by Becca Van
“Good. You’ll need to give her another dose. I don’t want her yelling or making any noise overnight.”
Nyssa whimpered when she heard that other voice and shuddered with revulsion. Whoever it was sounded so polite and cultured, but she knew they were anything but. She remembered hearing that voice from the recording on Bryden’s laptop. The sound of his voice made her feel sick. She was terrified at the idea of being drugged again and wanted to put up a fight, but whatever they had given her was wearing off only slowly, and she could barely move her arms and legs. There was nothing she could do.
Metal scraped against metal, and she bumped against the side of her tomb. She was being moved. Tears leaked from her eyes and trickled down her temples to her ears. Trying to stave off the tears was hard, but in the end she managed it. She licked her dry, cracked lips, trying to get a small amount of moisture on them, but she was so thirsty even her tongue felt swollen.
How much longer before her men came and got her out? It had to be close to midnight if not after. Are they going to leave me in the box all night? Is it even still nighttime? She had no concept of time at all.
The box was dropped with a resounding crash onto the floor. Nyssa felt the bone-jarring impact through her whole body. Her head bounced, and pain shot through her skull. The lid was lifted, and before her eyesight adjusted, someone stabbed a needle into the side of her neck.
“Give her something to drink. We don’t want her dying too early.”
Nyssa looked up at the man standing beside Dr. Jones. His blank stare would have made her shiver, but the drug was already doing its job. She was once more paralyzed. Another man walked forward and then another. They all stood around her open tomb staring at her. She memorized their faces because if she was eventually rescued and any of them managed to escape the net her men had set up, she was going to make sure the fuckers went down. Anger began to replace the fear and she glared at each and every one of them.
Her men were on the way and they would rescue her. Think about those two other women and what they’ve been through. Embrace the anger, girl, because you may need to use it.
Nyssa was given a few sips of water, but nowhere near enough to quench her thirst. When she was lifted from her metal tomb she sighed with relief, but that relief was short lived. She watched as Dr. Jones set up chains and metal bars with handcuffs attached. Dread filled her gut as she was carried over to the contraption. Her arms were lifted and the cuffs locked around her wrists. Then she was lowered slowly until her feet touched the floor, but because she was paralyzed she couldn’t stand up. Pain screamed through her shoulders, arms, and wrists. Her flesh tore as the metal cuffs dug into her skin and she could feel blood trickling down her arms. Tears flowed from her eyes again and this time she let them.
Please let them find me and the other women soon, God, but keep my men safe, too.
The drugs in her system were making her feel lightheaded, or was that the pain? It didn’t matter. Nyssa let herself sink into the darkness for the blessed relief of not having to feel.
Chapter Thirteen
“Is everyone in position?” Linton asked through his cell.
“Yes. Stedman, Ward, and Lander have just arrived. You can bring the package,” Coulter said.
Linton disconnected the call and climbed into the bed of his truck one last time.
“Okay, ladies, this is the last time you’ll have to drink like this. In about five minutes we’ll be on location. Just remember we’ll get you out of there as soon as it’s safe.” When Linton didn’t get a reply, he began to worry. Using his enhanced hearing, he bent down and placed his ear to the air holes. He could hear them breathing, so they were still alive, but they had to get them out of there and soon.
Linton got back into the truck and headed for the drop-off point. Four minutes later, he was pulling into the driveway of another warehouse. Just as he got out of the truck, the doors slid open. Lowering his shields, he scanned for Nyssa. Yes, she’s here. I can feel her pain and her fear. We’re here, honey.
“Mr. Wade, good to see you again. Thanks for delivering the package.” Marcus Keaton, alias Dr. Jones, came forward, offering his hand.
Linton didn’t want to shake the fucker’s hand, but he forced a smile and accepted the offer.
“Have you got a forklift so I can unload?”
“That won’t be necessary.” A male voice drew his attention. The new guy was dressed in a designer-label suit and shoes. He knew straight away he was looking at John Golding, alias Dr. Smith. His hair was slicked back and he looked like any well-dressed doctor or executive, but the evil coming off him caused nausea to roil in Linton’s gut.
