Chapter 5
Owen Taylor
Safe House
“Owen, what the hell are we dealing with here?” Remington, the tattooed biker I’d known for fifteen years, looked at me dumbfounded.
I’d told the men it was a rescue, but I hadn’t elaborated on any details. I wasn’t going to risk a leak, because no matter how tight an operation and team we were, it only took one little slip. And I couldn’t afford any slips when it came to Mischa.
“I’ll explain everything back at the safe house.”
Looking around one last time, I gave the signal to clear out. We climbed into the SUV, and with a quick glance back at the stoic girls behind me, we left this hellhole. The drive to the safe house would take us about two hours, and I immediately noticed the eerie silence from the back seat. I was glad Remington drove.
The girls hadn’t moved or made even the slightest peep other than when we hit a few bumps. Tiny sobs spilled from Mischa—I couldn’t call her Spring. I could only hope that she would allow the doctor I had on standby to check her out. I didn’t want to traumatize her further, but she would need medical care.
From the few glances I’d had, none of the other girls had any visible injuries, but that didn’t mean they didn’t exist. Doc would do her best to evaluate them, but complete exams would be left up to the discretion of their families.
In my mind, I could still see Mischa at seven years old, standing on my piano bench that day in the village. I knew it had been many years since that day, but of all the moments I’d spent watching her, that one stood out. It was the closest I’d ever been to her. Angelic didn’t even begin to describe her.
My fingers glided over the piano keys, and as I played, the music echoed through the village square. The sun bathed everything in a warm glow, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. My heart swelled with anticipation as I played the songs Mischa’s mother used to sing, hoping to draw the young girl closer.
And then, amid the bustling sounds of the village, hurried footsteps approached. Mischa came rushing toward me as I glanced up. Her face beamed with delight, a smudge of ice cream on her cheek.
She climbed up on the piano bench beside me, her innocent voice joining the music, harmonizing with the notes. Caught in the moment, I’d stopped playing, mesmerized by Mischa’s pure rendition of the song.
“You have such a beautiful voice. That was wonderful,” I praised her gently, my voice filled with admiration.
As the last notes faded into the air, I started the song from the beginning, wanting to capture this moment. However, my joy was short-lived as her panic-gripped parents appeared, their faces etched with worry and relief. Her father rushed toward Mischa, gathering her in his arms as she squealed in delight.
“Mischa! Oh, thank goodness you’re safe,” her mother exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion.
Mischa’s father held her tightly, his voice choked with relief as he whispered words of love and concern.
As the memory dissipated, a bittersweet mix of emotions swirled within me. I’d do everything in my power to help her heal—to undo the damage and get her back to that place in time.
I glanced back again, and Autumn’s head was leaning on Mischa’s shoulder. Mischa’s was on Summer’s, and Summer’s was resting on Winter. The three of them were asleep. Winter was the only one awake, but she didn’t fight it for long, and soon, her head lulled to rest against the door.
For the rest of the drive, Remington kept his gaze on the road. I knew he’d have a hundred questions for me, and his restraint in asking them was admirable. After pulling into the garage at the safe house, he shut the car off.
Winter snapped her head up as her eyes opened. She looked around and was visibly bewildered. It took a second before her mind caught up to what was happening. It was the first time she had shown any emotion, but she quickly covered it.
Her movement started a chain reaction, and all the girls woke up looking ashamed, as if they’d broken some rule. A range of emotions crossed their little faces. Guilt, fear, and even confusion. My gut twisted.
Why were they acting so strangely? None of the videos I’d ever seen showed them like they were now. The videos made them look ordinary, and if I hadn’t known I was watching on the dark web, I would have thought they were typical kids.
We helped them exit the car, and they followed Remington single file into the house. The minute we got inside, they fanned out and stood side by side. They struck something similar to a military pose, their legs shoulder-width apart and hands clasped behind their backs. Remington excused himself to join the rest of the team. I’d debrief them later.
I ran my hand through my hair, contemplating what to do next, when Doc took pity on me. She was a medic at one time but was retired now and working in special operation units like this. Her sister had been a victim of sex trafficking, and this was how she gave back.
“Girls, my name is Merci, but the guys here all call me Doc, so you can too. I’m going to show you to your rooms, and you can get changed and get some sleep. It’s very late. I know you have questions for us, but foremost, we want you to know you are completely safe here.” She stood off to the side, but her voice was gentle and motherly.
The girls looked frozen in place, almost as if they didn’t hear her correctly, and my heart broke a little more. They linked pinkies, but this time, it was only for a brief second before they let go and returned to position. Doc registered the shock on their faces and was mentally making a checklist for herself. I’d seen her with the same look during other operations.
“I know everything seems confusing, but tomorrow you’ll all begin the journey of returning to your families. I’m sure they’ll be overjoyed to have you home again,” Doc remarked softly as I peered at their faces.
Autumn blinked rapidly, like she didn’t hear her correctly, and mouthed the wordhome. Summer clasped her hands over her mouth to stifle a sob. Winter looked down at the ground and sighed heavily. But my little Mischa doubled over and cried out violently.
Her anguish was raw, and my cheek twitched in remorse. Not only did I fail her, but her father and mother too. Doc knelt down, to comfort her.
