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"They did a rape kit when you came in. They noted all visual bruising and cuts, but if there is anything internal, you have to let us know."
Again, he shook his head. "There's nothing more."
"You sure? Because I just left a dozen small children that showed evidence of just how horrible and perverse this group was. If there is more we need to know about, no matter how embarrassing or upsetting it might be, you need to tell us. Tell me. You don't have to let the rest of the team know."
Trenton finally lifted his gaze to meet Beau's. "There isn't more. Yes, I was raped, but I don't think there was any damage done. I don't want to talk about it. Just let it go, okay?"
Beau sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just as your doctor—"
"I know. It's okay. I swear there isn't anything more to report. They beat me, raped me, kept me cold and hungry, and sometimes drugged. I don't know what the drug was, but it would give me a wild high, then I'd crash for hours. Heroin and something." He shifted a bit now that the pain in his shoulder had eased. "They didn't drug me as often since I didn't put up a fight. I never started craving it. Others will be way worse and probably go through withdrawal. Ben snuck me some extra food when he could. I'm better than most of the others who were held. I'll be okay. I just need some time."
Beau nodded. "We'll give you all the time you need, just know we're here. All of us. As for getting the group out there to go home, it won't happen. They need to see you're okay. You don't have to talk to them long, but at least let them see you're okay. I'll head out there now and give them an update, but you know they won't relax until they have eyes on you."
That was exactly how the team was. They had to see for themselves. "I'm hungry. Can I eat?"
"I'd say yes, but I'm sure they are just giving you some time post-surgery to let your stomach settle. I'll talk to your surgeon and see if we can get you something in a few hours. You also need to plan on the D.A.'s office coming in to interview you soon. They'll want to talk to you sooner than later so everything is fresh in your mind."
As if he'd ever forget. "How did the D.A. get involved so quickly?"
"That would be Noam's fast thinking. Stuff we'll discuss once we're not here." Beau took a step back. "Can I get you anything?"
"Can you get a message to Ben?"
"I can sure try. What's the message?"
"Just tell him thank you. Tell him I'm okay and thank you for getting me out of there." He would tell him face to face someday, but until then, he needed Ben to know how grateful he was.
"I'll get word to him. Call me if you need anything. I know Bryon has a phone he's going to leave with you with all our numbers programmed in. And I know your brother is in town, but when they told him you were in the hospital, he got kind of strange and said to keep him updated, but he wouldn't come to see you unless it was really serious."
Trenton smiled. "Yeah, he doesn't do hospitals at all. Bad experience in one when he was little. His number was on my old cell phone. Can you ask Bryon to program it into the phone he's leaving? I'll call Levi as soon as I can." He didn't know how to feel about his brother being in town, about him knowing what had happened to him.
"Sure thing. Let me know if you need me. I'll be at Children's Hospital a lot over the next few days, but you know I'll come if you need me here."
Trenton remembered all the kids screaming and crying. "Take care of those kids first. They need you more than I do."
Beau nodded once. "They need someone, that's for sure." He lifted a hand. "Stay strong okay? This nightmare is almost over."
As he watched Trenton walk out of the room, he wondered if that was true, because each time he seemed to close his eyes, the nightmare continued.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Faith was tired of waiting. It had been five hours since Beau had come out and let them know he'd seen Trenton, now the rest of them waited impatiently for permission to get in to see him. Around the waiting room, some slept, others scanned their phones, while Noam and Kasey worked through a pile of files they refused to let her see. She guessed it was on either the victims from the mansion or the traffickers. Either way, she couldn't see why they needed to hide it. It wasn't as if she was some little girl anymore.
"I'm going to grab a drink." She glanced over her shoulder as she stepped out of the waiting room. She'd been around hospitals enough, she figured she could pull off sneaking past a guard and get in to see Trenton. It couldn't be that hard.
Making her way slowly down the hall, she kept an eye out for what she would need. It didn't take long to find it. Sitting on the back of a chair at the unoccupied nurse's station was someone's medical smock, with their badges attached to the pocket. She grinned as she saw the picture was of a younger, dark-haired nurse named Jamie. Making sure no one was watching, she quickly pulled the smock on over her clothes and pulled it tight around her. It didn't hide the fact that she wore jeans, but maybe the guard would think lab workers dressed down compared to other medical staff.
Moving quickly, but as if she belonged there, she grabbed one of the phlebotomy kits from a cart near the desk, then headed down the hallway as if she was in a hurry. As she neared the guard at Trenton's door, she smiled, then lifted the kit in her hand and gestured to the door. "Just need to get some blood."
"I need to see your I.D.." The man didn't move from his spot in front of the door.
"Sure." She lifted her badge, careful to keep her finger covering the face of the nurse but leave the dark hair showing along with the name. "Any idea how long security will be this tight?"
He wrote down her name on his clipboard. "My guess would be a few days." He smiled. "Go on in." He pushed the door open for her.
Praying Trenton didn't give her away until the guard was gone, she kept her head down as she stepped inside. It wasn't until she heard it click closed that she looked up and tears came to her eyes. Trenton was asleep, I.V. cords going from his hand and up to the bags hanging on the stand. His arms were bare but bruised up to his one shoulder which was wrapped. His chest was partially covered with the sheet, but she could see bruises on what skin she could see there. It was his face that forced her to swallow back the most emotion. A beard covered Trenton's face. He'd never had a beard before that she knew of. He'd always been clean-shaven. She'd never really even seen him with much stubble, but now, an unruly half-inch of hair covered his features. Had she not known it was him, she would have walked right by him.
She set the phlebotomy kit down and walked closer, taking in the way one leg looked thicker under the blanket than the other. Curiosity had her wanting to pull back the cover and look, but she knew it wasn't her place. Beau had already seen him, and she knew if there was anything important to know, Beau would have told them. The team didn't do secrets when it came to each other.