“If you’d be so good as to give us a hand to push the crate off your truck, Mr. Wade?”
“And you are?” Linton offered his hand.
“Dr. Smith.” He shook perfunctorily and indicated the truck. “Please.”
Linton jumped in the back and slowly pushed the metal crate toward the edge of the gate, hoping that “Smith and Jones” would slowly lower the other end to the ground. They just stood there watching him. The assholes were going to let the crate fall. He looked at them questioningly.
“Just push it off, Mr. Wade,” Keaton commanded.
Linton gave an internal wince and mentally apologized to the ladies inside, but he pushed the crate until the far end was hanging over the lip of his tailgate. He worked carefully to ease the box over the end of the bed until it was lowered safely to the ground.
“Very well done, Mr. Wade. Thank you,” Keaton said.
Patronizing bastard!
“I believe my job is done, gentlemen,” Linton said, waiting expectantly.
“Ah yes. Your fee. Of course. If you’ll follow me.”
Marcus Keaton led the way into the warehouse. Linton couldn’t see Nyssa, but she was very, very close. He could feel her. A slight snuffling sound drew his attention to the far side of the building. There was a tarp draped over something. He wondered if Nyssa was beneath the tarp.
Three other men were sitting around a fold-out table playing a game of poker. All of them were in designer clothes, too. Linton wanted to give the signal to bring his teammates in, but until money had changed hands he couldn’t.
Keaton nudged one of the poker players. “Pay the man.”
Linton didn’t like that tone of voice. He knocked on Codi’s shield and pushed the image of a gun pointing at him. He was right. Seconds later he was staring down the barrel of a Glock 9mm with a silencer. His heart beat once and then pain slammed into his chest and he flew back across the room. And then all hell broke loose.
* * * *
Nyssa was so weak, tired, cold, and thirsty. Her wrists were causing her agony, and she was sick to her stomach. She was also hallucinating, because she kept hearing Linton’s voice. As she drifted in a haze of pain, she begged God to send her men, but she wasn’t sure if he could hear her. Nyssa had spent hours hanging by her arms and wrists, and she wondered how her hands were still attached.
A slight popping noise sounded, and then rapid gunfire exploded all around her. Tears streamed from her eyes with anticipation. She hadn’t been imagining things after all. Nyssa wanted to cry out, but even though the drugs they had given her had now worn off, her mouth and throat were too dry. She couldn’t summon much more than a squeak. Her nose was running and her face was wet from her tears, but she was filled with hope.
Her men were here.
* * * *
A tap on his mental shield alerted Codi a moment before the image of a gun slammed into his brain. He had been waiting on the roof with Stedman, Ward, and Bronsin.
Bronsin had already pinpointed Nyssa’s location, but he couldn’t see her because she was covered in a blue tarp. Pain and fear radiated off her, and even if he’d had his shield up, he would have felt it. The hardest thing he’d ever had to do was lie in wait for Linton to make the drop-off. As soon as gunfire sounded, he swung down on the rope he’d already set up and smashe
d through the high window feetfirst. The sound of glass breaking mixed in with gunfire as the rest of the team charged in to fight the assholes in charge of the black-market organ-smuggling ring.
His weapon drawn before his feet hit the floor, Codi shot two of the assholes before they even knew he was there. He glanced across the room and saw Bryden shoot Marcus Keaton right between the eyes. As far as he was concerned, the bastard had died too quickly.
Coulter took out the suit next to Keaton with a bullet straight to the heart. Linton shot one of the other assholes in the shoulder from his position on the ground. His brother had obviously got his breath back after taking a hit to his vest.
Trace and Corbin took out the other two bastards near the folding table. The silence was loud after all the mayhem.
Seton, Wolf, and Lander had run across the roof and come in from the front. They were now cutting away the padlocks and the top metal lid of the large box on the floor.
