Chapter 19

What to do next. Concerned that the property might have cameras, I decided against driving past it, also I wasn't sure where that damn SUV had gone. Taking a left, I headed up a street called Stockbridge Street. That took me in a circle past some pretty amazing properties and brought me out further down, back onto Margin Street, beyond where the white Merc had turned into. A left had me back on the water's edge which I followed until I came to Cohasset Yacht Club. That was where I stopped and parked up the bike. Looking back, I realized that there was an enormous property sat on a peninsular that had water to three sides. Leaving the bike I walked over to the water front and squatted down, looking across the water to the house where Alina had disappeared into.

Geez, it was a sight to see. A small pond in the corner, a tennis court and then the house sat at the top of a flight of stone steps. It almost looked like a fairy tale castle with its turrets and roof with lots of chimneys standing out. There was a white building next to the water which could have been a boat house or even a private accommodation from how large it was. A private beach area led down into the water and the long quay had a very splendid looking yacht anchored up. Large trees sheltered it from passing boats and a tall and substantial fence ensured that no unwanted visitors could gain access. Shit, it even had cameras positioned on the corners of the buildings taking in the view of the waterfront and ones on the fence looking back at the house. Please don't let it be managed by Rangeman because that would be the last straw for me. I used my phone to take some photos of the place before deciding that I needed to leave before someone spotted me.

Getting back onto the bike I checked my phone in case Lula had called and then pulled up Google maps to find a route out of here. I took the scenic route not wanting to be seen near to that house, all of the time wondering what the hell to do now. I'd followed the clues and found the person who was likely responsible for the horrendous exploits that she was putting women through, but what now?

Finding yet another place to park up I decided to give Lula a call. I had a feeling that Kiera would have gone back to Jonas's house, though that thought had me wondering who else was involved with her. Had Oscar known that I was at that diner because Kiera had told him?

"How's it hanging White Girl?"

"I located where the boss lady lives. What about you?"

Dreading to discover what Lula was up to. Lula could be a bit of a lose canon if left to her own devices and she wouldn't think twice about doing some noseying around on her own. I hoped not because the idea of Lula disappearing gave me a punch to the guts. What the hell had I been thinking when I agreed for her to come along.

"Did you know that there's a place called Braintree?

"Really? Fancy that"

Not wanting to get into the whole conversation of how I knew of the place. What it did tell me was that Kiera had gone back to Jonas's house.

"That skank drove her car into the garage and then walked over to some old house. She was met by some bald guy, but she just walked past him, leaving him standing there"

At least it seemed that Kiera hadn't had a conversation with Jonas and that maybe he'd been worried as to where she had been. I still wasn't sure about trusting Jonas yet.

"Where are you?"

"I got a cab to the nearest McDonalds. Pearl Street, that's what it says on the sign. You coming any time soon. I can get your order for when you arrive"

"On my way"

Thinking that it was typical for Lula to have found a McDonalds. Hell, I'd lived in Braintree for over a month and hadn't come across that one. Then again, I was trying to avoid places that sold food like that. Ten minutes later I'd parked the bike at the back of McDonalds and was walking in through the entrance looking for Lula. At least she'd had the sense to find a table at the back. I saw her see me and wave her arms around to get my attention so was soon sat down next to her.

"I ordered for you"

Was all that I heard as she pointed to the packages in front of me. Lula must have ordered herself some more food because she was just unwrapping a cheese burger. After unwrapping the burger, I reckoned that she must have splashed out for me as I debated whether or not I could open my mouth wide enough to take a bite of the quarter pounder with cheese and bacon. I have to admit there was something about the smell that had my taste buds salivating. We were quiet as we both ate, concentrating on not losing any of the filling so it was as we were picking up fries and dipping them in ketchup that Lula began her questions.

"Okay, so now what. Do we focus on the house that you found or try to get more on Miss Skank?"

Neither was my immediate thought. No way did I want to be seen anywhere near to Jonas's house until I knew which side he was on. As for Alina's house, there was no way to get close to her without being seen.

