Etched in Glass
Page 24
“Not a problem. Dante and I will meet you.” We know what we’re doing. We know how long it will take to get a warrant or to even get out here. Saving those women is important, screw protocol right now.
Chapter 50
Vega
This is ridiculous. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but I’m tempted to get out of here by myself and sneak around. What’s that sound? A deep raspy voice radiates into the car. Who the hell is this? This isn’t one the men who took me. No. This is their other partner in crime. Well, this sick fuck is going to get what he deserves too.
“Think she’s awake?” He sounds eager at that thought. They wanted me awake for this?
“Not sure. She was pretty out of it.” At least I know I played that part well. If I can dupe those two into thinking I’m still drugged, I might have an advantage here.
“It’s been a while though. She should be awake enough.” The door opens, letting cold air swim around my body, and I’m tempted to convulse at that breeze. Until a large hand wraps in my hair, and my body wants to shake with fright. No, he’s going to-.
That hard tug ripped a few strands from my head. I’m sure he’s being as rough as he can be too. Scraping my body against the metal of the car, tugging in a side to side motion. Once my body collides with the rough ground, I’m dragged through the rocks and twigs. A strong urge to kill these men starts to set in my muscles as my tension builds. I try my best not to move though, trying to keep my body limp like I’m still drugged. Maybe I have to attack now? I don’t know what to do. I take a peek, it’s pretty dark out here. I can slip away easily, but I won’t know where he’s keeping those women.
“Did you kill her? She should be awake by now.” That deep voice makes me cringe.
“Nah, she’s breathing.” That scratchy voice says as they drag me into a house. Each heavy step they take squeaks the wood floor and then the sound of my body sliding against the grain of this unfinished floor is all I can hear as the pain radiates through my body.
“Not for long. What do you think? Her man finds her body?” This familiar voice makes me want to look at him. He sounds too excited at that thought. How about the police find his body. See how he'd like that. I want to see if I can place him. But I don’t look.
“Oh. He’ll find a body. While you guys were out fixing your mess, miss thirty-two didn’t last as long as I thought she would.”
The mental shivers through my body make me want to run. These men are demented. This is a surreal situation and I’m not liking this, and to think, this was my ultimate goal each time I hit a bar. Suppose if it were just one man it would be feasible for me to stop, but three? Miles was right, I needed energy and rest for this situation, and I don’t have it.
Miles. He’s going to have a heart attack on that scene. This burly man tosses me onto a couch. I try my best to conceal it, but I slightly open an eye to see this big man towering over me. Shit. I don’t like the look of him.
“Oh. Well if it isn’t the infamous Vega.” He bellows. The tone in his deep voice chills me.
The other two come into view. I act groggy, I don’t move as I continue to watch them through narrow eyes. I need to catch them off guard with whatever plan I come up with. I might have to implement that fight now. Or when there’s one of them here, but how can I do that? I’m not sure I can take all three of them at once. A waft of smoke blows onto my face as this guy laughs. He’s as good as dead, but I don’t have any weapons and I don’t know my surroundings enough to utilize something. Not until I’m up anyways, but these men obviously have a death wish.
“Why don’t I make room for our new addition? I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, Vega.” This man's voice rumbles. I don’t know this voice, or that build. Who is this man? Doesn’t matter right now. I see him step away from me, leaving the two men who already had their hands on me in my sight.
I hear a latch, and I slowly roll my head to the side. To see a heavy door creak open and shut. That’s got to be where the women are. Okay. Rough plan, and it may not be the best, but I have to lock him in there while I take care of these two. Make this a fair fight. Well, at least it won’t be three against me at once.
“Should have kept to yourself and out of this, huh?” That scratchy voice irritates my ears as he gets closer. That voice needs to stop, and it will. I don’t know how long I’ve got to execute my plan before that large man comes back.
Fuck it. That’s it. I get up as fast as I can, but these men don’t flinch. Did they not get a good taste of my fight back at the Cafe? I’ll just have to remind them. I need to get to that door first. One man grabs my arm and swings me around. At least I’m able to use his act to my advantage and kick this second one down. Hearing the whoosh of air escape his body, an internal smile of achievement hits me.