Seeing it was safe for him to move, he ran over to the tarp and pulled it off. Seeing Nyssa so bloody, battered, and bruised broke his heart. Tears welled in his eyes but he ground his teeth and controlled the emotion. Ever so carefully he lifted her body weight from her arms. She looked him in the eyes and mouthed, because she couldn’t speak, “I love you. Thank you.” And then she passed out.
“Nyssa!” Linton roared and ran over to help him get her down. Seconds later Bryden was there, too.
“Bryden, unlock the cuffs,” Codi ordered in a husky voice. “Linton, keep her arms above her head until we can lie her down.”
“Fuck!” Coulter yelled. “Wolf, get over here.”
“Codi, we have to get the other women out of that box,” Linton said but didn’t look away from Nyssa.
“They’re already out and hooked up to an IV. The paramedics are on the way.” Wolf rushed over with his medical bag.
“Thank God they’re alive,” Linton muttered.
“Yeah, and they’re conscious. They’ve been asking for you, Linton.”
“Just let me…”
“See to your woman first,” Wolf said.
Codi, Linton, and Bryden laid Nyssa on the concrete floor, and then Wolf moved in. He talked as he worked.
“She’s dehydrated and from the looks of it has a broken nose. Her face is bruised, but that will heal. The circulation in her hands isn’t good and the flesh around her wrists is cut, but there’s no real damage as far as I can see. Her arms aren’t broken, so let’s move them slowly back down beside her body.”
Codi watched as Wolf massaged the joint of Nyssa’s shoulder and then eased her arm down to her side. He did the same for her other side. Wolf administered the pain meds and then set up the IV. Just as he finished, Nyssa opened her eyes.
Her green eyes were glazed from the drugs and the pain, but they were the most beautiful sight Codi had ever seen.
“I love you, too, baby.” Codi kissed her forehead.
“God, Nyssa, I love you so much.” Bryden was down on his knees and carefully cradled her head and shoulders in his arms.
“I love you, honey. When you are better, we are taking you home,” Linton said in a husky voice.
“I love you all,” Nyssa croaked.
Wolf smiled and handed Bryden a bottle of water. Codi knelt down and supported her neck and head so she could drink.
“I’ll be back in a minute, baby. I have to make sure the other women are okay.” Linton leaned over and kissed her head.
Codi scooped Nyssa up into his arms and carried her across to where the other two women were now wrapped in blankets. Seton had a thermal blanket ready and waiting. He laid her down next to the other women where rugs had been placed on the floor so they weren’t lying on the cold concrete. He wrapped the padding around Nyssa.
“Linton?”
“Hi, Stephanie. Hi, Natalie, how are you both feeling?” Linton asked as he squatted next to the women.
“Thank you.” Stephanie reached out and gripped Linton’s hand. “Thank you so much”
“You are a hero,” Natalie whispered on a sob. “Thank you all so much for saving us.”
Codi was surprised at how good a condition the two missing women were in since they had been gone for so long. He looked at Wolf as he checked them over again.
“They’ll be fine, Codi. The paramedics are almost here. They’re a bit dehydrated and thin, but other than that they’re well.”
“Did you get them all?” Nyssa croaked.
“Yes, baby. We got them all. We kept one of them alive, and he’s singing like a canary.” Codi nodded to where Trace was interrogating the bastard. His colleague had the asshole’s wounded shoulder beneath his hand and was squeezing. Trace wouldn’t let up until he had everything he needed to put this mission to rest.
Sirens drew closer. Three sets of paramedics entered the building and got to work. Nyssa had the most serious injuries, so she was the first to be loaded into the back of an ambulance. Codi nodded to Linton to go with her and then he walked over to Coulter, who was already talking to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers.
It didn’t take long because he’d already had their boss contact their chain of command. The other two women were loaded and taken to a hospital. Corbin was on the phone to the sheriff in Butte and filling him in on the women’s rescue. The sheriff would inform Stephanie’s and Natalie’s families that they were alive and well and on their way home.
