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"That would be us," Noam said confidently. "Katie, you writing things down?"
"I am, but we also have everything being recorded."
Ben wasn't surprised.
"Then let's talk numbers." Noam started asking questions about how many people were being held, how many guards worked each shift, how many people worked upstairs, and a million other things that Ben had almost all of the answers to.
It was nearly eight before Xander stopped them. "We need to let Ben go in case he's been followed. Two hours visiting an aunt is a bit much." He stood. "Are you worried about your safety?"
"Not at the moment. Once this all goes down, I might be on someone's hit list, but more likely the departments instead of the traffickers."
"Traffickers will be dead," Xander promised.
"That works for me." He gave them his phone number, reminding them his phone was probably tapped and to use Katie if they had to get him any messages. "If we are coming in, I'll have Katie simply message you,It's a perfect fit.If you get that, know that we'll be coming in hard just after midnight and you need to prepare Trenton for us."
"I'm not there at night, but I can be if you want another set of hands when you go in," Ben offered.
"Thanks, but I'm glad you won't be there. It's one less friendly we need to watch for. This will be different than our other stings. We're going in hard and leaving them dead. We aren't going to waste time. It's too big of an operation. I wish we had a way to let Trenton know when we're coming, but he'll be ready no matter when we show." Noam frowned. "Unfortunately, planning something this big might take a few days, so when you do talk to him again, tell him to hold on and stay strong, we are coming for him. We're going to need to talk to you a bit more too, but I need to meet with our team and decide on a plan before we get to the rest of the details."
"I'm with Trenton from seven to three tomorrow, then free to meet up or talk," Ben told them.
Xander handed Ben a cell phone. "It's secure and has a number to reach the team. Keep it someplace secure and check it when you get off work. We are going to move fast on this. We may need to meet with you tomorrow night."
"That's fine. You tell me when and where. Just be alert I don't know if Isaac has me followed, especially if the chief has let him in on the fact we're working undercover. Honestly, I'm a bit shocked I'm still alive."
"Which is another reason we need to get this done quickly. Every detective in there is in danger." Noam shook his head. "I never liked Peters, but I didn't expect this."
"Yeah, it caught me off guard too. I swear I'll find a way to bring him down once I make sure the trafficking ring is stopped."
"We'll help. We have resources most don't, and we know what to look for. If he has skeletons in his closet, we'll find them," Xander promised.
"If this list is correct, the team will have enough work to last the next few years." Katie held up the paper that was wrapped inside the gift.
"Yeah, it's a list of well-knowns. I'd like to see them all burn in Hell." Ben meant every word. "Any other messages for Trenton?"
"Just tell him we love him and we're on our way. We'd come tonight if it wasn't so dangerous. Tell him Faith is planning on cooking his favorite meatballs. That should give him something to look forward to." Xander grinned. "Just let him know Faith is waiting for him. She made it and so can he. We'll be there as soon as we can. He knows how we work."
"I'll pass it along, and thank you. I was worried I'd have to figure this out alone."
"Never leave a man behind isn't just for the military." Xander gripped Ben's shoulder. "Thanks for coming to us. You might have saved his life."
"I hope so. I worry every night he won't be there when I get there the next morning." Ben turned to Katie. "Thank you. You're more than an aunt to these guys."
"They're my family." She nodded to the door. "Be safe out there. We'll hang around here long enough to make sure the coast is clear. Call me if you need anything. Tell Trenton I love him."
"I will." He had to get out of there before his guilt killed him. Trenton had so many people worried about him, and so did every other person being held with him. How many people's lives were affected because he'd been too scared of losing his job to speak out sooner and do something? He was done. As far as he was concerned, he no longer wore a badge. He'd wait until this was over to officially leave, but his loyalty was no longer to his department, it was to the victims he should have stood up for sooner.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Trenton hated being cold and he'd been cold almost from the moment he'd been taken. The cement floors were like sleeping on ice, not that he could sleep much. The only time he gave in to sleep was when they forced the drugs on him. He'd float for a while in the high they gave him, then let the darkness consume him.
The only time he was warm was when they'd take him upstairs, but that warmth was from something he didn't want to think about. Yeah, the temperature was higher up there, but it was the pain, the sweat, the body contact that warmed him up there, and he'd rather freeze in the cage than experience that.
He'd been taken upstairs several times since he'd been brought here. The last time had been so he could service two women at the same time. The only reason he'd been able to do anything was because they'd forced him to swallow some pills that had caused his cock to go harder than it ever had been on its own. It was like Viagra on steroids.
Not being able to control your body was upsetting. He'd hated the way his body reacted to their touches, to the sex. He didn't want to come, didn't want to stay hard, but his body did its own thing. It disgusted him. He hated not being in control. It reminded him of his past. Of a time he wasn't allowed to have control. Something he was remembering way too much since being brought here. Focusing on the past only made things harder now. He was so angry he'd let himself be taken. Had been forced to give up control of his life, of his body again.
He found the women were rougher with him than the men, using electric shock, paddles, bindings, and other things to make him cry out. They liked the control. Men were mostly just looking to get off. They wanted a good blow job or to fuck some guy in the ass because they couldn't show that side of themselves outside the doors of this fucked up place. He'd only had one experience so far that had really fucked with his head. He'd been brought into a room with six other captives and forced to watch as each one was raped. He could have handled it had two of the victims not been children. Hearing their screams and not being able to do anything about it had nearly killed him. When he got free… If he got free, he would hunt that man down and kill him slowly.