"Alina's house won't be easy. Too many cameras and a hell of a tall fence. There's only the yacht club opposite that gives a view of the place"

"Yacht club. I always fancied sailing in a yacht"

Would it possible for us to sneak onto the property from the water? Maybe, but I had no experience of boating either and the idea of being on a boat with Lula wasn't that appealing. Checking my pocket, I realized that I must have dropped my phone into the pannier before heading over to meet with Lula.

"I have photos, but I need to get my phone from the bike"

As I stepped out from McDonalds, I was aware that it was going to be getting dark soon which raised another issue that we were going to have. Where the hell could we sleep, because I was sure that we didn't have the funds to pay for some fancy hotel. I was regretting having parked the bike out back now so actually debated moving it to the front where I could keep an eye on it. I'd just inserted the key into the pannier to open it up so that I could get my phone when a hand came around my mouth and another went around my waist. Only it wasn't just a hand and no matter how much I squirmed and tried to get free the smell from a cloth was working its way into my nose and throat.

Two men to hold little ol' me, was the last conscious thought that went through my head.

My head hurt and my mouth tasted horrible. Had I drunk something because I sure felt as though I had a hangover. No Stephanie. Someone grabbed you at the back of McDonalds. Came instantly into my head. Stay still, don't move. That way no one will know that you're awake. Cripes that took some doing. I did try to flex some of my muscles though to figure out what predicament I was in. My ankles were tied together, and my wrists were fastened behind me. As I moved my head slightly, I became aware that I was laid on my side on a carpeted floor. So where the hell was I and who had grabbed me? I became perfectly still when I felt the vibration through the floor and then heard footsteps approaching.

"Why the hell did you bring her here, you moron. How many times does she have to die before I'm rid of her?"

That sounded like one pissed off woman and I was sure that she was talking about me. I heard a male voice responding to her, but I couldn't understand a word of what he was saying.

"When you speak to me use English. Are you even capable of taking care of her?"

I didn't like the sound of what she was saying and could feel the panic begin to rise inside of me. Was there a way to get out of here, wherever here was and make a run for it. Opening my eyes, I was surprised to find myself in a small bathroom. Huh, who put carpet down in their bathroom? Obviously, this crazy woman. I tried to straighten out my legs in order for me to at least sit up but found that when I moved my legs it pulled on my wrists. Okay, there had to be another way to move. Pulling my legs up and bending my knees took the pressure off my wrist and by stretching down I could feel the binding that came up from my ankle. Little by little I felt around until I found the knot of the rope and then set to work trying to ease the knot undone.

"Marco, I seem to have a little problem. Would you please resolve it for me?"

Geez it seemed there was another man outside of the bathroom and from how the woman spoke it was almost as if she didn't want to ask him. Her tone was almost apologetic as though she was at the point of begging him. Sheesh, did that mean that this Marco was some big deal? Whoever he was it sure didn't sound good to me. There was no reply that I could hear so maybe Marco had decided that he didn't want to deal with the little problem, that was obviously me.

"I want proof that she's dead, preferably a part of her. Her ear or a finger. I need to know that she isn't going to interfere any more. Nikita isn't a patient man"

I tried to forget what she'd said about a body part because now I knew who she was and probably where I was. Alina Saroka sounded totally frustrated with me, though why I wasn't too sure. Okay, I'd managed to escape, twice, and hopefully the other women in that truck were safe somewhere. Was she annoyed that her building blew up with her clients inside? Well tough, because they were probably all depraved men who were hoping to buy a woman. While thinking that, I'd been steadily working away at teasing the rope but at the sound of the lock clicking behind me I was afraid I might be too late for any kind of retaliation. The door suddenly opening banged me on my backside but as luck would have it that caused the final piece of the knot to come undone. I tried to turn onto my front with my knees underneath me with the hope of getting to my feet, but the feel of a cloth bag going over my head had me panicking. Reactively I threw my head back and came into contact with something very hard and then heard what I was sure was swearing and cursing just before I experienced an incredibly painful blow to the back of my head.

