Page 28 of SEAL's Providence
“How about you let me worry about that? I’m more concerned about you or the others getting hurt or worse. C’mon, sweetheart. Who knows? Maybe I can help.”
“Fine. You won’t like it, but there’s no going back now.” She expected him to object, but he sat quietly and waited for her to continue.
“I think the women at my nail salon—the technicians—are victims of human trafficking. We’reworking on a rescue to get them away from their handler, or whatever the rat bastard is called.”
Tony stayed silent at first. Providence could almost see his brain trying to work things through.
“Okay.”
“Okay? Just, that’s it?”
“Yes, even if I didn’t agree with what you were doing, I wouldn’t try to stop you. Tell me the rest of it now. The details. What makes you think they’re being held against their will? Do you have any proof?”
Providence took a drink of her tea as she ran through all that they knew for sure and what she’d surmised. Then she checked her watch. She probably had about fifteen minutes before she’d have to be back at her office.
“I found the salon by accident just after coming here. It’s over on Pacific. The manager is John. There were six women who worked there the day of my first appointment. They hardly speak to the customers, and if it seems like they’re getting chatty, John yells at them in Russian.”
“How do you know it’s Russian?”
“I know a little, enough to usually understand what he’s saying to them. I’ve never let on though.”
Tony nodded and squeezed her hand, where itrested on her thigh. His touch eased some of the stiffness in her shoulders. “Sorry for interrupting.”
“It’s okay. So…I kept trying to talk to my nail tech—Mary. But he kept too close a watch over everyone. It didn’t seem right to me. One evening, I drove over and parked in the lot across from the rear entrance of the strip mall to see what happened after closing. I’d done some research, and kind of knew what to look for. Sure enough, I was right. A large white panel van idled behind the building. A few minutes later, the rear door of the salon opened, and John herded them into the back of the van. Then he climbed into the front passenger seat, and they left.”
“Please tell me you didn’t follow it?” Tony looked like he’d swallowed his tongue.
“No, of course not. I’m not an idiot. I know my car doesn’t blend in. But I still didn’t know if something hurtful was going on.”
“Thank God. I’d have had to put you under round-the-clock surveillance.”
Providence snorted. “Like that would ever happen. I can take care of myself.”
“Fine. Is that everything?”
“Nope. When I arrived for my next appointment, John was outside talking to someone in a limo parked outside of the salon. I couldn’t see in. Itried, but the glass was tinted almost black. But it gave me a chance to speak with Mary.”
“Wait. Did you get the limo’s license plate?”
“No, unfortunately, I didn’t think about it until later. I was in a hurry to get inside and try to get answers. And I did. I don’t know what they have over the other women, but they keep Mary’s daughter separated from her to keep her in line. They only let her see her daughter for a few minutes a week. And then, only if they say she earned it.”
“Fuck.” Tony ran his hand through his brown hair, then stood and started pacing around the blanket.
“It gets worse. She also told me that the woman who’d been there the first day had done something and men came and took her away. No one has seen her since. I didn’t know what else to do. The authorities wouldn’t believe me. There’s only circumstantial evidence and hearsay. Besides, who knows if they’re involved? That’s when I told Tempest, Grace, and Harmony. I need to save Mary and her little girl. I can’t leave any of them there.” Tears welled in Providence’s eyes. She tried to hold them back, but one spilled down her cheek, and she rushed to wipe it away before Tony noticed.
CHAPTER 8
TONY
Tony stopped pacing, then looked over at Providence. She nibbled her thumbnail as she followed his movements, probably worried about this reaction. Fuck. He wanted to shout at her for putting herself in danger. Even thinking about her getting hurt sent shivers of ice down his spine.
“Sweetheart, it’ll be okay. You can count on me. I’ll do whatever I can to help.” He half expected her to pull away, instead she nuzzled her face against his neck and clung to his shoulders like he was her lifeline.
As he rubbed up and down her back, she slowly relaxed into his embrace.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled against his chest.
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m worriedabout you, baby.” He could swear she just sniffed his neck.
