Authors: B J Brandon
“Did you know my father lives down here?” she whispered, continuing to watch the room. “He bought a place just after Momma died, and before you ask - no, I’ve never been inside of it.”
“Ah baby,” he turned from the room as he continued to watch her. They were in the far corner away from almost everyone so it was unlikely anyone could hear their conversation.
“The last time we spoke and he told me about the move, do you know what he said?” The look in her eyes when she turned to Ty nearly brought him to his knees. He would fight for this woman, kill for her, but as God as his witness right now all he wanted to do was shield her from anymore pain. “He said at least here at the Lake with the security out front he could now choose who he invited to his home.”
The knowledge that her father had never invited her to come to his home was the elephant in the room, but Ty knew his woman. She would never go uninvited, and right now, it was best if she stayed away from her family. Too many emotions, too much pain was riding the waves and it would only be a bad outcome if she and her parent came together in the near future.
Ty was brought back to the present situation when Buck ended the meeting and disperses the Teams to get ready. He made his way over to where they stood and took Melissa’s chin in his large, calloused hand.
“Are you good, McKenny?” he asked, taking in her pale face. He looked at Ty but didn’t comment.
“Let’s do this,” she managed to say with a strong voice and steady hands. Buck nodded and turned from her, allowing Melissa to take a deep breath. She hadn’t even realized she had held her breath during almost the entire meeting.
The two of them followed as Buck turned and left the Community Center. Buck would be in the helicopter with a direct link to Lonnie and all of the Team Leaders. The Teams were already spreading out, making nice with the locals as they worked their way around the Lake. Ty pulled Melissa into the cubby hole next to the side of the building out of everyone’s line of site and caged her with his larger body.
“Are you good, babe? I know you can still hear Gayle.” He saw her shocked look as her eyes jumped to his face instead of looking over his shoulder. Ty smiled, taking her lips with a gentle kiss. “Hey, remember I know how you operate.”
Suddenly, it was like the sunshine had come back out to play as her face cleared and eyes brightened. He could tell the exact moment when Melissa McKenny finally accepted the fact that she was no longer alone, no longer isolated and fighting a battle by herself. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life.
“We’ve got this, huh?” she whispered, reaching up to touch his lips.
“Yeah, we’ve got this. Now, let’s go get our girl!” he growled, pulling Melissa from their hiding place and working their way to their own vehicles.
The plan was for Ty and Melissa’s group to take a high powered, quiet boat just to the far side of the residence in question and quietly make their way up to the house. The early morning light shifted down through trees along the shore as the boat skimmed the surface of the lake like silent wings of a predator as they moved toward their destination. Most of the properties had marina access, especially the more expensive ones and their target’s was residence no exception. Once they reached the point of ingress, the various Teams moved into position waiting for the signal from Buck.
It didn’t take long for Ty to see the other two teams moving around the back of the house along the tree line. Silent darts took down the guards on the outer parameter and the two standing guard by the front doorway. It was almost too easy as all of the Teams converged as one force.
Ty and Melissa took the front door while the three members of their team covered their back. A silent charge took out the double door entryway allowing them to make their way along the walls of the huge entry. There was a stunning chandelier hanging from the third floor ceiling, archways leading left into a formal dining room and right into what looked like a large living room complete with widescreen TV. However, they encountered no one and it was starting to piss Melissa off that they might have already missed their targets. Ty must have realized it because he was next to her instantly, his large hand resting against the center of her shoulder blades. The second he touched her the aggression became manageable as she anchored to Ty and reined in her emotions. Once she was calmer she realized that she was picking up strong emotions not far away. With hand signals to their Team, they moved toward a door hidden under the staircase leading to floors below. The door opened soundlessly as one of the Team took point down the dark staircase in front of Melissa.
