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“A man. I once heard someone call him Hughes. He usually sends a message with some random person.”
“How did you meet him?”
“They drugged me and a few other girls. We were at a club celebrating my friend’s birthday. We were kept in a cell for a few days, and they did stuff to us—dirty things. Then one day Hughes pulled me out and said they wouldn’t sell me if I helped them.”
The story she tells is familiar. The bastards need women to assist them, and they normally choose docile women who won’t garner them much cash. So far, I have no reason to believe she’s lying about that, or anything else. In many ways, she’s a victim, and I might have let her go, if she hadn’t caught Lexie in her trap. I can’t forgive that so easily, but I move the knife from her throat and sheathe it.
“What did they ask you to do?”
“Make friends with women and bring them to the bar.” Her voice belongs to a hollow shell. “That’s all.”
“That’s all,” I repeat, my words laced with venom.
“I have a sister,” she says, and for the first time I see the fight in her eyes. “Once I didn’t bring the girl to the club, like they asked. Hughes visited my sister. She’s fourteen. He put his hands on her. I can’t let them sell her.”
Family is family, and it’s hard not to feel great empathy for her situation. “How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
She looks older, haggard, too used up for someone who’s just a kid.
“Why did you come to Sirena?”
“I was supposed to take Francesca to Club Azul. But then Alexis saw us in the hotel lobby. They knew each other from school. Alexis convinced Francesca that Azul was a terrible club and that we’d have more fun at Sirena. I don’t know who chooses the clubs, but I didn’t think I’d get into trouble if we went to a different place. The important thing was that I had to get Francesca someplace where we could meet up with the guys.”
Azul isn’t a terrible place, but they’re lax about who they let in, and the bouncers are easily distracted by an attractive woman, or a buddy who stops in for a drink. It’s not a particularly safe club.
“Why Francesca?”
“That’s what I was ordered to do,” she replies with some exasperation, like she’s answered the question already. “Make friends with her and take her to meet the men.”
“Did you know she’s the Italian prime minister’s daughter?”
Her eyes bug out, and she shakes her head.
I didn’t think you did.
“Have they started targeting wealthier girls?”
“I don’t know,” she replies after a moment. “But I was given expensive clothes to wear this time and a designer purse. Usually I just wear my own clothes. When I asked what I should do with the fancy things after, they told me to keep them for next time.”
Next time. “Zé,” I shout. “Over here.”
“Yeah,” he says, glancing at Misha.
“Misha wants to help her situation.”
I turn to the kid who has been through hell herself. “You tell this man everything you know, and you answer every question the authorities have for you, and I will make sure your sister is safe.” I can’t let her go, but I can take some of the burden off her. “You have my word.”
“My mother too?” she pleads.
I nod. “Give the information to this man.” I point to Zé, who looks almost as lethal as he is. “He won’t hurt you.”
I move out of Misha’s hearing range and motion for Zé to join me. “Cut her down and be careful with her. She’s one of their victims and has likely been sexually assaulted.”
His expression is grim.
“I don’t think she’s lying, but don’t let your guard down.”
