Page 27 of Walking the Bird

“The party was well underway by the time we’d pulled up to the beach house. My mouth hung open at the grandeur of the place, visions of happily-ever-after dancing in my head as I climbed the steps. I recall seeing a ton of familiar faces as we’d made our way into the heart of the house, several people stopping and giving me a hug. I had searched in vain for Gideon, but he was nowhere to be seen. I’d assumed he would be with his mother, so I left my friends to go in search of him. Stepping onto the patio, I scanned the sea of partygoers dancing provocatively to the calypso music. I allowed myself to drift into a fantasy where this was our house, and these people were helping celebrate a milestone. Gideon’s gentle voice in my ear pulled me back to reality. Wrapping his arms around me, he’d handed me a colorful drink and told me to drink up and follow him.”

Cade feared where this was going, silently praying he was wrong, and this Gideon guy turned out to be married like Vickie and not the heinous monster he feared.

“He had made me so happy, I didn’t give it a second thought, downing the fruity drink and taking his offered hand. I remember walking on the beach, and Gideon bending down to kiss me before my vision had gotten fuzzy and then went completely dark.”

Cade wanted to stop her, wrap his arms around Melinda and take away the hurt woven into the confession he doubted she’d shared with even her closest friends. Tucking away his protectiveness, at least for the time being, an idea of how to track down this Gideon springing to life inside his head.

“I woke up to the smell of stale piss and dirt, a pain in my head like the pounding of a drum. It took a while before my eyes would open despite the minimal light in the room. However, when they finally did, I instantly regretted it. Metal cages lined the elongated room on both sides, each one filled with women. The cage across from mine held two women, one sat rocking back and forth sobbing, while the other lay unmoving on her stomach, her face bruised, and clothing torn. It was then I had noticed the girl in the cage to my right. She had her back to the metal cage, and her eyes were focused on the tiny window near the ceiling. I’d called out to her, asked her what was going on, but before she could say anything, a group of men stormed into the room, dragged her out of the cage and disappeared without a glance in my direction. This continued for what felt like forever. Girls were brought in, tossed in various cages as others were taken out, never to be seen again.

“At first, I feared what waited on the other side of the door, a certain death I’d begun to pray for. Occasionally the men would bring in food and water, nothing I would have given to a dog, but it kept me alive. I counted the minutes until the light disappeared from the window, allowing sleep to take over, freeing me from the prison I feared I would never escape.

“One night, I was awoken by what I’d assumed was thunder. Glancing at the window, I waited to see a flash of lightning, but when it failed to appear, I sat up and turned my attention to the wooden door at the end of the room. Earlier in the day, the guards had come in and took several women, including the one who’d shared my cage. I waited for the men to burst through the door, knowing I’d been there the longest out of all the others, my time was overdue. Leaning against the metal bars, I had closed my eyes and began to pray, silently asking whoever was listening to protect my family and give them peace about my death. The distinct sound of an explosion filled the night, jerking my eyes open and filling the room with chaos. Dust and debris rained down around me as several men burst through the door. Beams from flashlights filled the space, granting me my first look at the gun-wielding men searching the room. The man closest to my cage, shouted the name of the girl who’d been taken. I told him she was gone, and he demanded to know where and when. He ran in the direction I pointed as if the devil were chasing him. I cried out for him to come back and let me out, but it was too late, he was gone. Several tense moments later, a second explosion sounded, followed by a barrage of gun fire and then nothing. We all sat in silence, waiting for what I’m not certain, before the sound of heavy footfalls boomed from the doorway where the men had disappeared. Joy like I’d never felt before filled my chest as the sound of boots hitting the floor morphed into the clink of bolt cutters severing the chains keeping the cage doors locked. I will never forget the look in the man’s eyes as he lifted me off the ground, carrying me out of my prison, up several flights of stairs and sitting me gently down on the edge of a stone wall. He handed me a bottle of water, cautioning me to drink it slow or I’d risk throwing it up. I’d followed his advice, sipping the clean water instead of guzzling it as my instincts demanded. As the sun began to rise, I asked him what day it was. He shot me a confused look, leveling me when his answer was roughly six months from the day I’d gone to Gideon’s house. He remained close until the authorities arrived, helping me into the back of an ambulance, assuring me it was safe to go with them.

