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When we hear shouting from the room next door, Angelo tells Marco to go see what’s going on.
“The Russian,” Mia whispers. “You must get the Russian…”
Angelo scoops Mia up and carries her outside. He tells me to get some blankets out of the trunk as we approach the car. I open the back so he can slide her onto the seat.
I can't help but wonder what’s going through her mind right now. She still hasn’t been able to stop shaking. Angelo wraps a blanket around her shoulders and tells me to stay with her while he goes and sorts out the commotion at the second car. The Russian, she’s swearing, kicking, and trying to punch everyone.
I kneel down close to the open doorway as tears silently flow down Mia’s face. I swallow hard, and I don’t know whether to try to comfort her or let her be.
After a moment, I decide I need to say something.
“It’s going to be alright,” I tell her. “We’ve been looking for you. You’re safe now.”
She looks at me as she pulls the blanket around her. She is every bit as beautiful as her sister, even more so. Even in this state; dirty, tired, shaking, her dark hair stuck to her, and tears streaming down her face. “C-can I go home?” she murmurs so quietly I can barely hear her.
“We’ll take you to Rayne. We’re going there now,” I tell her.
She nods and bites her lip without saying anything else.
I don’t have the heart to ask her if she has been raped or beaten. I know I just met the girl, but I don’t honestly want to know the truth. From where I’m kneeling, knowing she had been violated like that would be soul-destroying. The problem is we still don’t have the culprits who did this, but Angelo is closing in on who they are.
“It won’t take long to get there,” I continue as Angelo makes his way back to the car.
He glimpses at me as I move out of the way, and he climbs into the back seat next to her. Instantly, we share a look.
“Let’s go,” he says with a nod.
I climb in the front next to Rocco, who’s driving, while Mia pulls the blanket around herself and moves to the far side of the car and into a ball. I hear Angelo ask her if she’s been harmed.
I listen for her answer, but she says nothing.
I’m sure she isn’t going to want to tell a bunch of strange men she just met the status of her hostage situation. I’m sure she’s trying to wrap her head around everything. Shock is a horrible thing.
I know Angelo is ready to combust, but he’s holding it in.
He tries to call Rayne repeatedly, and I see the stress starting to show when she doesn’t answer. Fynn calls and tells me Rayne hasn’t arrived at Fortress yet from Angelo’s townhouse, even though that was over an hour ago.
I know in my gut that something is going on, something not good.
I absolutely hate those kinds of feelings because they are usually always right.
Angelo decides on a detour to deliver Mia to Fortress, where Ma and Valentina can look after her.
I glance back to check on her as Rocco drives swiftly to Fortress, except she’s turned towards the door, and no sound escapes her.
Not for the first time, a protective surge hits me, and I don’t know what all that’s about.
I blame it on our family history regarding trafficking. It’s a sore subject for all of us.
That must be what it is. Just struck a nerve.
And I plan to rectify it.
* * *
It’s late when we finally arrive back at Fortress with Rayne.
So much shit went down I can’t even get my head around it.
