Page 48 of Deuce

We were using her dad’s Range Rover.Not the prettiest vehicle I’d ever seen but it was in top shape mechanically, and he’d reinforced all the vulnerable parts with heavy gauge steel.We drove to the designated exchange site in silence.

The tension in the Range Rover was so thick you could have cut it with a knife.We parked on the south side of the stables in a wide-open area.I didn’t like it one bit.I could see a vehicle at the far end of the compound, but I would be willing to bet it was a decoy.No one stupid enough to park there would have managed to set up an international human trafficking ring.

I checked my watch.Two minutes to go-time.

“I love you.”Sophia looked at her father.

“Love you too, baby girl.”Joe reached over to give her a big hug.“Remember everything I taught you.”

She nodded, then turned to me.

Wordlessly, I grabbed her and crushed her to me.She would come out of this safely.I wouldn’t consider any other outcome.

My watch ticked over to noon, and I opened the door.I got out first, motioning Sophia to wait behind me.

“Where’s the woman?”

I couldn’t see where the voice was coming from.

“In the vehicle,” I hollered.“Where’s Janet?”Giving her a name was a basic tactic.Make them see her as a person and not a piece of merchandise to be bartered, although I wasn’t sure it would work with these assholes.

Janet staggered into view.A man wearing camouflage gear held the end of a rope tied around her waist.Her hands were tied to her sides.She was gagged and looked terrified but otherwise unharmed.

“Send the woman over.”

I shook my head.“Not how this works.Janet walks here.Sophia walks to you.”

He shrugged.“Dumb Americans watch too many movies.”He dropped the rope and gave Janet a shove.“You heard.Walk.”

This was the most dangerous part.Sophia met my gaze and mouthedI can do this, before she turned and paced toward her friend.

I held my breath.

The two closed the gap between them step by step.

Finally, they were abreast of each other.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her captor reach for something behind him.

At the same time, Sophia turned and wrapped her arms around Janet, taking her to the ground and covering them both with the Kevlar sheet she’d concealed behind her.

Then all hell broke loose.

When the dust settled, I rushed to the women, Sophia’s dad close behind me.I tossed the Kevlar sheeting aside and dragged Sophia to her feet.Holding her at arm’s length, I scanned for any sign of injury.

“I’m fine.It worked.”She wiped the dust from her face and reached out a hand to her friend.“Are you okay?”

Janet took her hand and clambered slowly to her feet.“I think I twisted my ankle when I went down, but other than that, I’m okay.”

I wrapped my arms around Sophia, burying my face in her hair.“I have never been so terrified in my life.You are not doing anything like that ever again.Not ever.”

“I love you too.”

I lifted my head.“What did you just say?”

She grinned, including her dad and her BFF in the declaration.“I love you, you stupid biker.Now kiss me!”

And I did.In the middle of the scene of carnage, I kissed her until we were both breathless.

Epilogue

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