After my body finally stops, I punch the man that’s holding my arm. The shock forces him let go and I bolt to the door. I touch the latch, pushing it half way into place before I’m tackled. Leveled to the fucking floor as this guy looks at me. Who is he? I’ve seen him. But where?
His half smile is unnerving and creepy as hell, indicating what actions he may try to execute as he lays over me, pinning me to the ground. I watch him for a few more seconds and realize, the crime scenes. Of course. I’m so focused on the bodies I don’t take the time to focus on the living around there. He’s a cop. That doesn’t matter as I move my legs from under him and am able to push him off of me, hearing a painful grunt as I kick him in the groin. I get up just in time as the second man reaches me. Extending his arm and trying to grab me.
I look around, but there isn’t much to use. I punch him and that did absolutely nothing. I kick him in his abdomen, at least it knocked him down. The cop is trying to regain his strength, probably trying to summon his balls back to their place. I don’t have much time, and I don’t have weapons. Manually it is. I jump on the man with the scratchy voice and fiercely punch his face. Finally wrapping my hands around his throat, I press down. I know I don’t have a lot of time, and this guy needs to die. To at least thin the number of assailants so I have a slight hope to win.
His eyes bulge from his head, and his face turns purple while he desperately gasps for air. My rage builds inside as he bucks his body trying to throw me. This needs to happen. A few more seconds is all I need as I lay my entire weight onto his throat. Feeling a few small cracks from his hyoid bone, his fight against me weakens, a few more second and he finally he goes limp.
I’m pulled back by my hair.
“Come on, Vega. Can’t win ‘em all.” He growls into my ear. I don’t want this bastard close to me.
He pulls my head back aggressively. At least the big guy hasn’t come out yet. That’s good. Means I just have this one to deal with at the moment.
“And you can’t always get what you want either. Let me go if you know what’s good for you, James.” I snarl as I try to free myself. He laughs as his grip increases. Great, he’s psychotic.
“If you haven’t noticed sweet thing, I do get what I want. Kind of glad you stayed on the case searching for these women, and showing up at a few bars. Each time I laid eyes on you and your attitude, I just knew you were next, going to be mine. Good thing you broke away from Miles.”
Crap, he’s planned this for a while. I have seen him at a few bars, I should have noticed him at the crime scenes. I probably would have determined he was up to something. “So then just kill me already. Why fucking wait?” I know it’s risky, but maybe he won’t. I need to keep him distracted so I can figure out how to kill him.
“Oh, because Vega.” His hot smelly breath grates my skin. “You’re a damn catch, and will be a lot of fun for me. I’ve seen your fight.” Sick, he licks my neck, this isn’t going to happen. “At the bars, the crime scenes. Have to say. Each time you showed that aggression, that control, it became more attractive. You’re exactly what I want, sweet thing.” My gag reflex kicks in, I need to find a way out of this, and I need his hands off o
f me.
I throw my head back landing on his nose. He grunts in pain but tightens his hold on me. That’s it, this guy is crazy and going to be hard to defeat. Not impossible, just difficult. I elbow his abdomen and thrust up to his jaw. So much for officer hand to hand training. He releases me and takes a step back as I spin around to see his blue eyes. This man has obviously lost his sanity.
“Not so fun when it’s fair fight, is it?” He lunges at me, barely missing me as I turn away. I still don’t have any weapons, or a damn plan. He rushes to me again, his momentum and the force of my punch met his face. Leaving him stunned. I look around to find something to use, hell to restrain him, but I’m pushed to the ground. A heavy weight lays over my body, pushing me to the floor and nearly collapsing my lungs on impact.
How did I not hear that damn door break open? “How the fuck did this happen, James?” He points to the lifeless body and growls.
James stands up, holding the side of his face. “Just having fun with her. Allen couldn’t handle it.” Allen? That’s where I’ve heard that irritating voice, I’ve seen him at the precinct too. What the hell is this? Is this large man an officer too?
