by Jayne Blue
“Hi there, Bess.” He smiled at me and damn it if I didn’t feel a glow inside. Keeping it cold with him was going to be a bitch.
I focused on the girl.
“Who is this?”
“This is Alexis.”
“Hi, Alexis I’m Bess.”
“Ryder, can you take over my hand for a minute. Ryder’s okay, I promise.”
Sawyer reassured the girl and Ryder stepped in to play the next card. I stole a glance at Alexis and she was giving the meanest look she could muster to Ryder. She allowed the game to proceed. She didn’t trust men. That was clear. She boldly faced them down. Atta girl I thought.
Sawyer put a hand on my lower back and it seared through to my skin. Did he feel that or was I losing my mind?
“I’m glad you got here so quickly. As you can see, we have a situation.”
“Who is Alexis?”
“She escaped.”
“What?”
“There’s a new player in this town - Russians. They are bad men, very organized and from what I have seen, they are behind the storage units that I told you about. They’re trying to set up a human trafficking operation here or, at least, use Grand City as some sort of depot.”
“Jesus and Alexis?”
“She hasn’t told me one single thing that’s useful. But I know she escaped from men with accents, the only thing she’s adamant about is that she’s not a whore.” I winced at his language and then let it sink in that those were her words, not his.
“Poor thing. You have no idea what these girls are put through.”
“She has bruising on her skinny arms, she isn’t well, but I don’t think she’s an addict.”
“They drug the girls then the customers can do what they want.” I was well aware of the worst of it. The Midwest had become an underground super highway for human trafficking. Almost because it seemed like the last place that it could happen, young people were at risk.
“I can’t believe it’s gotten here, this town is about as far from Detroit as you can get without going to the UP.” Sawyer said and I let him in on the battle we were waging.
“There were over one-thousand calls for help last year to our hotline about girls sold into slavery.”
“Nationwide? One thousand where?”
“Just in Michigan. Those are just the girls who knew to call for help. The numbers are a drop in the bucket. We’d been hoping it was just Detroit or down into Toledo but our counties in West Michigan are seeing more and more.”
“This makes me sick.”
“Yes, and it’s getting worse.” I had just come back from a seminar with Jane White; she was Michigan’s expert in the fight and ran the Michigan Human Trafficking Taskforce. I was flush with statistics but in practice still learning how to help and recognize the signs.
“I didn’t know what to do for her.”
“Calling me was good. I have a cop she is going to have to talk to. She will have to be checked at the hospital. I have a safe house I can contact after that. There are things we can do.”
“She bit one of my guys.”
“What?”
“Didn’t break the skin but he tried to get her into the truck and she lashed out.”
“She’s a fighter. That’s a good thing.”
“Yes.”
“Do you realize this is dangerous territory, Bess?”
“I’m worried for her, not me. Do not start sounding like Chris. That is one of the reasons he got out of the marriage. Didn’t think we were safe because of my job.”
“I’m not Chris," and truer words had never been spoken. He was rough and in charge of a rowdy group of men but there he was, playing cards with a kid. It was getting harder and harder to put Sawyer McCall in a box and store him away. He kept taking center stage in my mind and now in my actual life.
That was going to have to take a backseat.
There was a kid that needed my help. I had already decided not to go down this path with Sawyer. Still, I was in his company again and I wanted to stay there.
Hopefully, the work at hand would diffuse my confusing emotions.
“I’m going to get her squared away.” I felt almost pain separating from Sawyer. The fact was I felt stronger near him lately and that just would not do.
I nodded my head to the meeting room. For his part, Sawyer stayed out of my way and let me work. I knew the resources Alexis would need and had quick access to them.
I was in my element and was glad Sawyer called me first.
The first stop was the hospital. Alexis was admitted, and during her medical exams, I reached out to Detective Garrett Murray.
I called Murray because he was one of the good guys. The handsome Irish rookie cop when I was a new caseworker had crossed my path many times.
He had helped me get an abuser arrested, find runaways and even saved me once or twice from angry clients.
We never dated, he was certainly gorgeous, with a thick dark hair, and a wide smile when he laughed. Either I was married or he was. Now that we were both single, well, I really only thought of him as a comrade. Not a love interest. A brother-in-arms that fought a losing battle with me.
It turns out, apparently, I had a thing for bikers. God, I couldn’t really believe that.
He was promoted to detective two years ago but he was still my go-to guy on the Grand City PD. I knew we would be able to get a statement from Alexis together in the most sensitive way we possible.
That was if she would talk.
“So Sawyer found her?”
“Yep.”
“They say the Great Wolves are mostly legit these days.”
“Are they?”
“Since that guy arrived I haven’t heard one bad thing. It’s driving me crazy.”
“Hmm. You can talk to him after, okay? I want to get Alexis before too much more time passes. Memories have a way of changing, especially when they are traumatic. I’d want to forget whatever it was that happened too.”
“Okay, you take the lead. I’ll take notes.”