“They’re here, I can feel them.” Her whisper was barely a breath over the mics but Ty heard her. As they moved down the darkened steps into the bowels of the house soft sobs could be heard echoing in the darkness below and Melissa’ stomach clinched. As they rounded the corner to the basement the first thing noticeable were the four cages lined against the far wall. The cages were the size normally used for very large animals but instead held three boys and a little girl, all huddled against the back wall in the corner of their separate cage. It was the sobs that drew Melissa to the opposite area where she found Gayle chained to the floor in only a nightgown. The girl was shivering as she quietly sobbed, blood stains on her bodice from where someone had beaten her. One eye was swollen shut and the other was puffy. The chain was attached to a manacle around her neck and used a heavy lock that would take either the key or a locksmith to take off without hurting the girl. Melissa quickly knelt next to Gayle and pulled her into her arms. Gayle instantly started fighting, her fists beating against Melissa’s shoulders until the hushed commands finally seem to sink in.
“Shush, sweetie. I’ve got you, we need to be quiet.” Stroking the young girl’s back, Melissa felt her finally pull away and look up at her with eyes so old it nearly broke her heart.
“I wasn’t sure you could hear me and I thought I was imagining your voice in my head. I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you but the twins were in danger and I had to try to get them out.” Gayle looked across the way and Melissa could see two little boys who looked so much alike. The traffickers would have paid a fortune for a matched set like that!
“Ok, let’s get all of you out of here. My big boss will be very upset if we leave anyone behind so stay close.” She took the bolt cutters she found on a ledge not far away and handed them to Ty so he could cut the chain. The metal collar would have to come off after everyone was safe. As Ty worked, the other three team members cut the other children from the cages and put them into the protective vests brought especially for them. She didn’t want a stray bullet to find a target after coming this far. As soon as the twin boys were free they ran to Gayle, who folded them into her arms.
“This is my friend, Melissa.” She whispered softly against one of the boy’s temple while snugging the other next to her side. “She’ll help us get out of here but you have to do what they say. Ok?”
The boys looked up at Melissa and Ty with the oldest eyes she had ever seen, especially for little ones who should have never had to endure what they had. It would be a miracle for any of them to ever have a normal life without the nightmares that were sure to come. She knew about nightmares, and Melissa was sure these would be much worse than anything she had ever suffered.
Gayle pushed both boys’ back from her chest and looked at them to ensure they understood how deadly the situation was for everyone. With barely a nod from each twin, she pushed them toward one of the Team members who picked them up and held them against their chest. It took what felt like a lifetime but was barely minutes for Ty to lead their team up out of the basement to come out from under the stairs.
Everyone was in the foyer when Melissa heard her name called.
“Lisa, what the hell are you doing here?” In stunned silence, Melissa turned to see her father coming down the curved stairs with another man just behind him. She watched as everything went into slow motion.
The man behind her father pulled a gun and held it to her father’s head as he pulled him against a barrel chest. The man holding the gun had a satisfied look in his cold eyes as he slowed her father’s progression down the staircase, ensuring no one had a shot at him. Fear shot into her father’s eyes before they changed to something unreadable and then an emotion Melissa had never felt from her parent - acceptance. She felt it flood her in a warm glow at her father’s slight nod. Then he did the unexpected. He tucked his 6’ 3” frame and dropped to the stairs below. The gunman lost his hold on Jason McKenny as he continued to roll down the stairs against the wall and out of harm’s way. In the blink of an eye Ty was able to shot the gunman, causing the kids behind them to scream but at least no one else came down the staircase ready to shoot.
“Clear!” came the shout from upstairs as one of the Team moved past the gunman and ensured no one else would be coming to the party.
“Move, get those kids out of here!” Melissa’s voice rang out in the empty foyer as she slowly moved toward her father. The man she hadn’t seen since her mother’s funeral.
“Are you ok?” she asked, kneeling down beside him where he leaned against the stairwell wall.
“I didn’t know…How could I have not known?” he whispered, shaking his head. Melissa sat down hard next to her father, unable to say a word.
“How long have they been downstairs?” Jason McKenny asked, refusing to look at his daughter. To his shame, he had invited a monster into his home, allowed innocent children to be held in his basement and remained oblivious.