Codi stepped outside the warehouse and took a deep breath. Can it really be all over?
Chapter Fourteen
Nyssa had fallen asleep on the short journey to the hospital but when the doctor had started to check her over, she had jerked awake. If it hadn’t been for Linton’s soothing hands on her hair, she might have jumped from the bed and run.
“Shh, Nyssa. You’re safe, honey.”
“Linton,” she breathed.
“Okay, young lady. I’m going to give you a local for your wrists and then clean them up. After that we’ll see what else needs to be done.”
Nyssa held still while the doctor worked, and by the time he had finished stitching her cuts up, she was tired and having trouble keeping her eyes open again.
“Rest, honey,” Linton said. “I won’t leave your side.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. Have a nap, and by the time you wake up Codi and Bryden will be here with some clothes for you.”
“I want a shower.” Nyssa looked at the doctor from under heavy eyelids.
“You can shower after you’ve rested.” The elderly doctor patted her foot. “I’ll get one of the nurses to bring a washcloth and a bowl of water so you can wash your face. Your nose is broken, but you’re lucky it’s still straight. I’ve already stitched your earlobe back together.”
Nyssa smiled as her eyes closed. Linton was at her side, and Codi and Bryden were on their way. She let sleep claim her because she wanted to be at her best when her other two men arrived.
* * * *
Nyssa snuggled into the firm pillow and sighed as a light touch skimmed her cheek. She was so warm and comfortable she didn’t want to wake up. Wait! Pillows aren’t firm. Opening her eyes, she realized she was lying on someone. She lifted her head and looked into Linton’s eyes.
“Hi, honey, how are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. Still a bit sore, but, hey, I’m alive. Thanks to you, Codi, Bryden, and the rest of your team.”
“I’m sorry Dr. Jones was able to kidnap you, Nyssa. If we’d known what he was going to do, we would have prevented it.”
“I’m not.”
“What?” Linton nearly roared that question.
“You got them all, didn’t you?”
“Yes, it’s finally over. Everyone in the organ-smuggling ring is now incarcerated or dead.”
“And you found and saved those missing women?”
“You know we did, Nyssa.”
“Then I’m not sorry I was abducted. If I hadn’t been, you may not have been able to save the oth
ers.”
“And that’s why we love you so much, baby,” Codi said as he walked toward the bed. “You put everyone else before yourself. You are one of the most unselfish people I have ever met.”
“Codi! Bryden!” Nyssa’s eyes filled with tears. All her men were with her again.
“I love you, darlin’.” Bryden kissed her cheek and stroked a hand over her head.
“I love you, too. I love you all so much,” she sobbed. “I was so scared I’d never see any of you again. I want to be with you.”
Linton’s arms tightened around her waist, and then he sat up, bringing her with him. “You want to come home with us?”
“Yes.” Nyssa swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood on shaky legs. She was a little dizzy, but other than that she felt fine.
“Oh no you don’t, baby.” Codi dropped a plastic bag to the floor and swept her up into his arms. “You aren’t allowed out of bed until the doc says so.”
Nyssa wrapped her arms around his neck and clung tight. The door to her room opened.
“Okay, you’re free to go, young lady. Just make sure you see your own doctor when you get home for another checkup and again to get those sutures out. And take all those men cluttering up my waiting room with you,” the doctor ordered with a good-natured smile.
“What men?” Nyssa asked, looking at Codi.
He leaned down and kissed her on the lips. “The rest of the team is in the waiting room.”
“They are?”
“Yeah, they wanted to make sure you were okay, and they want to thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything,” she whispered and nuzzled her face into his neck.
“Yes, you did, honey.” Linton rubbed her back. “You helped us complete our mission, and now we can fully retire.”
“Do you want a shower, darlin’?” Bryden kissed her neck.
“Yes! And then can we get out of here?” Nyssa’s shoulders slumped for a moment. She was going to have to go back to Butte and pack up her things, but she didn’t want to leave her men for a moment.