She turned and looked back at me. “There is a part of me that’s sad he’s gone. Like a family member died or something. How fucked up is that? How fucked up am I?”
“It’s okay. There is nothing wrong with you.”
She smiled at me. “You’re wrong,” she laid her head back, staring at the ceiling, “I’m messed up beyond repair.”
I turned and looked at Arturo, putting my hand on his shoulder. I knew how hard this was for him. He saw Charlie in every girl we rescued, but never Charlie herself. His jaw tensed, as he focused on the road ahead of us.
“LUKA!” I hear Maximo call my name. THWOP! I took one hard to the right cheek, knocking me back on my feet. I shook my head, blinked my eyes, and refocused. Hands up, back into the fighter stance. Now I was pissed and done playing with this guy. I took two steps forward and threw my right, catching his left jaw. I came back with my left, catching him on the right. Punch, punch, punch into his ribs, then uppercut with my left. Guy crumbled to the ground, knocked out, unconscious. The ref counted, “ten, nine, eight.” The crowd was on their feet cheering. I hopped around the stage, playing into their cheers. He continued. “Three, two, one!” The bell rang, and the ref held my hands up.
I hopped up and down, waving. Then out the door, over to Marco. “What the hell, while I was in the fight seriously?”
“You were supposed to meet me outside fifteen minutes ago. You better hurry or we will be late.”
I shook my head and pushed through the crowd, men patting my shoulders, women hollering trying to get my attention. We will make it; give me five minutes and I’ll be ready.” I pushed through the door, into the room with a bench, a table, and lockers. Not the finest accommodations, but street fighting isn't exactly five stars at the MGM. I slipped down to boxers. Pulling on my white button-down shirt, buttoning quickly.
Maximo shook his head. “Your dad didn’t tell you where the meeting was, did he?”
I pulled my suit pants on. “No, is it that big of a deal?” I buttoned them, and sat down, pushing into my dress shoes.
“Yes, we’re meeting at The Consortium.”
I stopped and looked up at him. “What? Why? I thought Stefano met with them last week.” Arturo and I had stopped calling him dad the day he took Charlie. I would never call him dad again.
“Well, that meeting led to this meeting.” I threw my suit jacket over my white shirt. I grabbed my gym bag, threw everything inside, and looked in the mirror. I quickly grabbed the t-shirt I had been wearing, got it wet in the sink, and cleaned up my face. I threw it in the gym bag and started outback, Maximo at my side. I grabbed some cologne and sprayed it all over myself, hopefully, it would hide my sweat enough. He jumped into the front of the SUV, while I jumped into the back, Arturo sitting there waiting on his phone.
He looked at me and nodded, ending his call. “We better not be late.”
“Why the hell are we being asked to meet with The Consortium now?”
