Page 73 of Beast

Would my new pimp torture me? I survived this horror too many times to count. At least here, I knew the routine. I had earned Jose’s trust. He didn’t rape me anymore and I had seniority amongst the girls. Who knew what hell waited for me somewhere else.

Jose arrived back at my door, wearing his crisp, white suit, a few of the other girls crowded around him. He only dressed up when he did a trade. “We go.”

“We’re all leaving?”

“Yes, we’re moving to new house.”

He let me take my purse, even though there wasn’t much in there. Condom, gum, a hair clip, some lube. I grabbed my smack—I couldn’t live without it. I shuffled my feet across the concrete floor and followed him and the others outside.

The purple sunset was breathtaking. I remembered seeing this sunset the last night before I was taken. I was a spoiled bitch back then. Chris wanted a romantic vacation, but I wanted to let loose. Partying with the dancer in the club the night before I’d been taken was my right. No one could control me. Renzo later told me watching me dance on stage with the band made him determined to make me his. What a naïve fool I had been.

Jose shoved us into a van. I stared out the window, holding back sobs.

The driver started the engine, and I burst into tears.

“Hey honey, it’s okay. We’ll be fine,” Sveta offered.

But she didn’t know why I was crying. I’d told no one about Patrick. I’d done everything he’d asked of me, not aroused suspicion.

The van sped away, flashes of neon buildings whizzed by my eyes like a movie. I held my necklace. I didn’t believe he would find me. I didn’t believe in anything anymore. As the brothel disappeared in the distance, any hope I’d had of being rescued vanished with it.

10

Patrick

MAN, I WAS FUCKING TIRED. Thirteen hours by plane, including a redeye and a layover in Miami, and our airplane finally touched down at the Queen Beatrix airport, Aruba at sunrise. Had this been Annie’s last sight before she had been taken? Her desire to photograph its beauty had cost Annie her freedom. Today, I would liberate her. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face once I’d saved her, hold her, and tell her she was free. All the training I’d gone through in my life had prepared me for this mission. The excitement, the adrenaline, and the high of completing a mission were indescribable. But liberating Annie would be the biggest reward of all.

Vic, Kyle, and I left the airport and headed to the private dock to stow our gear on our yacht rental.

We made our way through the maze of scuba tours, glass bottom boats, and moonlit cruises. A middle-aged bearded guy with a ponytail and a beer belly met us at the dock, dangling the keys.

“You must be Dave.” Kyle shook his hand, and Vic and I followed suit.

“Nice to meet you. The Cleito is all cleaned up and ready for you.”

I glanced at Vic and Kyle. The Cleito. In Plato’s myth of Atlantis, Cleito bore Poseidon ten sons. An obscure Navy SEAL trident reference, but we all understood the significance of the name instantly.

“And I secured you the weapons you wanted.”

“We appreciate it.” We couldn’t bring our own weapons and check them on a commercial airplane.

Dave handed me the keys and narrowed his eyes toward me. “So, what are your plans? I know some great scuba spots.”

I placed the keys in my pocket. “Thanks, man. Just wanted the guns in case we encounter any pirates. We’re just going to relax, go fishing, and snorkel.”

Dave glanced at our sea bags, which concealed our night-ops equipment. He was no dummy, a former old school Frogman. He probably sensed we were planning something other than checking out the local tropical fish. “Well, I’m happy to show you around. Anything you need.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Please, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“We will.” I eyed Kyle, who nodded toward me. We could trust this man. Any BUD/S class, any trident. He was one of us. Basically fucking family.

“Well, let me give you a tour.” He led us on the boat. It was no luxury yacht by any means, but it would suit our needs well. Downstairs there was a small galley, upstairs there were two cabins—one with two narrow bunks and one with a queen, a head, and a tiny living area. And a small area to relax up on the top deck. I gave Kyle the keys and he fiddled around with the controls.

We spent the rest of the day stocking up the yacht with food, drinks, and supplies. I’d bought Annie clothes, shoes, toiletries, magazines, books, and a small duffle bag so she wouldn’t have to go to the embassy empty handed. Wasn’t sure what she was into, but I figured anything, which could keep her mind off drugs and what she’d been through would be a good bet. I hadn’t a clue how long she’d be kept at the embassy, so I wanted to take care of her, even if I couldn’t be there.

Hours later, the sun had finally set. We cleaned, loaded, and concealed our weapons.

We’d gone over the layout from the diagram I’d sketched when I returned from the brothel that night. We weren’t too worried about smuggling her out. The plan was to head over to the brothel at night, posing as clients. Once I was inside the room with Annie, Kyle and Vic would take down the pimp until I smuggled her out of there. We weren’t going to use force unless necessary.

After we rescued her, we were going to take her to the embassy. The full plan should take us three days tops.