“Why are you always fucking things up?” This large man growls.
Pulling me up by my hair, he drags me into the room. A thick smell of death hits me as we enter, and a strong smell of excrements fills this room. The hot air floats around and invades my lungs. Then I notice a metal chair in the middle of this dim, cramped room. A small light shining on what I assume is going to be my spot. The light barely hitting the rest of the room, ending right at the edge of each cage. Illuminating the place just enough to see bars. Wide metal bars surrounding this room, each one holds a shadow of a body. I can’t tell if they’re alive or dead, but there are women in here.
“Here.” He throws me into the chair while James slides rope around my wrists. “Get acquainted with your company in here. I’m sure you already know who they are.” They leave the room laughing, and slam the large metal door, forcefully latching it, and locking us in here.
“Hey, ladies. I killed one of them. Not like that helps, but I tried.” I softly say as I hold back tears.
“Vega?” Her muted tone reaches my ears, as my tears fall hard. I can’t hold back.
“Yeah. It’s me Elara. I’m sorry. I let you all down. I almost had ‘em I swear I did.” I force my words out between sobs. We’re all dead because of me.
“Vega. I know you tried. I know how hard you work. I’m sorry you’re in here with us.” Her voice trails off.
“You work with Dante?” Another quiet voice came from my left.
“Yeah. I’m sorry he’s your brother. They didn’t take these cases seriously. Until you. I’ve been working on this for months. I know all of you in here. I’m so sorry I couldn’t come through.” More tears fall. This is the hardest I’ve ever cried and I can hear all these other women join in.
“You’ve done more than any of us have done.” A small voice by Elara mutters.
“That doesn’t mean a damn thing because we’re all stuck here. If Elara is thirty-eight, assuming they keep you in numerical order, you must be thirty-nine. Talia?” She whispers a small acknowledgement. “Just after your case is when the FBI got involved. Thanks to Miles really. I tried for sooner, believe me I did.” Hell, this isn’t helping me find a way out of here. I slide my wrists around feeling a small slack in the rope. I might have enough room to free myself. He didn’t tie me to the chair, just bound my wrists together. That heavy man is right, James fucks up. That works in my favor. I pull myself from the chair and sit on the floor. I have to get my hands in front of me.
“What are you doing?” I ignore Talia’s worried tone.
“Getting us out of here. Elara, in case of anything, there’s a medical examiner named Anya. She’s a friend. You’ll like her; talk to her. Now, there are two men left here. I’m going to try my hardest to get us all out.” I slide my arms under me, then finally over my legs so I can work on the rope.
“Vega. Don’t you do anything stupid.” Tears invade her voice. The sobs coming down are unstoppable. For both of us.
“Oh, Elara.” I chuckle. “I’ve done plenty of that since your disappearance. I’ve purposefully lured this guy so I can find you. I’ve been drugged and manhandled through several bars. If not for Miles’ interference, I probably would have ended up here sooner.” I work the rope around, ignoring my burning flesh and trying my hardest to get free.
“Vega.” Her mournful tone kills me. I take in a few deep breaths, finally loosening the rope just enough where I can slide my hands out.
I walk up to Elara and search the door. “Little sis. I’d do anything to save you. Just promise me. All of you. That you’ll do your best to get out of here. Find detectives Miles Castor, or Redmond Stone. They’ll know what to do. They just need to know where to go. Meaning, Elara. Leave me here and you all run like hell. Got it?”
I search the door. There’s got to be an easy way to get these open. I don’t see a key system. Then I see it. If the gaps between the bars were big enough to give them the room, they could’ve easily gotten out of these. I open the door and wrap my arms around Elara. Oh, God her thin body scares me. Does she even have the strength to run? I take a few more moments to remember my sister's hug. Her cold skin hits me, and what I assume is her strongest hug envelops me.
