Page 72 of Freeing Souls

The excuse they decided to use was my dad. Colton wanted to tell people in person and let them know he is taking over the club but nothing is changing. He is continuing how Rage wanted his club run.

“Our hope is that Killer and Tank will be suspicious and want to get out of there, so then we will surround the place and wait,” Ryker tacks on.

“If that doesn’t happen,” Grayson points along the edges of the building, “we will go in through all these points. Sugar will give the warning they are to just hand them over peacefully, or it will be seen as a threat against our club and we will be enemies.”

“But Rocky, Brielle’s pops, hates conflict. We were always pretty sure he only went along with Killer’s plans back in the day because it was the easiest thing to do for him,” Colton explains.

“So you think he will hand them over easily?” I question, and Colton nods from where he leans against the counter across from us. Biting the corner of my lip, I run through it all in my mind until I realize… My head jolts up, and I glance at everyone in the kitchen with us. “Did anyone remember finding a girl named Zero? She was around my age, auburn long hair, a few inches taller than me, super thin?”

“At the house you were at or at the ball?” Ryker asks.

“The house. I think. I don’t think she went to the ball, but maybe she did?” I muse. “I honestly forgot about her because I saw her so rarely, but she wasn’t a prisoner there like the rest of us. She would help get the other girls cleaned up and put together. She wasn’t chained up ever and always looked well taken care of besides being really thin.” I huff a breath, frustrated I could just forget about a girl who probably needs help.

“Take a breath, Harley,” Grayson says, rubbing my shoulders. “We can put word out to see if anyone saw her or where she went.”

“We don’t need to,” Nerds adds, typing away on his laptop. “I had everyone keep track of who they found. Plus, we took pictures of everyone who died at the ball. Only one girl was killed by her trader at the ball.” He turns his laptop and shows me a picture of a young girl with blonde hair. I shake my head, but unshed tears gather in my eyes at the thought of her life being taken away.

“Let me go through the list of names,” he says. As he combs through them, Grayson steps away, mumbling about me needing to eat as he gathers supplies to make breakfast.

“You gonna cook for all of us?” Colton asks with a smirk.

“Um, no?” Grayson grimaces.

“Oh, yes you are, young prospect. Better get to work.” Noah smirks at him.

Grayson sighs and glances at Cade. “Help me with this.”

Cade gets up right as Ryker opens his big mouth. “Hey, I can help you.”

“Um, no, Ry, you can’t.” Grayson smiles gently at him, as if he is talking to a toddler.

“Fine.” He sighs dramatically before plopping down next to me and resting his head on my shoulder.

“There’s no Zero on this list. We have two unknowns who wouldn’t give their names, but they aren’t auburn or tall,” Nerds explains.

I fiddle with my coffee cup as I think it all over. Where would she have gone? Is she with Killer? Or did she run off on her own?

“There’s nothing more we can do right now, Harley. Maybe Killer kept her with him when he got away,” Ryker says, gripping my thigh.

“Also,” Colton starts, gaining the room's attention, “after Blade and Harley’s little stunt the other night, we have a few people watchin’ Tammy and Richard. After we deal with Killer and Tank, we need to handle them.” He glances at me along with everyone else in the room.

“Whatever you want to do, little flame,” Ryker says softly.

“Can I think about it?” I ask.

“Of course.” Colton nods as everyone starts to move on getting ready for today. I never really thought a day would come when I would get to do anything about Tammy and Richard, and now that it might be soon, my mind is blanking about what I would even do.

“Don’t overthink it,” Ryker whispers before kissing me softly.

“How are you feeling?” Grayson glances back from the passenger seat of the truck, Cade driving and Ryker in the back with me.

“I don’t really know. I think I have just been in denial that this really ends soon. I know we can’t ever fully end trafficking, but we are putting an end to this ring that has been running for decades around here,” I explain, glancing out the window.

“I think you aren’t processing a lot of things, but as soon as you are ready, we will be here to hold you up,” Ryker says, taking my hand and lacing our fingers together.

“What about you guys? How are you feeling about all of this?” I ask, not ready to dive into the mess that is me.

“Ready,” Cade says.

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