Payback

And I didn’t want to believe it could be the captain, which left the sergeant, Erika Juarez.

I made an executive decision — more like a qualified gamble and said, “Tell the captain but leave out Erika.”

“You think she’s the mole?”

“Well, if it all goes to shit, I’ll know that I fucked up and picked the wrong person.”

“That’s a helluva gamble.”

“Go big or go home,” I said in a low tone. “This is it.”

Within an hour we had briefed the captain as well as shared our concerns about the mole and the captain agreed to let us test out the theory, though he warned if it all went to shit, he wasn’t going to take the heat for us.

Basically, we were on our own.

It was a feeling I was used to.

Ivy

After my performance, I was returned to the basement with the other women. Only this time I was moving a bit more slowly than before.

Rhiannon gasped when she saw me. “What did you do?”

Darian smirked as if she already had the answer. “Probably mouthed off. This one can’t keep her mouth shut.”

I cast Darian a dark look and limped to the cot I’d claimed as mine. “Terano wants to trade me for one of his men that was captured today by my friend.”

“Just you?” Rhiannon asked fearfully.

Darian snorted. “Of course just her. She’s the princess.”

“Where do you get off? I’m a prisoner just like you.”

“Yeah, but you’re the only one with people who care on the outside. You don’t see anyone tripping over themselves to make deals on our behalf. Must be nice to have someone who cares so much.”

“It’s not because he cares,” I corrected Darian, even though it hurt to admit it. “It’s because he wants to take down Terano. I’m just a means to an end.”

“Either way, if it works out in your favor, you’re going to walk and we’ll still be in this basement,” Darian said.

I knew it wouldn’t be that simple. For one, I didn’t believe for a second that Terano would honor his end of the deal. Likely Jameson was walking into a trap. I could only hope that Jameson was wise to that and prepared a counter attack.

Fear squeezed my heart as I tried not to picture Jameson getting killed trying to save me.

“Is he your boyfriend or something?” Rhiannon asked, her voice small as she huddled on her cot.

“No,” I answered.

“Then why is he willing to risk his life for you?” she asked.

“Like I said…I’m just a means to an end.”

But even as the words left my mouth, I wanted to pull them back, not because it wasn’t true but because the words lanced my heart in the most pitiful way. How had things changed so drastically between Jameson and I?

When did he become something more than a bully cop he’d used me to get what he wanted?

Not even Jameson could answer that question.

I knew he felt something for me. He couldn’t hide it. But I knew whatever he felt, it wasn’t nearly strong enough to power through whatever wall he had built around his heart.

“What’s he like?” Rhiannon asked but Darian rolled her eyes and groaned.

“God, please. Isn’t it bad enough we’re stuck down here together? Do we have to suffer through story hour?”

“Shut up, Darian,” Rhiannon said in a show of strength. “If I’m going to be sold off and potentially die…I want to hear about something nice before I go.”

I smiled ruefully. “I wish I could say my story was nice. My friend…Jameson, he’s not like ordinary guys.”

“Like how?” Rhiannon asked, interested.

“He…” I shook my head, unsure of what to share. I didn’t know how to explain what’d happened between us. I mean, the details were ugly but what I felt inside when he touched me was almost beautiful. There were times…I don’t know, maybe I was being hormonal but my heart rate quickened when I saw him and my breath shortened.

All I wanted was to feel his strong arms wrap around me. In all my life, I’d never felt so safe…with the wrong person.

“I’m just saying, it’s not a fairytale,” I finished sadly. “In fact, it’s probably a textbook case for dysfunction. It’s surely not a story I’d like to share with my grandkids someday.”

If I lived to have kids, that is.

“Girl, what’s dysfunction?” Darian scoffed. “My old man used to knock me around but I gave as much as I got. He was a mean son-of-a-bitch but we had some good times.”

“How’d you end up here?” I asked.

“My old man traded me for some smack. The fucker was addicted as fuck. We got into a fight and when he was high, he offered me up as payment. The next thing I knew, I was thrown in a bag and then I landed here.”

“Your boyfriend traded you?” I repeated, horrified. “That’s awful.”

Darian shrugged but I sensed it was an act. Whatever world Darian had lived in, she’d become accustomed to protecting her true feelings behind a hard shell.

I understood that need to protect yourself.

I’d never allowed anyone to get close to me when I was a kid. Frankie and I were our own little unit. I didn’t need anyone else.

“No family?” I ventured.

“None I would claim.”

I turned to Rhiannon. “How about you?”

“Yeah, I have parents. They’re probably worried sick.” Fresh tears appeared. “I was always getting into trouble, though. They’re probably glad I’m gone.”

“No parent would wish for that,” I said, hoping it were true. “They’re going to be so relieved when you come home safe.”

“Hey, don’t blow smoke up her ass. We’re not the ones with an out.”

I glared at Darian. “There’s always hope.”

“Must be nice to live in your world,” Darian said. “But for those of us without a knight in shining armor coming to save us…we’re as good as sold.”

I held my tongue. I wanted to assure Rhiannon that somehow it would be okay but I didn’t actually know that. Maybe Darian was right. Maybe hope was too expensive to hold onto for them.

“I’ll make Jameson find you,” I said, determined to make it true. “He’s a cop. He’ll find a way to rescue you.”

“You promise?” Rhiannon asked, her eyes wet. “Promise you won’t forget us if you manage to get away?”

“I would never.” And that was the truth. How could I forget this hellish experience and the knowledge that two girls were left behind? “I promise I will find a way to get you out of here.”

“Bullshit,” Darian said but there was an edge of desperation to her tone that tugged at me. “It’s easy to make promis

es you have no intention on keeping.”

“You don’t know me. I don’t promise anything I don’t plan to honor. Even if it takes my entire life.”

And that was the truth. I made a vow that I would make Jameson help me find these girls.

Now I just had to hope that Jameson had a plan that included not dying when he came to make the trade.

I crossed my fingers and said a prayer — anything that might help.

Jameson

The McDougall warehouse had been supposed empty for years. Ownership of the warehouse was listed to a corporation and was likely used to take a loss.

The entrances were boarded up and at first glance, it was desolate, gloomy, and devoid of human activity.

The cobwebs and dust limned the windows so that nothing but murky light managed to penetrate the film.

It was a perfect hide-out for criminals smuggling goods where no one would think to look.

I motioned for the team to move forward. SWAT soundlessly advanced into position, flanking the building. I kept Hank near to me. I wanted to keep eyes on him.

Although my gut resisted the thought that Hank might be the mole, I couldn’t take any chances.

Keep your friends close and your potential moles closer.

But so far, so good.

We breached the building and saw a light in the office up the stairs. Movement behind the grimy glass told me someone was in there, possibly Terano.

The fading afternoon light was slowly casting shadows in the warehouse, dust motes dancing in the dying sun.

Something caused the hair to raise up on my arms. My intuition was clanging.

And then the shit got real.

Bullets started flying. I narrowly missed taking one in the chest when I dove behind a crate. SWAT returned fire.

Hank and I were trading shots with the guards who had swarmed the building like ants from a disturbed nest.

There were a few SWAT on the ground, silent, blood leaking all over the cement. But we took down a few of theirs, too.

Acrid smoke burnt the air and I ran across the room to get to the stairs. Bullets continued to fly but it was happening all so fast. I kicked in the office door and burst in, a sizzle seared across my bicep and I realized a bullet had grazed me.