CHAPTER 6
Nay yanked her helmet off and quickly followed the tall man across the front yard. “Who is he, Gunner?”
“We’ll talk inside, Nay,” he tossed over his shoulder.
She grabbed his arm and his muscle flexed beneath her fingers. He whipped around to face her, opened his mouth as if to speak, and then stopped. She froze at the concern marking his features. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”
He sighed and stared past her shoulder. “He’s a human trafficker.”
“What?” Nay stepped backward and her knees buckled. Gunner caught her before she fell.
“I’m sorry, Nay,” he murmured against her hair. “I wish it was better news.”
“No, no, no,” she muttered, shaking her head. “It can’t be.” Traffickers had become a huge problem in Vegas. They held girls and boys, both locally and worldwide, as sex slaves. Tremors racked her body at the thought of her sister, who was only sixteen years old, being caught up in something so twisted. She leaned into Gunner’s chest. “Oh, my God, please no.” Tears streaked down her face. He sat her on the short brick wall surrounding the front porch and held her as she cried.
She hiccupped and wiped her nose, finally getting herself under control after a few minutes. “Do you think she’s still in Vegas?”
“I’m not sure. I can check on a few locations and see what I can find out.”
Nay pulled away from him and nodded. “So, what do we gotta do?”
“First, let’s get you inside and cleaned up. While you’re doing that, I’ll try to find out what I can. Okay?”
Nay sniffed and nodded. He stood and hefted her up to her feet. They opened the front door and found four guys sitting at a table in the formal area. They had headphones on and stared into monitors displaying a multiplayer first person shooter game. Each swiveled around to peer at them and gaped. Nay lowered her gaze, hoping they wouldn’t notice her swollen eyelids.
“What’s up, Nay?” the far one asked.
She glanced up at him. “Hey, Charlie. Nothing. Just working on a few things with Gunner.”
Charlie stood and removed his headphones. “You been crying?”
“Huh uh.” She shook her head and cleared her throat. Charles had a crush on her, and she’d been trying to give him hints she wasn’t interested. He was only eighteen. He’d graduated high school two years early and was already in his third year of college. Though he was brilliant, he wasn’t her type.
Charlie plodded up to her, his shaggy brown hair mussed by the headphones. “You look like you’ve been crying.” He shot an accusatory blue-eyed glare at Gunner. The big man next to her stiffened. “Are you sure you’re not hurt.”
“I’m fine.” She forced her lips to stop trembling and attempted a smile. “Really. I just have some things to work on.”
Charlie stared hard at Gunner, and Nay wondered how long the man would let the boy get away with it. “I’m gonna head on up.” She grabbed Gunner’s arm and they bounded up the stairs.
After she closed her door, she leaned against it. Completely drained, she slid her back along the wood and sank down to her ankles. Gunner kneeled in front of her and reached out for her hand. He lifted it to his mouth and kissed her palm. “I know this is hard, but I don’t want you to give up. Now, up you go.”
He hauled her to her feet and dragged her to the bathroom. After lowering the toilet seat, he sat her down and then turned on the faucet in the bathtub. “I think a nice, hot bath is in order.” Swiveling back, he started undressing her.
Nay’s brain swirled in all directions, wondering how it was possible her sister became involved with this man.
How could she be so stupid?
Hot tears scalded her cheeks. She and Kristine had always been so close. Their mom had an evil streak, especially when she drank too much, which happened more often than not. When she started college, Nay tried to stay at the home she grew up in as long as she could to be close to Kristine, but finally couldn’t handle her mom’s drunk stupors anymore. She’d moved into this house almost eight months ago. Her mom had always been easier on Kristine, and Nay hoped her sister would fare better than she had. Nay kept in touch with her sister every day, and they met more than once a week for coffee or breakfast. But in the last month, things had gone downhill. Something had changed with Kristine, and she fought with their mom on a daily basis.
Nay wondered if it was because of Rick.
Did he start putting ideas in her head? Making promises of some kind of dream life?
Gunner turned off the faucet and the pipes squealed in protest. Nay blinked at the man. He had scared her earlier. Nay had always sensed he was dangerous, but she hadn’t suspected the level of danger she’d seen today. However, even after what she’d witnessed, she was certain Gunner wasn’t a danger to her.
You don’t even really know him, Nay. He could be some kind of psycho.
As he pulled off her shirt using gentle hands, she gave herself an internal shake.
No, not a psycho. He’s loving and caring. But also someone that shouldn’t be screwed with.
Gunner led her to the bath and held her hand as she stepped in. The water was the perfect temperature, enveloping her in a warm, moist cocoon. Nay sighed. “Thank you.”
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “You just relax in here while I make a game plan.”
She nodded and her lids drifted shut. After he walked out, she started going over all the facts they’d discovered about what happened to her sister. Fury built inside of her as she thought of the men who planned all along to take advantage of her sister. Who’d planned and manipulated her, so they could sell her to the highest bidders.
These ass wipes have fucked with the wrong sisters.
She smiled as she formulated her plan.
Gunner: The Hacker's Code Page 16