Midnight Shadows (18 page)

He’d thrown her down, thankfully on a bed, spewed a couple more insults and then left. She’d seen the questions in his eyes, but that didn’t matter. Her sisters would ask if she’d said anything and he would relay the message.

“Do you have a husband, boyfriend, or a lover?”

As Sabrina turned to the woman who’d asked the question, Ian’s handsome face appeared in her mind, his features were imprinted on her brain. She had traced his face a thousand times with her fingers and knew that even if she never saw him again, she would never forget him. Nor would she forget his strong, solid embrace, forthrightness, and rock solid character. They were qualities she could look a lifetime for in other men and never find.
 

“Yes,” Sabrina whispered softly. “I do.”

“Then he’s who you need to think about when you’re being raped.”

“Shit, Donna!” Claudia snapped. “What kind of advice is that?”

“The best I got. She’s got a choice of letting what happens to her rot her insides or think about something else. Either way, it’s going to happen. You know damn well why she’s here.”

She’d only been here three days but had already gotten to know the women and their personalities. Donna, with her strawberry blonde hair and light blue eyes, was the street smart one, doling out biting sarcasm but blending it with a surprising compassion.

Claudia, who had long, black hair and delicately fine features, was the motherly one, who tried to reassure and bolster.
 

And then there was Ashley. Silky blonde hair, sparkling gray eyes, and the kind of sculptured cheekbones that only models are born with. For whatever reason, Ashley treated the other women as rivals for the same man. She was a prisoner just like they were but had made it clear she planned to stay on Silva’s good side.
 

Sabrina got the idea that Ashley somehow believed Silva would be so pleased with her, he would want her exclusively. Though that seemed odd, Sabrina knew there were all sorts of ways to handle trauma. Perhaps this was just Ashley’s.

All the women were beautiful, all between twenty-five and thirty years old. Another thing they had in common that was no surprise—they were all alone in the world—no family. Just like Lauren. And just like Sabrina’s cover, Lilah Green.

The accommodations were prison-like in that they were incredibly confining. The women ate together, slept in the same room, spending all of their time with one another. And when Silva was in residence, they were his to do with as he wanted.

Though the women were different in many respects, all three had been surprisingly open about what they were here for and what was expected of them. Because of their openness, she’d questioned them extensively and was glad to hear one theme from all of them. They might be resigned to their fate, but none of them wanted to be here.
 

She didn’t tell them anything about her mission. They would have questions that didn’t yet have answers. Neither did she want to give them false hope. None of them were safe yet.

A major worry remained—where was Lauren? Was she being kept in another part of the house? Was she even now being assaulted by Silva and Sabrina was sitting here like an idiot waiting? The thought whirled constantly in her head.
 

The house was large and though she’d only been in the bedroom, living room and the pool area, she had seen no evidence that another woman was being held. She told herself not to worry…that Marsh had things under control. And she trusted her family and co-workers to know when the time was right. Things would work out.

And when she and Lauren did escape, so would these women.
 

It was late afternoon when Ian and the team arrived in Ensenada. Keeping a low profile was imperative. According to Marsh, Silva had spies everywhere. If they’d arrived looking like they wanted to kick ass, people would have taken notice. Instead, they looked like a group of men who’d come to fish a little and drink a lot. A buddy bonding time.
 

The only anomaly to the group was Samantha, but if she stayed low-key, no one should question her presence. Quinn had taken his life into his hands and remarked that she could claim she’d come as their cook. The fire in her eyes had made Ian long for Sabrina so badly he had felt the ache to his soul.

He’d worked his ass off, staying busy so he wouldn’t worry about her. She was one of the craftiest, most talented investigators he’d ever known. Undercover work wasn’t new to either one of them. But this one worried him more than any other. Robert Silva wasn’t just a bad man who needed to pay for his crimes…he was pure evil. He was responsible for multiple murders, the abduction, abuse, and rape of who knew how many women, treating them as if they were less than human.
 

Sabrina had been up against bad men before but none like Silva.

They hadn’t heard anything from Marsh since that first phone call with the location of the house. He wouldn’t call back until Silva arrived with Lauren.
 

Ian hadn’t expected to hear any news until that happened, but he had wished for something…anything that would reassure him that Sabrina was okay.

Knowing there was nothing they could do until they got word, he called out, “Once we unload our gear, let’s take a look-see around.”

With minimal words, they proceeded to empty their vehicles. Several of their weapons were cleverly disguised as fishing gear.

Ian grabbed his duffel bag, along with his weapons bag, and headed toward the beach house they’d rented. They had everything they needed for a successful mission except for the go-ahead.

Ian set his bags down in a bedroom and then roamed through the house. “Nice digs, Braddock.”

Quinn nodded. “We got lucky with the location, too. Bunch of guys…” He shot Samantha a wicked grin. “And a good-looking cook renting a house fifteen miles from Silva’s house won’t attract anyone’s attention.”

Samantha, who was unloading some of her weapons from a bag, looked up at her fiancé and laughed. “It’d serve you right if I did cook something. Your stomach would never be the same.”

“That’s what I’m talking about.”

Logan, who’d been the quietest of them all, now had a look on his face that could only be described as relieved. He was reading something on his laptop.

“What?” Brody asked.

“Savannah uncovered the blueprints.”

A collection of thankful sighs exploded in the room. When they’d left Midnight, Savannah had been pushing through all sorts of firewalls and security blocks to get the blueprints for Silva’s house. Hard enough to do that, but she’d also had to avoid sending up any red flags. If Silva got wind of the rescue, they were fried. And Sabrina and Lauren would pay the price.

