Page 84 of Unwrapped

“Freddie?”

“I need help. Please. They’re boys here. Bad ones. They’re hurting my friend.”

“Go back in your room. Wait for me.”

“I can’t. They’re taking off her clothes.”

“Freddie. Trust me. Please.” His voice is deadly. Calm.

“Hurry. I’m scared. Please help us Mr. Roque.”

I scream as one of the boys looks back, “Get her!”

“Freddie!” Roque roars. I drop the phone, go back into my room and pick up the lamp. When the boy barrels in I scream, smashing it down on his head. It breaks. I keep swinging and screaming as more boys come. I can’t fight them all.

I’m dragged out of the room. Carried down the stairs and put next to Chloe.

“Freddie. I told you to stay put.”

Cooper holds his phone to his ear. “Tell Brooks I got two. One’s thirteen the other ten…tell him my debt’s been paid.”

“What’s he talking about?” I whisper to Chloe.

“We’re being sold.”

“No…” I shake my head. I was supposed to Dare’s. He promised I’d be safe. I pictured a life where I could grow up and be somebody. Now it’s all disappearing before it can even begin.

The front door smashes open. Two big men wearing suits and carrying big guns barrel through.

Everyone freezes.

Mr. Roque steps over the broken door. His dark eyes scanning the room until they rest on me. No one moves. No one breathes. He’s bigger than them all. He has presence. He’s the meanest man I’ve ever seen and yet I’m relieved. His suit is the darkest black from the longest night. Rich and deep. The kind of color that’s so dark you’d lose yourself in it. He has that thing. That “it” factor so many people pose trying to imitate but never quite pull off. And I knew he’d come. I knew this dark Christmas angel would save me, just like I know deep in my heart that Dare’s going to change my life for the better.

His cuff links shine under the crappy overhead light as he steps forward. He fiercely stares down every punk teen that put their hands on us. Slowly. Very slowly he moves, reminding me of a graceful jaguar moving through the jungle; strong and sure-footed.

“Freddie. Who? Which one put that mark on your arm.”

I glance down, noticing the swelling and purple handprints on my skin. I shake my head not knowing. But I do know some things… “Cooper. He said he was giving us to someone names Brooks as payment.”

“Which one is Cooper?” He asks, walking forward as one of the teens pisses in his paints. Roque steps over the puddle on the floor and enters the circle still frozen around me and Chloe.

“You fucks know who I am?” His voice is low and calm.

I point over to Cooper. “That’s him. He’s the ringleader.” Roque switches direction and faces Cooper. He sizes him up, but Cooper is dumb, staring right back at Roque.

“How old are you?”

“Fifteen.” Cooper answers evenly.

“And you know what Brooks intended to do with these girls?”

Cooper swallows hard. Good. He finally tastes fear. Knows the sheer panic he made me feel.

“You have two choices. Kneel and pledge your life to me or… I end it.” Roque smiles like the devil as he shrugs as if he could care less what the answer will be. When Cooper doesn’t answer he turns, shrugs off his expensive suit coat and walks over to wrap it around me. It covers me like a cloak. I feel safe; protected. “Come.” He simply says, putting an arm around me.

“What about Chloe? I can’t leave without her.”

Roque turns his gaze to the only friend I have. He nods, motioning her with a flick of his wrist. But she doesn’t budge.

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