It was a weird feeling waking up a second time. Almost like déjà vu, except this time my head was definitely killing me. I was laid on my back and could swear that someone was close by. What the hell was happening to me? The softest touch on my cheek had me inwardly cringing. Did that man think that he could touch me up before he murdered me? That was so not going to happen. I had no idea that my hands were lose until I used them to push myself up so fast that I was like a catapult taking flight. Maybe if I could land on him then he might be too shocked to react and that would give me some advantage, wouldn't it?

It didn't work out like that because I could feel myself being flipped over and landed on my back with a thud. Someone was sat astride of me on top of my hips with my wrists trapped underneath me. My eyes were closed as I tried to catch my breath but obviously the man knew that I was awake. That was when I decided to open my eyes. Fear was pumping through my veins at who I might see but I have to admit that after opening them I decided that I was definitely hallucinating. Maybe I'd been hit on the head once too often and this was the result. Hands reached down and cupped the side of my head before I was suddenly pulled up and enveloped in arms. My legs were apart with a body sat between them and their legs wrapped around my hips.

"Christ Babe. I would never hurt you. You're safe now, I promise"

Wow, this was one hell of a hallucination because I swear that I could hear Ranger's voice. The hold on me never slackened, the only change was when a hand moved to hold my head against his chest. This couldn't be right, this had to be someone else. I used my hands to push against the man's chest relieved when I was given some room to breathe. Hell, he'd almost been crushing me. Sure, enough when I looked into face opposite me it definitely looked like Ranger.

"This isn't right"

It couldn't be. How the hell was Ranger here now and why?

"You don't smell right"

Okay a crazy thing to say but the smell that I associated with Ranger just wasn't there.

"Babe, it is me. I just need to hold you, to make sure that you're really here"

If I didn't know better that comment certainly had me questioning my state of mind. Since when did Ranger ever need to just hold me?

"Twice, I thought that you'd died twice"

I knew that but how did he know? I pushed further away from Ranger's body, noting that he was wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black chino trousers. Not his usual attire.

"What the hell is going on?"

Was the most sensible thing that I could come up with to ask. Now don't get me wrong I was ecstatic that I wasn't dead already, or was I? Nah, the feel of those muscles underneath my hands were definitely warm and hard.

"You became a person of interest to a very dangerous woman"

I knew that, hell hadn't she wanted me dead and some part of me presented to her as proof of death. So why the hell was I here now with Ranger? When did he turn up on the scene? How did he turn up on the scene. He was in Boston with his new woman. I knew, because I'd seen her meet him at the airport. My head went down as I looked at his chest, come on where else was I supposed to look.

"You have a girlfriend now. She'd be very pissed off if she knew that you were out saving me"

"Not my girlfriend, Babe. My target"

That had my eyes looking at his face because I was confused with what he meant.

"I know that you saw us at the airport. Hector was shadowing me and saw you"

Oh. But that didn't explain why he'd been so distant from me back in Trenton, so she must be important to him. Focus. What the hell did he mean by target?

"Babe, I was called in to do one last mission. They needed me because of a previous job that I'd done. Four years ago, I was working undercover and managed to become a part of the inner circle of a very evil man. I knew the man's family and because it looked as though they were repeating the same atrocities, I had to resume my cover"

The cogs of my brain eventually began to turn as I sought out what I'd learnt and tried to comprehend what he was talking about.

"Four years ago?"

I threw back at him because somehow, I had the feeling that Ranger knew Alina, that he must have met her before her father had been killed, before she and her brother had left the country.

"Yes. Why do you ask that?"

Oh no, I wasn't going to be saying what I'd found out. I pressed my lips together and stared at Ranger, just so that he got the message. He sighed, dear God, the man actually sighed.

"Yes, four years ago. Part of that circle was the woman that you saw me with at the airport"

Well shit. The blonde woman was Alina! She was the woman that Ranger was with when I saw him! Okay, I was beginning to work it out but there were things that I wanted to ask but was afraid that I wouldn't like the answers.

"You were responsible for Sergey Saroko dying, weren't you?"

Yep, I could tell by the way Ranger lifted one eyebrow at me that I was right. I assume that he must have met Alina and her brother when he was there, so was he here now to stop Alina or had he resumed his relationship with her?