“Print them out.” Ian said. “We’ll study them before we head to the house.”

Within minutes, they had the schematics spread over the dining room table. The house was large but not so big that it would attract attention of curious sightseers. Two and a half stories of modern architecture of stone, steel, and glass. Four bedrooms on the second floor, one on the first. Since there was a tiny attic and no basement, chances were good that the women were held on the second floor in one or more of the bedrooms. Marsh had been sketchy on details with his first and only phone call. They’d get more when he called back.

Ian took one last look and stepped back. “Let’s go take a look.”

In one agreement, they loaded back into their vehicles. To anyone who saw them, they were there for fun, fishing, and more than a couple of beers. Only they knew that their purpose had nothing to do with fun and everything to do with saving the lives of five women, including one of their own.

Chapter Seventeen

The bedroom door opened and a cold, male voice said, “You got company.”

Sabrina looked up from the book she’d been trying to read. The other women had been right about one thing—the waiting was one of the worst parts.
 

Lauren Kendall stumbled into the room. Honey golden hair tangled, a vicious looking bruise marred her left cheek. She looked so different from the way Sabrina had last seen her, she was almost unrecognizable. But her eyes, golden brown and full of life, were unmistakable.
 

For the first time in days, Sabrina breathed an easy breath. Marsh had been right—now to get all the women out of here without anyone getting hurt or killed.

“You. Come with me.”

Her focus had been on Lauren so Sabrina hadn’t noticed that the man who’d shoved Lauren into the room was still there and was pointing at her.

“Me?”
 

“Don’t make me come over there, girl.”

Sabrina stiffened her spine. Okay, she had known this would happen. Silva would want to see her, question her. She could only pray that was all he wanted.

As she passed by, Lauren’s eyes widened in recognition. Sabrina gave a tiny, almost imperceptible shake of her head in warning. To carry this off, they needed to maintain their roles. Sabrina Wilde and Lauren Kendall did not know each other in this scenario.

The man the other girls had referred to as ‘Buck’ snapped, “Hands behind your back.”

Fighting or protesting would do no good. Besides, until her team arrived, it was pointless. If she resisted, she’d only get hurt. By now Marsh had notified the team that Lauren was here. Anytime they wanted to raid the house was just fine by her.

She complied and was surprised at the gentleness he used in zip tying her wrists. She would like to think his easy handling had something to do with his humanity, but she had a feeling it had more to do with orders from Silva. He wouldn’t want his merchandise to be damaged…at least not by anyone but him.

They walked down a long, carpeted hallway and then Buck stopped at a door and gave a short, polite knock. The door swung open and Marsh stood before her. His eyes were cool and dark, his mouth set to grim. Sabrina felt a shiver to her bone. This man was just a little too convincing in his bad guy role.
 

Marsh backed away and Buck pushed her forward.

“Welcome, Delilah. Or should I call you Lilah?”

She and Marsh had briefly discussed how to handle the meeting with Silva. Since he looked upon women as some sort of subhuman species for his use and enjoyment, Sabrina didn’t think it mattered how she acted with him. He would see what he wanted to see.

A man sat behind a massive oak desk. She knew Silva was in his early fifties but had aged well. He was an attractive man—dark hair, a little silver on the sides, dark eyes, good cheekbones. Maybe a little weak in the chin, lips a little too thick. Still, very distinguished looking. He could be a politician…or someone’s grandfather.
 

That thought gave her shivers. Daniel Wilde, Sabrina’s grandfather, had been the most honorable and kindest man she’d ever known. He had nothing in common with this lowlife creep.

She raised her chin, defiance stamped on her face. Since she didn’t know exactly how to play it, all she could be was who she was. “Why am I here? Who are you?”

He didn’t answer, just stared at her as if she were some sort of specimen he was studying.

With her hands tied behind her back, two men behind her, one of them Marsh, she could do nothing but stand there and glare. He probably expected her to cry, beg, or plead. That wasn’t going to happen.

“You look nothing like the girl I remember.” His eyes never leaving Sabrina, Silva said, “Marsh, you’re sure this is the right one?”

“Yes sir. She was in disguise with Walker.”

His eyes roamed up and down as if he were considering purchasing livestock and then he gave a disapproving sort of grunt. “Hair’s too damn short. Tits half the size of what I’d been led to believe.”

Oh there were so many things she would like to say to this pervert. However, if he didn’t like her looks, maybe she could at least escape his attentions. His next words divested her of that hope.

“I do like her legs though and her face is exquisite. Armando liked her mouth and I can see why.”

Remembering what Cruz wanted her to do with her mouth, Sabrina felt a shudder run through her. Reverting to her standby when she was afraid, she deflected with biting sarcasm. “So this is the only way you can get women? Kidnap them? You lowlife, scum sucking, disgusting piece of crap.”

She expected anger, possibly retribution, but the light in his eyes said something different. He got off on the spirited ones. Is that why he was obsessed with Lauren?

“Tsk. Tsk,” Silva said mildly. “Such common language from such a lovely young woman.” He opened his desk drawer, pulled something from it and threw it behind Sabrina. “Marsh, if you would be so kind?”

Before she knew what was happening, a large hand smacked duct tape over her mouth.

Silva grinned, revealing slightly yellowing teeth. “That’s much better. I’ll have your mouth uncovered when it’s time for it to be put to use.”

She refused to shudder again or show the slightest amount of fear.
 

“So, Lilah, you intrigued me from the moment I saw you, but you’ve caused me some aggravation as well. Since you’re a woman, that’s certainly no surprise. It comes with the territory from your kind. However, it does tend to put me in a sour mood.”