“Gayle said they were moved down there late night before last. Why didn’t you check the basement?” she watched his face, a face that at one time had been so familiar to her and now resembled that of an elderly man who had just accepted his limitations.
“I’ve been gone the last two weeks to San Antonio for an endowment ceremony in your mother’s name at the prep school she once attended. I just got back early this morning to finalize the details on the business transactions those men told me were legitimate. Believe me, Lisa,” her father finally looked directly at her. “If I had known what they were doing I would have called the authorities.”
Melissa motioned for another agent to come forward so they could take her father’s statement. She needed to get to Gayle and right now there was just too much to take in. When she started to get up her father stopped her.
“Where are you going?” he asked, his tone sharp and biting.
“I have a job to do, sir. And it’s not finished until I make sure those kids are safe. This agent” Melissa motioned the man closer to them. “will take your statement and make sure everything is documented. For now, I suggest you find somewhere else to stay for the next few days. This is an active crime scene and you won’t be able to stay here.”
“Now listen here, young lady. This is my home and no one is making me leave it so more strangers can come in and do or take whatever they wish. That’s why I moved down to the Lake. For the security.”
“And a lot of good it did you, huh,
Dad!
” Melissa pulled her arm from Jason’s grasp and stood. “As I said, I suggest you go with this agent to gather some things for a stay elsewhere. You have 20 minutes!”
She found Gayle sitting in the back of an ambulance with Ty standing guard over her as the female EMT tried to assess her injuries. The metal collar had been removed and in its place were ice packs to hopefully minimize the bruising. Melissa couldn’t stop herself. She gathered the teenager in her arms and held her close. It was as if Gayle had been waiting, holding back a flood of tears until Melissa could get to her.
The sobs tore at Melissa’s heart and all she could do was hold the tall young woman who was so much older than her actual years. The next few months would be difficult for her and the twins but she was determined to ensure they found a suitable foster home, no matter what it took.
Looking up, her heart jumped at Ty’s soft smile as he watched her gently rock the teenager. Things would be different from here on out now that she had an anchor as well as a lover to cherish. Life was good, and hopefully she would be able to make it just a little better for those around her!
Two years later
Ty and Melissa watched as their girl walked up the long aisle her assigned seat among the others of her graduating class whose last name began with a “W” from the prominent San Antonio prep school. She took the young man’s hand who stood on the floor next to the platform, there just so he could assisted her up the four steps and safely onto the stage. Few would have seen the blush that rose from her neck to her forehead when he whispered to her.
“Way to go!” Lonnie’s grin was infectious and Gayle couldn’t hold back the chuckle as she took the last step onto the flat surface. Several more steps brought her to the Dean, who shook her hand and handed her off to the President of the school. Everyone on the platform began clapping, which was against the rules since all applause was supposed to be held until everyone was given their diplomas, but of course Buck Stanfield was never one to follow the rules. He stepped forward after the President handed her the scroll and took her arm, leading her across the platform and down the steps on the other side. She still couldn’t believe what was happening here and now. As Valedictorian of her Senior Class, everyone kept telling her how smart she was and couldn’t believe school was so easy for her. Little did they know how hard the road had been to get here. Her earlier speech came back to her and it was like she was a different person in someone else’s dream.
“My fellow students, faculty, and friends. I want to take this opportunity to thank some very special people in my life who, if not for them, I would not be standing here. Tyrone and Melissa DuValle found a girl several years ago and literally saved her from a fate worse than death. I can never repay them for what they have given me, nor what they have done for my adoptive twin brothers. I also want to thank Buck Stanfield who, although he always seems so formal and rigorous on the outside, is one of the biggest teddy bears ever put on this earth. However, I’ve promised to keep his secret.” She turned to her right just behind her and gave Buck a dazzling smile. “I wasn’t sure what I would say for my Valedictorian Speech and then a very wise woman told me to speak my heart. So here it is.