“I spent three days in ICU, the doctors concerned my internal organs had suffered irrevocable damage. Thankfully, on the fourth day, I showed enough of an improvement they moved me to a regular room, where I began rehabilitation. After one particularly grueling day spent with a physical therapist, I found the man who’d rescued me, waiting in my room. He had apologized for not coming sooner, however it couldn't be helped, he’d been hired to find the girl who’d been taken from my cage. He’d asked if I would share my story with him, so I told him about going on vacation and meeting Gideon. He showed me a photograph of the house I’d described, and the news article where the real owner, an American businessman, had found his vacation home taken over by squatters. When the authorities arrived, they’d found evidence of human trafficking, including the man I knew as Gideon, dead in one of the upstairs closets. According to the man who’d rescued me, after Gideon drugged me and sold me to the traffickers, he had moved on to his next target, a girl whose family had deep connections and hired him to find her.”

Cade let out the breath he’d been holding, both grateful and angry this Gideon fuck was dead. With his need to do something still bubbling on the surface. “What was the name of the man who’d rescued you?”

Reaching for her cooling cup of coffee, “Come on, Cade. You of all people know the kind of guys who are hired for jobs like those never use their real name. I bet your brother has something unique he goes by when the job calls for it.”

Nodding his head slowly, Cade considered her implication carefully. “And your friends, what did they do when they couldn't find you?”

Letting out a frustrated huff, “Boarded a plane for home, taking most of my things with them.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yep, they slipped out of the hotel, leaving my passport and wallet with the front desk, who as it turned out was the spotter for Gideon’s operation. When the news broke of his death, the rat bastard admitted he’d destroyed my passport. The government tried to shove it under the rug, but the missing girl was someone of importance, garnering media attention, forcing them to pay my medical bills and living costs while I waited for a new passport.”

“I have to ask, Melinda. After everything you’ve been through, why are you still here where it happened?”

“Well, it didn't happen on this particular island. I couldn't have afforded to stay at a resort like this one back then. During the months the process took to get my passport, I began having night terrors and had to seek professional help. My physiatrist suggested I face my fears head on, so I planned a trip, only to find the hotel where it happened had burned to the ground a few weeks prior. This resort was the closest, so I arrived with the intention of fighting my demons. Instead, I met Mr. Silvers and fell in love with the resort.”

A spark of jealousy ignited in Cade’s heart, he wanted to be the one Melinda fell in love with.

“I had come with the intention of spending the weekend before flying back to the States, instead, I had dinner with Derek, who offered me a job and a place to live and I’ve been here ever since.” Melinda shrugged, feeling lighter than she’d ever felt before.

“What about your family?” Cade pressed, unable to recall her talking about them before.

“I don’t talk about them,” she snapped, instantly regretting the harshness in her tone. “I’m so sorry, Cade.”

He was out of his chair and around the table before his name left her lips. Dropping to his knees beside her, Cade palmed her face between his hands. “You, beautiful girl, have nothing to apologize for. Especially after everything you’ve been through.” Cade trailed off, a battle of what he wanted to do versus what he should do raged in his mind.“Melinda,” he whispered before sealing his lips over hers, the ‘wanted to do’ the clear victor in the battle.

Melinda was too lost in the softness of Cade’s lips to wait for the panic to come. Too far gone in the splendor of the moment to pull back and shove him away. For the first time since the kiss that nearly killed her, Melinda closed her eyes and allowed an emotion she wasn’t ready to label wash over her, wrapping her heart in a protective shield and gifting Cade with the key. As Cade’s tongue caressed hers, Melinda dug her fingers into the soft locks at the back of his neck, pulling him impossibly closer, as Derek’s voice called her name on the radio in her pocket.

Pulling away, Melinda laid her forehead against Cade’s chin, “I'm sorry, I have to take this.”

Taking a few cleansing breaths, Cade nodded his head, keeping his pelvis below the line of the table concealing his rock-hard cock tenting his shorts. Sliding into his chair, he watched as Melinda pushed her blonde locks behind her ear before sliding in her earpiece. Signaling for the waitress, Cade ordered more coffee and a tray of various breakfast items. He wasn't sure what Melinda’s favorites were, but he had every intention of finding out. One kiss and he was gone, head over fucking heels in love with this perfect creature. Her past didn't mean shit to him, his only concern was her future, a life with him.

“I'm sorry to cut our time short, but there’s an issue I have to deal with.” Rising from her chair, Melinda took three steps, before bending down to Cade’s level and placing a kiss to his lips. “I know you will be with your nephews, but I’d like to see you before the parties tonight.”

Reaching up, Cade wrapped his hand around Melinda’s neck, pulling her down to his lips once again. “How about you join us for pizza and movies in my room. Once the boys zonk out, we can finish our date.” Melinda’s sudden intake of breath at his suggestion didn’t escape Cade. “Hey,” he demanded her attention. “This isn’t about sex or doing anything you don’t want to do.” Placing a gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth, “This is about me and you, slowly becoming an us.”

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