Athena's Jewel (Aya Harris Collection 2)

Tala wrapped her fingers around my forearm and pulled me away from Jack. I hugged her nearer to my side, grateful for the friendly warmth of her presence. We were both shaking, although for different reasons. Tala was scared of what came next, and I couldn’t snuff out my anticipation.

If only we could slip away, we could go find my mother. Surely, she was being held somewhere in this building, forced to do labor like the woman with the bucket. A harpy as powerful as my mother would be useful to a man like Bobby. It was no wonder he’d kept her around all this time.

“Tala, I’ve got to get out of here,” I whispered into her ear. “I’ve got to make a run for it.”

She looked at me in horror, her eyes stretching wide. “Wait, no. Jack will kill you if you try.”

I shook my head. “Come with me. We’ll make a break for it when their backs are turned. They won’t find us in all this mess.”

The warehouse really was a mess. With all the offices and shipping containers, it would be a miracle if they found us at all. Besides, the first thought they’d have was that we’d make a break for the exit. I wasn’t interested in escaping yet. I needed to check out the rest of the building.

“You can’t. It’s not safe.” She grabbed my arm and squeezed tight. “I won’t let you.”

Pulling my arm away, I lowered my voice to a hiss. “I have to try. You don’t understand. I’m on a secret mission.”

Jack and Timur were leading the way to the metal staircase. Beside us was an opening that led to several shipping containers. The rest of the girls followed closely behind the Giant, rubbing their arms up and down as if they were freezing. No one was watching me. I could slip away now and it’d be at least a couple minutes before anyone noticed. Now was the time.

I had only taken one step in the direction of the shipping containers when Tala cried out. Her voice pierced my eardrums with a painful screech. She doubled over and clasped at her ankle, nearly falling to the cement floor in the process. Her scene drew the immediate attention of everyone in the group, including nasty Jack and meat-hands Timur.

I sighed in annoyance and kneeled next to Tala. She moaned in pain, but looked up at me through tearful lashes and pursed her lips slightly with pride. The girl was good.

“Are you okay, Tala?” I feigned.

She pushed my hands away and sat down on the ground. “Just twisted my ankle, I think.”

Timur rubbed a hand on his chin and looked questioningly at Jack. “Should we take her back to the room?”

Jack smiled and fingered the hilt of one of the daggers on his belt. “Not if she’s damaged goods. Maybe Bobby will give her to me as a Christmas bonus. I can think of a million ways to have some fun with her.”

At that, Tala jumped up and stood, bouncing on the toes of her feet. “I guess I just twinged it,” she said. “All better. No need to call Bobby.”

Jack’s face morphed into a disappointed expression, like a little boy denied his favorite toy. Timur shrugged at him and waved us forward with his long arms, taking the rear of the group this time.

Part of me burned with anger toward Tala. Her little show had ruined my escape plan. On the other hand, she thought she was saving me. I couldn’t hold it against her for too long. Who knew what waited for us at the top of those metal stairs?

We didn’t have to wait long to find out. At the top of the stairs, Jack and Timur marched us through a door and into a large room. Unlike the rest of the bare and cold warehouse, this room oozed warmth. Warm red tones coated the walls with dark wood trim. A shiny bar with a granite counter and bottles of expensive liquor was on the opposite side of the room. Plush brown chairs with large golden tabs lining the seams sat around an elegant glass coffee table.

In those chairs, sat four people. One, I recognized immediately: Bobby Caro sitting with his legs crossed and a glass of amber liquid in his hands. Next to him was an Asian man with dark rimmed glasses and an expensive looking suit. I couldn’t see the two people sitting across from t

hem. All I saw were the backs of their heads – a red haired man and a blonde woman.

“Ah, the assets have arrived.” Bobby jumped out of his seat, nearly sloshing his drink on the fancy Oriental rug under his feet. “I picked five of the best – you’ll see. I’m sure you’ll all be very happy with this lot.”

Jack prodded me in the back and marched us toward the bar. There was a large bottle of golden tequila sitting on the counter. What I wouldn’t do for a few gulps of that courage juice right now. The reality of my situation had my knees shaking. What if Bobby sold me to some whorehouse? I’d never find my mother and I might be put in even more danger.

Ruth had seemed so confident that she could be here the instant their charm went off, but what if it didn’t work? She and her team hadn’t been able to infiltrate this organization for years. What made her think this time would be different? What if the tracking spell didn’t work?

These questions and more raced through my mind while I was lined up against the bar with the other girls. Tala stood next to me and laced her fingers between mine. I squeezed her hand, not sure if I was giving her comfort or asking for it. Either way, we kept our hands clasped together as if that would save us from a terrible fate.

“They’re too skinny,” the red haired man said, approaching Tala and looking her up and down. “I need workers. I need strong bodies. I’m not sure any of these will suffice.”

Bobby blew out a frustrated breath. “Andrew, these are strong young women. They’re built for strong labor. See this one?” He grabbed Tala’s chin and yanked it up. “She’s a werewolf – a bloody werewolf! Her magic will be strong enough. Trust me.”

“Werewolves make great subjects for my research.” The Asian man took a step closer and peered at Tala’s face. “Their magic is more fluid, more obtainable than a natural-born supernatural. I wouldn’t mind putting her through a few tests.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying anything. Magical experimentation was highly regulated by a branch of the SI. It sounded like whatever he was doing, it went way past any law. And from the short time I’d stood here, it looked like he was nothing more than a human. It figured. Humans were always imagining ways to bottle up our essence and join the supernatural. Some would kill for it. This man killed others for it.

“Sure thing, Dr. Kim.” Bobby nearly tripped over himself as he oozed over Tala. “I think this little lady would be a great addition to your collection.”