“Come on. Let’s get these women out.” She helps unlock everyone. I take a step back and look at these women. I’m not sure if some of them can make it with the way they look. We need a fucking miracle to get those two men distracted enough for these women to leave unscathed more than they already are.
“Listen. I’ll hold them off. Wait a few minutes for my signal, right out the front door is their car. Run straight in the opposite direction it’s facing, it won’t take long ‘til you hit a road. Got it?” I look around this dimly lit room. These women are frail and terrified. I hope they have the strength to run. “Try to stay together, all of you make it. Please.” My voice breaks as I try to keep it together.
Elara hugs me again as tight as she can as tears wet my shoulder. “I love you Vega. You’ll make it out of here. You have to.”
“Love you too Elara. I’ll do my best.” I wish I can return a tight hug never letting her go, but I’m afraid I’ll break her brittle body. “Now. Hold the doors like they’re closed. I’ll get them in here. When I think it’s clear enough, or if I can kill them, I’ll yell for you to run.” I get skeptical looks and hesitated nods. These women need energy. Once every door is closed and I’m back in my chair holding the rope, I breathe. I need to get them in here.
“Hey!” I scream. There’s no response. Can they even hear me through that thick door? “Hey! Come in here so I can kill you!” I laugh maniacally. I hope they come in here.
After a few minutes of nothing, I hear the latch. Yes! A cloud of smoke enters before I hear the heavy boots stomp their way in, stopping in front of me. Well, I got what I asked for.
“Is that right Vega?” This body-builder man growls.
“You saw your partner there. Only a few seconds in my hands and he’s dead, isn’t he?”
“You think you can win this?” That gruffness in his voice curls my lips. I want nothing more than to see this man dead.
I tip my head back so I can look at him and I smile. “That’s what you heard, isn’t it? You sick fuck. I bet this attitude you have is all show and compensation for a tiny penis I’m sure the steroids caused. You inferior piece of shit.” He slaps me, jerking my head towards the door, and I see James standing in the doorway. I hope they aren’t on to my plan.
“Well, don’t you have a mouth?” He lowers his face to mine. The scent of his cigarette is staining my memory, and it’s disgusting.
“James has one too, if you’d like to bitch slap his womanly mouth around for a while.” I can’t stop my chuckle at that comment. He looks at James like he’s considering it. Crap, maybe this won’t work for me.
Damnit. I don’t like that look in his eyes. I didn’t want this to go in this direction. My heart speeds up the longer this crazed man stares at me.
“Hey, Paul. You said she was my problem to deal with.” James angrily says. Maybe I can pit them against each other? I better find a way to do it fast.
“You know. James there is right. I should deal with him first. I’ll let you watch me kill him” I try to say steadily, but I can feel the shake in me.
This large man glances at James and chuckles lowly. This isn’t going to work.
“I’ve been having to clean up your mess since this bitch started on the case. I’ve seen this woman work. It was only a matter of time before she figured it out. Your fuck-ups screwed us.” He stands and turns towards James. This isn’t going how I wanted at all.
“Doubt that Paul. Just because Rocky bailed your ass out after Holly’s shit, doesn’t mean you know how this woman works. I do. I’ve seen her work with your brother. Like you said, my fuck-up. My problem. Vega is mine.” That ugly confidence from James rattles me. Maybe they’ll kill each other over this?
I’m no one’s to deal with. Now I place him. Paul is the guy I saved Holly from? He sure isn’t recognizable from the last time I saw him. Wait, Rocky is his brother? Is he a part of this? Do I have another attacker to deal with after these men?
“Neither one of you are my type. Go fuck each other.” Paul runs the back of his hand down my face and gets too close to me with his nicotine laced mouth.
“Hm. Obviously you aren’t man enough for her, James. Can’t fix your problems, I’ll just have to do it.” My body shivers even though I try to stop it. I know an act like that gives a man like him satisfaction.
He grabs my arm and pulls me up. I hang on to the rope as tight as I can, it’s the only tool I have. Paul holds both my arms to my side, compressing my chances of escape. He’s strong. Stronger than the last encounter I had with him.