AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Going to his room next door, he inserted the key and opened the door. When he went inside, he saw the bed was unmade and empty. He looked around the room and realized the door adjoining his and Ziva’s room was open. Shit! He bolted over, and to his dismay, her room was vacant as well. Damn! Damn! Damn!
He’d been foolish to leave either of them alone, even for a short time. Looking around, he saw no sign of struggle, which meant they’d left willingly. Why? They were safe here. Now they have no one to protect them.
Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he called Bennett.
“They’re gone!”
“Who?
“Ziva and Myla. They’re both gone,” Alex barked into the phone. His heart was racing as he thought what would happen to them if they were caught. “Get over here now. We need to find them.”
“No one knows our connection. Keep it that way, Alex. If they put two and two together, we lose the upper hand, not that we had much of one to start with. It’s the only card we have in our pocket.”
His mind was racing. Alex hadn’t anticipated someone coming in and taking them. If he had, he’d never have left them. In hindsight, it was a mistake he hoped those two ladies didn’t pay for. I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to them.
Alex needed to do something, but he had no idea where to start looking. “How the hell are we going to find them, Bennett? No one here is going to give us any information.”
“Tracking is one of my specialties. I need you to sit tight. Whatever you do, don’t let anyone know they’re gone.”
Alex remembered the manager trying to talk to him when he arrived. Had he seen them being taken? Is he the one who took them? If he found out the girls were harmed, he’d kill the bastard.
“You can’t expect me to—”
“Do you want to find them alive?” Bennett snapped.
It was a stupid question. Bennett was lucky this conversation was taking place on the phone, because if it was in person, Alex would’ve laid him out on his ass. His back was up against a wall as to what his next steps would be. If he made the wrong move, everything he’d set out to accomplish would be over, but even worse, he’d be risking Ziva’s life. Alex had to put his pride on the back burner for the moment. “That’s why I want to help.”
“This is what I do, Alex. I’ll find them. Once I have a visual, I’ll be in contact. Until then, don’t leave your room, and speak to no one. Remember, you’re being watched, even if you don’t see them.”
“Bennett, you were here before. What makes you think they aren’t keeping an eye on you?”
“I know they are. The first time I came, I made myself very unpopular. The ringleaders are keeping their distance from me on purpose. They suspect I’m here looking to shut down shit. They, on the other hand, think you’re just a piece of shit. See the difference?”
Yeah. Unfortunately, I do.“Then give them something to confirm their beliefs.”
“Roger that. I’m going to find those girls, and I’m not going to be quiet about it when I do.”
“I don’t care as long as they don’t get hurt.” Alex had made a promise to Myla, and he’d keep it, but he couldn’t get Ziva’s face and smile out of his mind. He needed to see it again. His best bet at doing so was trusting Bennett. Don’t let me down.
Ziva gripped thesteering wheel tightly and continued to look in her mirrors, making sure they weren’t being followed. This journey was one she’d made once a week and had for many years.
Peering into the backseat, she said, “It’s okay, Myla, we’re almost there.”
“I’m scared,” Myla replied, her voice cracking.
“I know you are. But once we’re there, you’ll be safe. No one can hurt you there.” Not even the rich and powerful Alex Henderson.
“What about my family? He said he’d—” Myla cut herself off, and Ziva could only imagine what Alex had said.
That bastard threatened your family? God, how cruel can he be?Ziva was getting a pretty good picture of how sick he was. All her hope for him was gone. Just looking at Myla now and seeing the fear in her eyes broke her heart. Ziva didn’t want to think of the horrible things Alex had done to this poor girl. But I promise you, Alex, you’re not going to get away with it.
“Nothing will happen to your family, Myla. I promise you that.”
They were almost there, and Ziva turned off the road. Parking behind trees, they needed to make the rest of the way on foot. The brush had grown very high since her father had hidden her away here. Cutting it back wasn’t an option, at times it had become even scarier than it had been before. Hard to believe because things were so bad when I was a child. I never thought it could get worse, but it has. Add drugs on top of the selling of virgins, and we are the lowest place to visit, never mind raise a family.
Ziva had the opportunity to leave Tabiq years ago. She couldn’t bring herself to do it. Even though she no longer had any family here, it was still her home, the place of her birth. If there were any chance, even a small one of making Tabiq a better place, she’d stay and try.
“We’re almost there,” Ziva said, glancing at Myla.