“Normal drill?”
“Yes, I’ll jump in if there’s something I need.”
“Okay, let's go.”
The average age for girls and boys being sold into the sex trade was a shocking 12 or 13 years old. I put Alexis in that range because of her demeanor. She was self-possessed, and behind the fear, I saw intelligence in her eyes. To look at her, you would probably guess her younger. She was so little.
“Alexis this is Detective Garrett Murray. He is going to listen. Is that okay?”
“I suppose. What are we going to talk about?”
“We’re going to talk about how you got to that warehouse.”
“A lot of it I don’t remember.”
“Because?”
“Because of this?” She lifted the sleeve of her hospital gown and her pale arm was spotted with bruises.
“I understand. Can we just try to walk through it? We’ll do as much or as little as you can handle.”
“Okay.”
Alexis Brian was from Flint, she was with a foster family there. I made a note of the names. I could have Norm pull her file.
I expected to hear a familiar tale. The sex trafficking cases typically started with a runaway, a kid experimenting with drugs, and through their social media interactions.
Alexis did not admit to any of the behaviors that would make her vulnerable or put her at risk.
“I’m telling you he grabbed me when I was walking around in the mall.”
“You didn’t know them?”
“No. I’d never seen the asshole in my life.”
“You were in the mall and he targeted you?” This question was from Murray.
“Yes, I guess.”
“He got me drugged up right away. Mister, I’m worried about the other girls. They weren’t trying to get away. They’re too drugged.”
“Why weren’t you drugged?” I asked her.
“They shot me up, a couple of times, I was sic
k I threw up every time. It was disgusting. So I started coming up with ways to avoid it.”
“How?”
“I pretended I was already high. I watched what the girls did right after their shots. I shifted my spot on the beds so they thought they got me already. I pinched my arm to make all the bruises. They lost track.”
This girl was incredibly resourceful and I could not help but admire her tenacity.
“Alexis, were you sexually assaulted?”
“You mean rape?”
“Yes.”
“In one week they brought seventeen different men to me. I laid there and pretended I was stoned. None of them used protection.” She didn’t blink when she said it. She knew just as well as we did the danger, beyond the trauma, that her statement represented.
Her voice was direct and strong. Her defiance made me think Alexis was going to survive this horror that happened to her. I would have to check her medical evaluations. She was going to be at risk for so many things. I was enraged that this could happen. That some monster would do this to children.
“Ms. Geary.”
“Bess, call me Bess.”
“There were, at least, six other girls that were with me and the same things happened to them. Can you help them?”
“I’m going to try, that’s why Detective Murray is here. He’s going to work on getting the men that did this.”
“Can you tell us about them? The ones in charge? What do you remember?”
“They all talked with accents. Sawyer said, Russian. I couldn’t really understand a lot of the stuff they said.”
“If I showed you pictures would you be able to recognize them again?”
It was the first time Murray spoke up, he was good at this, always careful, and non-threatening to the kids who had been through the unspeakable.
We spent just under an hour with Alexis and she held up well but her eyelids were getting heavy and her answers less and less specific.
“Alexis you’re going to be overnight here. In the morning, I am going to be back and we will take the next steps together. You’re safe now. You did amazing with our questions.”
“Nowhere is safe.” Alexis turned her head and closed her eyes. She had seen enough of the worst of the world to last a lifetime. I only hoped I could get her to a place where she could start to move on.
I started to think I was going to handle Alexis’s case myself. A fire in my belly was growing to make sure I saw to every detail of her next steps and to hurt whoever did this to her.
Detective Murray and I left Alexis and paused a minute in the hall outside her room.
“Is there anything you can use?”
“I don’t know. We really do not have a pack of mug shots of Russian mobsters. If that’s really who is behind this, they’re new to us and if they don’t have arrest records here.”
He let it hang there. It was starting to sound like there was not a lot of hope that the police could stop what happened to Alexis from happening to another girl. Or to the girls, she said they already had.
I left the hospital and headed straight to my office.
I had a lot of paperwork to do for Alexis. It was going to be a long night after a long day.
A quick call to Henry let me know he was happy to stay overnight with Cassidy and Craddock and, of course, Dylan.
“Yep, we’re watching a Harry Potter Marathon. Dylan doesn’t like the spider so we’re going to fast forward that.”
“Good idea. I will be there in the morning. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Put Cassidy on now.”
“Are you sure you’re good with this?”
“Yes, now that we have this big house I need more people in it!”
“And Monday I’m going to share a file with you. We are going to work it together. It’s going to be the biggest challenge of your career, maybe mine too.”
“I’m ready.”
“I know. Now get back to Hogwarts.”
“Will do.”
I thanked God for the hundredth time for putting me in a job where I could meet people like Cassidy, and hopefully, I can help Alexis.
She would need everyone pulling for her.
Chapter Seven
Sawyer
Alexis was in good hands, the best hands, and the club needed to make some decisions.
The officers were all gathered.
