Town of Chance: Attacking Innocence (The Dare 8)

“Not too good. Missy Ann is taking it hard. She can’t seem to bounce back and adjust, but it will take time. I know she’s looking into getting back to work.”

“That sounds positive. Maybe being around people again and getting back to normal might help.”

“She has her MBA and enjoys business management. She’s been looking into different companies that need managers, and even restaurants and hotel management because she likes that sort of thing from what I know. She doesn’t quite feel safe enough to travel outside of Chance where more opportunities are for that field. The few interviews she went on weren’t a right fit for her, or so she claimed. I think she still suffers from anxiety and panic attacks,” Tazer explained. Even Eliza Grace was trying to help Missy Ann find something she liked.

“That’s understandable. What she went through was scary and traumatic. It’s going to take a long time to recover. It’s good she has Eliza Grace as a friend. How about Finn Connelly? He and his brothers stake a claim to Missy Ann yet, or do they think she’s too young and too fearful?”

“I think they’re being patient. It’s going to take a lot longer than any other relationship. There is a big age difference, and also it was Finn and Salvatore that got to her first when she was being assaulted, and that experience has remained with them. We all heard her screams. We didn’t know what we were going to break into. But they were swift.”

“Lucky they didn’t get shot how they stormed into that room. I heard all about it.”

“Like you or I wouldn’t have done the same thing.”

“Shit, even if those two dicks that beat her and tried raping her didn’t pull a gun I would have taken them out,” Warner said pretty seriously.

Tazer laughed.

“It could have been worse. I really hope Missy Ann can come out of her shell and start feeling safe sooner than later.”

“She will, Tazer, with time and with the right support.”

“So what things made this case you’re keeping on top of seem similar to ours?”

“Well, besides the possibility of a high-end prostitution ring, some names popped up. Somers is more familiar with them but said they were big shots. Guys connected to some Ukrainian money men. They look to be all legit in businesses, you know like multi-million dollar companies, but they dip into other illegal businesses,” Warner explained.

Tazer squinted his eyes at him.

“Other businesses like the prostitution rings we helped to destroy? Like the one at Luther’s and Clover’s?”

“High end prostitution disguised as escort services for foreign businessmen visiting certain states, from what I gathered from Somers. I don’t have much more right now but I did ask Somers to keep me in the loop because of the similarities to the case. He knows who Finn is. Saw him in action on some case a few years ago and was impressed with his swift abilities,” Warner told Tazer and gave a wink.

Tazer smirked. “Fucking Finn. He’s a crazy bastard when he’s on the hunt.”

“Says the man who does crazy pretty damn good himself,?

? Warner teased.

Tazer squinted one eye at him as he heard the training coordinator say the next event was starting.

“Crazy enough to beat your ass again in the next event.”

“Not this time, old man.”

“Old man?” he asked, shocked at his words. Warner was only a couple of years older than him.

Warner laughed. “I got this one. Just you wait and see,” Warner continued as they walked.

“Not happening. You’ll never show me up. Ever,” Tazer said and prepared himself for the next event as Warner continued to talk trash and get him all riled up. He was a good friend, and he trusted him. But Tazer had that funny sensation in his gut. He didn’t like thinking there was still some sort of prostitution ring connected to Si going on. He hoped it wasn’t true. But if it was he knew he wouldn’t be the only man interested in continuing to take those men down. Salvatore and Finn were going to be just as pissed off as he was. Maybe Somers would be calling Finn sooner than later.

* * * *

Week fifteen. She crossed off the day on the calendar. Another week of recovery, of building up the strength to not be fearful and to move on with her life. Missy Ann smiled at the markings and stood back to look into the mirror. She tossed the black marker onto the vanity and smiled at herself.

Her eyes were brighter, the circles faded and most importantly the scars were faded, too. She wore a cream colored camisole and placed the baby blue light sweater over the top. It brought out the color in her eyes and made her feel happy and upbeat. She smoothed her hands down the slim fitting knee length skirt in beige before she stepped into the high-heeled wedges. It made her stand a little taller, giving her five feet three inch height about an extra two inches.

Today was unseasonably warm out. February, and the air a good seventy degrees. Spring was right around the corner and she couldn’t wait for it to arrive. She longed for continuous warm days, outdoor activities and working on her tan.

Today she was heading into Cambridge with Salvatore and Finn. They were off from work and asked her to lunch. They wanted her to meet someone. They hadn’t been specific about who, but they seemed nervous, sort of.