Page 10 of Desert Rose

“Sorry…,” the boy who romanced Amanda minutes early shrugs as he yanks her away from me and smacks a handing over her screaming mouth. I charge ready to kick him in the balls when someone grabs the ends of my hair. I scream in pain and fury. “My brother will kill you for this.”

“Oh yeah? And who’s that?” A low, husky laugh cuts through the dark behind me. I spin, finding a tiny man who looks like the devil in the flesh. He’s greasy with beady dark eyes and hands covered in ink.

“Tarak from The Royal Bastards.”

He laughs. “Tarak would never let one of his out here with no protection. Nice try.”

My eyes dart left the right. There’s no way out. No escape. He saunters closer. I refuse to back away or shrink in fear. I hold my ground knowing what’s coming.

He inspects me. Lifts a lock of my hair twirling it around his fingers. Then he leans in close to sniff me. The metallic taste of bile rises in the back of my mouth.

“You got a virgin pussy?” I bite my lip so hard I taste my own blood. In a swift move his hand cups my crotch. He removes his hand bringing it to his face. “Smells like fucking roses. Who did you hoar yourself up for tonight? Hoping to get that sweet cherry popped?”

My chin quivers but I refuse to show my fear. He leans in close. “You’re going to be a tough one to break. You my virgin desert princess will make me a lot of money.” He grabs my arms, quickly zip-tying them before using my hair to yank my head back forcing a gag tied around my mouth. He then pushes me forward. Amanda is also restrained as the men begin moving us through the crevice passage.We are being we are trafficked!Right under the nose of the elders, two tribes and a few men from an MC. No one notices. They boys trying to be men are too engrossed in their games of testosterone and cars.

I raise my face to the sky silently begging a God I’ve never prayed to for salvation.Please! If you exist…. Save us.I’m too young to go out like this! Please hear me tonight! I swear I’ll make it up to you somehow; someway if the plea from a girl like me is worth anything.

As if he knows what I’m thinking the skinny devil stands in glee, smirking at me. “No one is coming to save you. You’ll be in Mexico by sunrise. Stripped and on display to be sold to the highest bidder.”

No, I won’t. I’d rather kill myself then live a life as human cattle. Somehow—some way I vow not to go down without a fight.

EDGE

4

“Wake the fuck up man! Come on!”

What? Huh? My eyes fight the bright light.

“Fuck!” I grumble at the ice-cold water raining down on my face. “Tate?” For a brief second, I see two of him. He helps me sit up. My mouth is full of desert dust. I can’t remember where I am…. What day it is….

“Pedro cracked your skull with a rock. You ain’t bleeding much, but probably have a concussion.”

I shut my eyes, willing my body to ignore the pain. Shouts come from behind the dunes. I open them to see headlights bouncing through the desert as trucks and four-wheelers come racing in. “I’m gonna kill him.”

“Nah, we’ll settle it in the pit. A clean fight. You wanna war with the Cartel?”

“Fuck. You are right. I’m just pissed he got the jump on me. Where’s Rage?”

“Doing about the same as you. They got him over the head with the butt of a Glock.”

Chief races up the hill with a group of his men. He’s the head of the Res second under the elder council men. The elders make the decision, but Chief is the muscle that gets shit done. “Here.” He hands me some white pills and a water. “Pain reliever.”

“Thanks,” I grunt swallowing them down. “The bastards leave?”

“You wanna follow?” My fists smack the ground. “I can’t believer that skinny fuck got the drop on me.”

“Head back to the lodge with my crew while I deal with the teen age shit show below.”

“How long was I out?”

“I was gone about forty minutes or so. Had to fuckin’ go to the canyon to shut down the junkyard racing. But there’s still groups of fuckheads getting high and hiding out in different areas.”

“Fucking kids. They have no idea…”

With a bottle of cold water pressed to the base of my skull I rise, shrugging off help as I move toward one of the trucks jacked up with monster wheels. The bumpy drive back to the lodge has me wincing in pain but fuck if I’ll show one grimace. I don’t waste anytime finding a bottle of JD behind the bar and pouring myself and Rage healthy glasses. The shit burns good as I take a seat and rest my eyes.

“Nope. Can’t do that. You need to stay up at least 24 hours. You know you have a concussion right.”

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