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“You wanted a position, well I’ve got a job for you.”
Her eyes lit up.
“The first one will be to let the girl we found get cleaned up. So far she hasn’t let us do much to help.” I really wanted a chance to be able to change the things that had been done to her, but I knew that only time and someone to love her would make a difference.
“Think you can handle this while I go do some other jobs that need to be dealt with?” I was certain that she’d jump at the opportunity to help.
Bria nodded.
“She’ll need more clothes, ones that are clean, and we’ll have to get her into one of the therapy homes for human trafficking victims,” Bria suggested. Her eyes let me know that her mind was working through several things right now. She was figuring out everything that would need to be done to help our charge.
“She won’t talk to me or Stefano and certainly not Angelo. We need to know what she needs. Make a list and we’ll get it delivered. When we know that they won’t rekidnap her, then we’ll get her to a safe place.”
“I’ll make sure to find out what we need. I won’t let you down,” she promised before standing on tiptoes to kiss my cheek.
That little peck made my body come to attention. I wondered if we had enough time to get in a quickie. But who was I kidding, it would be awhile before that would be possible.
“Did you find out anything useful?”
I watched her lips, and had to mentally slap myself to think about what she said.
“Just that her name is Elana and she’s about twenty-three. We think they’ve had her for about three years. Maybe more, maybe less, but it was long enough for her to be completely taken in and get used to that type of behavior.”
Bria’s posture slackened. “It’s not much to work with, but I’ll try to get more so she’s not left feeling alone anymore. I’m sure there are others that need to be found and brought to safety. I’ll use that to get her to talk a little bit more about herself.”
We went into the room together and Nick stood alongside the guard we already had on the door so we could be left alone with her.
I slowed my gate, as we entered the darkened room. The curtains were shut tight, and only the sunlight could peek out around the corners. “Elana, this is Bria. She’s my fiancée.” I spoke softly and with a calm demeanor, hoping not to alarm her. “I know that the idea of men is probably a lot scarier for you and she’s willing to be your guard for the afternoon. We’ll work on trying to catch these guys, but until then we’ll keep you here until we can get you safely back to your family.”
Elana cowered in the corner, eyeing us closely in the minimal light. She was still uncomfortable, so I pulled Bria into a hug and nipped at her ear with my teeth.
“I’ll be back and we’ll take care of your punishment later,” I whispered in her ear.
The blush on her face was a wonderful reward.
Leaving her alone with Elana, I headed straight to my father’s office.
I stuck my head in. “I have a meeting with prospective new distributors this afternoon, now that I’ve disposed of the others last night.” Not waiting for an answer, I left and nodded at Stefano when I saw him waiting for me at the end of the hallway.
“Everyone will be there when we arrive, sir.” He opened the door for me.
“Good job. We need to make sure that they are aware of our stance on skimming products,” I announced. “Nobody messes with our distribution line. They need to know that we aren’t going to let that happen and the consequences if it does.”
Three new men were sitting in the small room when we arrived at the port in the conference room set aside for meetings.
“Listen up. I’m only going to say this once.” I laid my gun on the table in front of me for emphasis.
“You are here because we find ourselves with a job opening. Last night there were a few people that thought they could get away with skimming from our shipments.” I glared at each person in the room. “Our shipments are not to be looked into or touched. You are simply a delivery person doing their job. Otherwise, you won’t have a nice long life.” I glanced at the gun and then at the serious faces in front of me. “People beg for the gun by the time I’m done with them.” I looked each man in the eye.
“Screwing up is not optional. Let this be your warning. If you don’t do your job, then you won’t be paid on a very permanent basis. We pay you well enough that you have the incentive to do your jobs well.”
“If you are having doubts, now is the time to speak up.”
I waited. No one spoke.
“All right. Let’s get down to business. Here is how all shipments will be received and then delivered.” I explained in detail how everything worked. “From the moment that those crates arrive from the boats until the moment they are on the trucks, you are to fight to protect those shipments. Not look in the crates, not try to take them for yourselves. You are to move them and make sure that no one else tries to take them from you. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir.” They chorused.
