Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
“Listen. The plan was to be upstairs before Kaz woke up and then I was going to explain what I had done—”
“Well, you didn’t wake up before him, and this motherfucker almost killed David.”
I swallowed.
“I’m just saying.” Max tucked the blunt behind his ear. “When we head to New Orleans, keep me up-to-date with all your plans so I’ll know how to maneuver possible situations.”
“I promise.”
“Cool.”
Up ahead, Kaz and David disappeared into the dark stairwell.
Next, we entered.
Max shook his head. “I still can’t believe you slept down here.”
“It was fine.”
“I won’t lie, Em. That shit hurt my heart a little when I heard it. We used to sleep in alleys and sewers, so I know you got it in you, but we’ve come too far—”
“You and Kaz keep focusing on the cell, and I just keep thinking about Olga’s blood all over her room.” I gazed at him. “It’s time to control Lunita. Fuck the quality of my sleeping arrangement.”
Max nodded in agreement. “You’re right.”
I followed the group down the narrow hallway. The scent of stale urine and sweat permeated my senses. We stopped in front of the first heavily secured cell.
A dim light flickered inside, casting eerie shadows on the gray, concrete walls.
Kaz turned to me. “You want lead on this?”
“You know I do.”
“No knives.”
“As we agreed.”
David stuck his hand in his pockets. “They have remained quiet since being caught. Anything you can get, Emily, will help.”
Kaz put his view on the cell window. “Even if I can just hear their accent or dialect to figure out the area they came from.”
The need for violence surged through me. “I’ll get more than that.”
Kaz studied me. “Careful, mysh.”
I looked at David. “What do you know about them so far?”
“They were hired as maids a week after everyone moved in. Which means they have been with us for several months.”
I shivered. “How could that have happened? You and Blue were on background checks and all of that. I trust you two.”
“Additionally, Misha’s people did the final check,” David added.
Kaz frowned. “Someone with powerful connections kept their backgrounds clean enough for not even us to find out how dirty they were.”
“How powerful do you think this person could be, Kaz?”
“They may have political power.”
Fuck.
Max crossed his arms over his chest. “Did you search their rooms?”
“We did. Everything was typical items, except one thing.” David pulled out a photo from his pocket. “This was in one of the women’s room.”
“Which one?” Max asked.
“The brown haired one in the other cell,” David said.
I took it.
The photo was old, showing faded colors and wrinkled corners. I spotted the brown-haired chick next to a tall man and two young girls dressed in pink. They looked like they might have been going to church.
Is this your family? And are they still alive?
I placed the photo in my back pocket and put my view on Max. “Get this chick in here to see my conversation with the blonde. If the blonde doesn’t have anything to say, then I end her and move to the brown haired one.”
Kaz nodded. “Simple and effective.”
David gave Max a key disk for the other cell.
“I got her.” Max headed off.
David stepped forward and placed his disk against the door. “One of the requirements of staff positions is being proficient in English. So, there should be no problem with speaking to them.”
“Perfect.” My heart pounded in my chest in anticipation.
The door creaked open.
David and I stepped inside.
The space was already tight.
Kaz stood in the doorway and watched.
Giorgio was somewhere in the hallway.
I surveyed the room. The stench of bodily fluids assaulted my nose. My eyes quickly adjusted to the dim light.
The blonde woman sat on the bed, staring at her hands. Instead of using the toilet, she had consistently urinated on herself. A disgusting dark stain drenched the crotch of her pants.
Not a bad tactic.
It would deter some men from raping her for that moment. Meanwhile, the sickest ones wouldn’t care.
David stepped back and leaned against the wall.
I moved in close, until barely three feet ran between me and her.
She looked up. Hate filled her eyes. A thick Russian accent left her cracked lips. She kept saying something, but it came out so fast, I had no idea what she was talking about.
I glanced over my shoulder. “Does that help?”
Kaz nodded. “She is from the east of Moscow. Near the regions along the Volga River.”
The woman widened her eyes and went silent.
David left the wall. “It’s the way she pronounces her g’s.”
I placed my gaze back on her. “Good morning, East Moscow.”
She spat my way.
A glob of her spit landed on my left boot.
I’ll make you regret that later.
Noise sounded on our side.
Max rushed in with the brown-haired woman and shoved her forward.
She fell onto the bed.
“You can go, David.” I gestured at the door.