"Ghost and Wilder, secure the girls! Viper, Ace, watch the exits! Sheriff's probably on his way!"
The room erupts in panic. Buyers scrambling like cockroaches when the light flips on. Security guards reach for weapons but think better of it when they see how outnumbered they are by my men.
I reach the stage just as a guard grabs the girl's arm. I ram my elbow into his throat, not hard enough to crush his windpipe, but enough to make sure he won't be using it for a while. Hedrops to his knees, gasping, as the girl shrinks back against the wall.
"I'm not going to hurt you," I tell her, keeping my distance despite every instinct screaming to grab her and run. "I'm getting you out of here."
She doesn't believe me. I can see it in her eyes. Why would she?
"Reaper!" Ghost calls. "Sheriff and his deputies, two minutes out! Someone must've called it in!"
I holster my weapon and approach her slowly, hands visible. "You have two choices. Come with me now or wait for the Sheriff. Your call."
For a moment, she just stares at me, this broken, beautiful creature with eyes that have seen too much darkness. Then, with trembling legs, she stands and takes a step toward me.
"What's your name?" I ask her.
Her voice is barely audible, rough from disuse or screaming. I'm not sure which is worse.
"Evelyn."
"I'm Jackson," I tell her, offering my real name instead of my road name. A truth for a truth. "But most people call me Reaper."
Understanding flickers in those green eyes. She knows what I am. In her mind, she's trading one devil for another.
"The sheriff will be here soon," she says, her voice stronger than I expected.
"Yes."
"And you're leaving."
"Yes."
She swallows hard, looking around at the chaos, at the other girls being helped by my brothers. "Those men who were bidding..."
"Won't touch you or anyone else ever again," I promise, and it's one I intend to keep with blood if necessary.
She takes another step toward me. "I'll come with you."
I don't smile, haven't truly smiled in years, but I nod. "Smart choice."
The wail of sirens grows louder as I lead her through the back exit. Blade has one of the guys in a chokehold, dragging him toward our vehicles.
"Got him, Prez," Blade grunts. "He tried to swallow something. Some kind of pill. Stopped him before he could."
"Good. We need answers." I turn to Ghost, who's helping the other girls into the van. "Get them to the safe house. Call the Doc. These girls need medical attention."
Ghost nods. "What about you?"
I look down at Evelyn, who's watching the exchange with wary eyes. "I'm taking her with me. Back to the clubhouse."
Ghost raises an eyebrow but knows better than to question me in front of others. "And the guy we caught?"
"The shed. No one touches him until I get there."
And as I look at Evelyn again, I know I'm fucked. This woman, this stranger I just rescued from hell, has somehow reached inside my chest and wrapped her fingers around whatever's left of my soul.
And the most terrifying part? I'm going to let her keep it.