"I always said that you were very intuitive in finding things out. Belarus had a high level of trafficking going on. From women and children to men who were transported for slavery. The EU, United Nations, America, they'd all tried to use diplomatic means to get the government to crack down on what was happening. It became apparent that Sergey Saroko was one of the main families responsible and seemed unstoppable. A covert operation was set up that would destroy his networks and ultimately put him out of business"

Okay I already knew that part of the story from talking to the journalist Eric Dougan, though that Ranger had been responsible for taking him out was news to me. Then again, he had never implied what going in the wind involved.

"Okay. I know that Alina and Nikita fled Belarus before the shit hit the fan, but from what I heard they'd fled to Central America"

"Yes. But now they're operating here in the States. Women are being transported in both directions"

I had no idea that women were being brought in from Central America. I'd only come across the operation that involved babies and then selling the women on to the clients. I decided that I was too impatient to discuss what Alina and Nikita were doing. I wanted to know why Ranger had thought that I'd died, twice.

"How do you know that I nearly died? Did you have eyes on me?"

And if he did then why the hell hadn't he done something to get me out of the predicaments that I was in.

"Yes and no. After you saw me at the airport, I thought that we wouldn't cross paths again so decided to leave you to do your own thing. I didn't want Alina knowing about you and putting you in danger. It was Alina who began to rant about this blue eyed, brunette woman who was asking too many questions and needed to be dealt with. I just knew that had to be you. I only knew that you'd been involved in a car accident when she was gloating about it over dinner. How losing two men was worth it if it meant that the woman was out of the picture. Then the next day I heard her giving instructions that this woman had to be found and stopped, to add her to the ones already being held. I assumed that women were being held ready to be moved and sold but had no idea where they were being held. I only discovered that the truck was on the road after it had left"

Okay so far that made sense to me but if he knew about the truck then why had he allowed us to be transported for days on end. Especially if he knew where I was. That was when the penny dropped.

"You let us endure days in a truck so that you'd know where the buying was going to be happening, didn't you?"

I was so fucking annoyed at that. I tried to push away from him but to no avail, his hold on me wasn't about to slacken.

"It was the safest way to do it. We had men watching the truck, so I knew that you were safe. I had to get a team together ready to move at a moment's notice to rescue you all. Babe, the whole place went up. My team managed to get the women out of there, but they were anxious about a twelfth woman that they called Annie. They had to leave because the FBI turned up to take charge of the men who had been detained. We were told that anyone who was found were already dead. I was told that one of them must have been you"

I could hear the regret in his voice as he told me that he thought that I was dead. Had he regretted leaving us on that truck? I inwardly shivered at that thought that he might have felt responsible for me ending up dead. But I was still as mad as hell for him doing that to me. Then again thinking about it maybe I could understand why he'd done what he had. He needed to know where the women were being taken and who the clients were. That way maybe he'd get enough to close that part of the operation down.

"They're safe?"

Came from me as I thought of the women that I'd come to know on that truck and trying to forget that whole nightmare of waking up on my own just about buried alive.

"Yes. They're being looked after in a safe house down in Miami. We're collecting their stories as a way to try and stop this organization"

The bigger picture, which was something that had always eluded me before. Hell, all I was ever interested in was finding one FTA at a time, not trying to solve the crime happening around me. I was still so unsure of myself as I remained held by Ranger. I wanted to ask why he'd avoided me in Trenton but was too much of a coward. What if he told me what I feared the most, that he was fed up of me.

"Babe, I have to go"

In that moment I knew where he had to go, back to Alina in that beautiful house. I knew this is what he did, but knowing it didn't make me feel any better. Did he sleep with her, make love to her like he had done to me. Was she a better lover than I was, giving him the pleasure that I couldn't? I felt my chin being lifted and had no choice but to look into his eyes as he looked into mine. Those dark brown eyes that would be charming Alina all too soon.

"This is what I do. I hate it because in my mind I'm thinking about you. I had to put distance between us to keep you safe but also for me to prepare and psych myself up for what I had to do. Please don't hate me for it"

I had tears in my eyes as he let go of me and stood up. I couldn't turn around and watch him leave with his words repeating in my head