Page 26 of Protect Me Daddy

"It'll be okay," I murmured to Lily, unsure if I believed it myself. "We'll get through this together."

Chapter 8

Icouldn’t believe thiswas happening.

The van screeched to a stop, jolting me against the cold metal wall. My princess dress was torn, glitter smeared across my tear-stained cheeks. As the doors swung open, Earl's mocking laughter pierced the air.

"Welcome to your new palace, princesses," he sneered, roughly yanking me out. "Hope you like the oceanfront view."

I stumbled, clutching Lily close as I took in our surroundings. Rusted metal walls loomed around us, broken windows haphazardly patched with plywood. The constant drip-drip-drip of water echoed ominously.

"Where are we?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

Earl's calloused hand gripped my arm. "Shut it. You'll find out soon enough."

The reek of diesel fuel and rotting fish assaulted my senses as he shoved us forward. In the distance, foghorns wailed like mournful whales. My heart pounded as we approached a makeshift cell.

"No . . ." I breathed, digging in my heels.

"Move it!" Earl barked, pushing us inside. The door clanged shut behind us.

I blinked, letting my eyes adjust to the dim light. We weren't alone. Huddled in the corners were other young women, some barely older than teens. Their vacant stares sent a chill down my spine—I recognized that look from my bartending days at O'Malley's.

"Oh god," I murmured, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut. These were trafficking victims. And now, so were we.

My mind raced, remembering snippets of hushed conversations I'd overheard at the bar. Girls disappearing, whispers of overseas "buyers." I pulled Lily closer, bile rising in my throat.

"Tilly," Lily whimpered, "I'm scared."

I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to remain steady. "It's okay, sweetie. We're gonna be alright." But even as I said the words, doubt gnawed at me. How could I protect her when I couldn't even protect myself?

One of the other girls looked up, her hollow eyes meeting mine. "There's no point fighting," she said flatly. "They always win in the end."

I felt Lily tremble against me, and something fierce ignited in my chest. Maybe they usually won, but not this time. Not with us.

"We're getting out of here," I said, my voice low but firm. "All of us."

The girl just shook her head, turning away. But I clung to that spark of defiance, refusing to let it die. I had to stay strong - for Lily, for these other girls, for myself.

As another foghorn sounded in the distance, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Somewhere out there, Daddy was looking for us. I had to believe that. And until he found us, I'd do whatever it took to keep us safe.

I wish I could say I was prepared for what came next, but nothing could have readied me for Viktor Petrov.

The cell door creaked open, and in he strode like some twisted parody of a CEO. His Italian suit was crisp enough to cut paper, silver hair gleaming under the harsh fluorescents. When his eyes swept over us, I felt naked, exposed—like he was assessing livestock at auction.

"Good evening, ladies," he purred, his accent cultured but chilling. "I am Viktor. Consider me your . . . new manager. Or agent, if you prefer."

I clutched Lily tighter, my skin crawling as his gaze lingered on me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Earl shrink back slightly. The sight was jarring—I'd never seen our captor look so small.

Viktor's phone buzzed, and he answered in rapid-fire Russian. As he spoke, I caught Earl's eye. The man who had terrorized me for months now looked like a scolded child. Even monsters fear bigger monsters, I realized with a sickening lurch.

When Viktor finished his call, he turned that icy stare back to me. "You," he said, tilting his head. "You're different from the others. Special cargo, perhaps?"

I wanted to spit in his face, to scream that I wasn't cargo at all. But Lily's trembling form against me kept me silent. I wouldn't risk her safety for the sake of my pride.

I kept my mouth shut.

"Now then," Viktor continued, clapping his hands together. "Let's discuss your new... arrangements."

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