Page 93 of Alpha

“I don’t expect you to believe me, but I’m genuinely sorry for tonight’s outcome.” I spoke carefully. “This isn’t normally the way we run our operation. I’ve never been this involved. I made a promise to you that I couldn’t keep, and for that I am sorry, but it was out of my control.”

Something I said made her look up and study me, but before I could ask her what it was about, she shook it off.

“Can I ask you something?” She used the back of her hand to wipe her cheeks.

“You can.”

“Tell me how I’m supposed to feel right now.” She squeezed her puffy eyes shut as she swallowed back more tears. “You house the girls, hear their cries for help. Yet you, what, feel nothing? Then when they get sold off, doesn’t it rip at some part of you?”

I remembered the first two women I had at my house, how scared they were, and how they begged for mercy as I lifted them into Chili’s car. It never bothered me because I stood behind my life choices. They were necessary.

“It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, lady. Everyone has a role to play in it. Maybe you can’t understand why I do what I do, or why I think what I do,” I pointed to my head, “but I am who I am, and I’m just trying to survive like everyone else.”

“I wonder what goes on in your head. Do you care about anything but yourself?”

“I’d never let anyone inside my head. Believe me, you’d never want to.” I glanced at my watch and saw it was nearly two in the morning. “As for those women, they shut down and go numb if they know what’s good for them, and when they get to their destination, they adapt.”

“Spoken like a true monster.”

“Perhaps some might see it that way.” I pushed off the doorframe, done with the conversation. “Take the bed.” I pulled back the covers and tossed the other pillow on the floor.

“Like I could sleep,” she growled, and I caught a glimpse of the fire inside her. It percolated just below the surface, and I was glad it hadn’t been extinguished. She was quite a woman, and in a different world—I shut that thought down fast.

“I only said it to calm your nerves. Didn’t want you to think anything was going to happen between us tonight.” I wanted her to know I wasn’t totally the monster she thought I was.

She curled in an even tighter ball on the floor, so I yanked the blanket off the bed and draped it over her small frame.

“Things will—” I wanted to reassure her but couldn’t find the right words. Then a knock at the door had me up straight again. Lexi’s gaze shot to mine, and I put a finger to my lips. I opened the door to one of Castillo’s men.

“Get the girl. We’re leaving.”

“Now?” What was going on? “I thought we weren’t leaving until the money came through. The banks aren’t even open yet.”

“Castillo’s orders. We leave in ten.” He marched off, and I quickly checked my phone. Nothing from Chili.

Eric: Did the money clear? We’re on our way to you now.

I slipped the phone in my pocket and helped Lexi to her feet. I tried to ignore the alarm in her eyes. She held the blanket tight around her as we moved downstairs to where Castillo waited with at least forty armed men.

Alejandro caught my eye as he stood in the middle of the group. He looked at me, just as confused as I was. He moved his eyes, and I could see Filippo was there as well.

“Can you explain what’s going on?” I called to Castillo as I tried to curb my frustration on not knowing the plan.

“I could,” Castillo moved in close to me and drilled holes in my head as he attempted to read my mind, “but I don’t have to. I’m the one in charge here.”

“Yes, of course you are,” I reassured him, but some kind of chatter had been put in his head, and the trust I’d spent years building with him seemed to have fizzled out.

My stomach sank. I wanted to warn Chili, but now wasn’t the time to take a risk.

“Time to leave,” Castillo ordered and signaled for his men to head outside to the line of vehicles.

“What happened?” Alejandro muttered when Castillo stepped outside. “Did the money come in already?”

“I have no idea. Just keep your head up.”

“Boss, I don’t have a weapon. Filippo either. They took our weapons last night.”

“You’ll do okay. You know how to knock someone out, and we’re surrounded by weapons. You’ll figure it out.” I urged Lexi forward. She walked outside like a zombie.

---