“The message was pretty clear. Fire for fire,” Hagen said.
“How bad off is the warehouse?” I had left the clean up to the guys and had focused on getting the Alexis where she needed to be. But the bottom line was that we were in a war with the Russian mob that was clear.
“It’s not a total loss. The stock is. But we got to the building in time.” Steel chimed in.
“Good.”
“Dusty called Cali and we’ve got supplies from Lincolnshire, Ohio coming our way,” Ridge added.
“So how did they know we even had that warehouse? It’s not exactly common knowledge.”
“I’m going to bet you anything Devil’s Hawks are teaming up with them,” Hagen had the most experience with the Devil’s Hawks M.C. They were still as dirty as we’d been a decade ago and it wouldn’t surprise me if they did tip off the Russians on how to hurt the Great Wolves.
Larry chimed in, “They probably have that enemy of my enemy shit going on.”
“Great.”
“We know how to deal with the Hawks.” Hagen was all too ready to shed blood if meant the blood spilled would be our rival club.
“Look, let's lock down supplies, and we’re going to increase patrols for Great Wolves Security,” I needed more, though.
“We need to hit back.” Hagen said and he was right.
“I agree. Let’s find out how to do that. Start looking and asking around. Where is this Russian Brotherhood in Grand City? We need that first.”
“Then we strike.” Hagen wasn’t asking.
“Then we strike.” It was unanimous at the table. If we didn’t slap down this new threat to Grand City, it would grow.
Time to find out more about the Russian invasion.
I had a sinking feeling that I needed to get to Bess. It came over me like a wave.
“Meeting adjourned, get me some info.”
“Yes, Prez.” I pounded the gavel.
Larry put a hand out to my shoulder.
“Hey, where you headed, you need backup?”
“No, I’m going to be sure Bess is safe.”
“Your gorgeous social worker? That Bess?”
“Yep.”
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
“If they know about how to hit us where we make money I’m worried they know how to hit us where it really hurts. Tell all the guys to keep their old ladies close.”
“Got it. She your old lady?”
“Not yet.”
Larry chuckled as I headed out.
The sun had set on a long day but I knew where to find Bess Geary. I just hoped this Bratva didn’t.
**
Of course, she was there late. Working. Helping. Getting paid shit, I was sure. She was the guardian angel this town didn’t even know it had.
And she was sexy as hell.
I stared for a moment. The overhead lights were off in the office. It was probably some money saving timer.
A small desk lamp cast a soft glow around her.
Brunettes were never my speed, but Bess Geary had gorgeous dark hair, and she wore it up. I had never seen it down, except in my imagination. Her long legs were crossed at the ankle under the desk, she was always the lady always dressed for work.
I walked up to her; my boots hitting the floor made her look up.
“It’s late. What are you doing here,” She asked and Bess’s chocolate eyes scanned me. My biker exterior could not be more of a contrast to her classic beauty.
Everything about her was sexy to me. I loved those pencil skirts she always wore, the gray streak at her temple, and her
passion. I wanted to be inside that energy and heat that came off her in waves. I craved it. I was also supremely relieved that she was right here, in front of me, safe.
“I swung by your house first. I was looking for you. You were not there. I got worried.” Lately if I did not know where Bess was, I could not focus. Her presence or lack of it was becoming a central part of my existence.
Bess took off her glasses and leaned back from the pile of papers she was hunched over.
“That’s new. I normally do the worrying.”
“Yeah. Time to clock out. I’m taking you out of here.”
“I can’t. I have work. I am still waiting on Norm to get a handle on Alexis’s file. I have new worries about a runaway case that crossed my desk before this blew up.”
I stepped closer to her desk and gripped her chair from behind. I slid her chair away from her desk.
God, she smelled so good. It was not perfume, it was her.
I leaned over her and switched off her light. I closed the file.
I watched her chest move up and down. It was not just I that felt the attraction when we got close.
She had been damn insistent she was not interested. She was old enough to know that the president of an M.C. came with complications. I had had enough. I had waited too long. I wanted her. Now. Fuck the consequences.
I put both hands on her shoulders and eased her out of her chair. She was still as a statue but for her breath. There was a half second that she could have pulled away, said something funny, put up a wall. But she did not.
I had been waiting for the opening, patiently, since I had first met Bess Geary.
I put my lips on the back of her neck and inhaled that scent of hers.
My teeth scored her soft skin and she leaned back into me. Her round ass pressed up against me. I slid my hands from her shoulders to the top of her silk blouse. A sigh escaped her gorgeous full lips.
That sigh let me know she was in. All in.
I turned her to face me and surrounded her in my arms.
Her neck was my undoing. I gave it my full attention for a moment and to make sure she was ready for the next step. My lips on hers. I slid my tongue up. I kissed her skin, I inhaled her.
Then paused.
“Open your eyes,” I told her. She did as I instructed. I watched her lush lashes as she slowly lifted them up and her eyes focused on meeting my gaze.