Spaniard Untamed (Blood and Thunder 3)

“What’s that she’s wearing?”

As the gang boss asked the question, Celina’s mind cleared. It was as if a safety curtain had just been raised on a stage full of terrible possibilities. If she died, all the women who came after her to this human cattle mart for perverts would die, or be enslaved. She had a duty to stay alive for them.

“It’s an ornament for her working parts,” the old woman explained with sneering approval.

“Has it been scanned?” the gang boss demanded tensely.

The crone shrugged. “She’s been scanned.”

“I said, has it been scanned?” he repeated harshly. “Take it out—or I will,” he threatened.

It was as if she’d been dashed into full awareness with a bucket of cold water when the gang boss brought his face close. Whatever drugs remained in her system were soon chased away by his stinking breath.

“Well, bitch? Will you take out the hoop, or will I?”

“Don’t damage her,” the crone reminded him.

With a grunt of disappointment, he twisted Celina’s nipples instead, making her yelp with pain.

“Get that ring out, bitch,” he snarled with his mouth almost touching hers, and with one final cruel crush of his fingers, he pushed her away.

She was perfectly conscious now and watched as he stroked his gun. Taking out the hoop, she dropped it on the floor. “Oh no,” she exclaimed, scrabbling about on the floor as if she hadn’t meant to let it slip through her fingers. Acting drugged, she staggered about and finally managed to impale the hoop on her stiletto heel. She shook her foot, and stamped down on it repeatedly as if trying to shake off the hoop. She could only hope she’d destroyed the transmitter.

But the gang boss wasn’t stupid. Swooping on the mangled hoop, he held it in front of her eyes. “You won’t be wearing this again any time soon, so if there was a receiver in here, it’s dead now, and you’ll be long gone before the cavalry arrives.”

Bringing his sweaty face close to hers, he grabbed her between the legs and squeezed hard. “If I didn’t have men fighting to buy you, I’d fuck you myself. And then I’d kill you. Now dance. Dance for your life, little lady.”

Chapter Ten

Stationed outside an open window, Diego had heard the thug threaten Celina. His inclination was to burst in and throttle the bastard. It took everything he had to stay put. If he moved too soon, her bravery would count for nothing. They had to round up everyone, the gang, their suppliers, the buyers, and most especially the man at the top of the pyramid. He couldn’t agree with the way Celina had gone about this, but he’d make sure her mission was a success. He’d lay down his life to save hers.

She means that much to me?

More, he determined grimly. Raising Alexei on the radio, he murmured, “Have you got the coordinates you need?”

“On the move with the team,” Alexei confirmed. “Five minutes out. All targets identified. Celina’s done a great job. Not only has she pinpointed the location of the principal running the auction, her tech trail has allowed us to identify the creeps taking part in the bidding. We’ll get them all, Diego. What’s it like there?”

“Like a cattle market without the bonhomie between the farmers.”

Alexei laughed grimly. “Concentrate on Celina.”

He could think of nothing else.

~~o0o~~

She’d come around completely from whatever drug they’d fed her, and was dancing up a storm. Even the gang boss was applauding her dance moves, adding lewd comments and gestures to encourage her to display her body even more. She was a better actress than she’d thought, Celina concluded as the bidding went through the roof. But the old woman worried her. She noticed everything. Her beady black eyes had been narrowed with suspicion since the gang master had mentioned scanning Celina’s hoop.

When the music stopped, Celina guessed the auction had ended. Her elderly jailor approached and threw a blanket around her shoulders. She didn’t want to think about the creep who’d bought her as the gang congratulated each other noisily on their success. There was still no sign of a rescue, but if her colleagues back

at the tech department in Spain had picked up her signals, they should be able to track every miserable pervert who’d taken part in the sale. Even if Blood and Thunder didn’t launch a raid, the destruction of a network of criminals who supported human trafficking was enough.

“Take her and dress her,” the gang boss instructed, rubbing his hands in anticipation of his reward. “Make sure she’s ready to leave in half an hour.”

“Did she make a good price?” the crone inquired.

The gang boss shrugged. “She’s been taken off sale by our principal. He wants her for himself. He’s sending a helicopter to collect her.” He turned to Celina. “You’ve been saved for a special fate. You’ll be used until you’re broken, and then you’ll die.”

“Come with me,” the old woman snapped while Celina was still taking this in.