Greyson gripped the cell bars in her fists. “Come on, Uncle Dan, you’ve got to help me out. I’m going nuts in here. Man, if you knew anything about me, you’d know I have to be outside. My whole life was about nature and sunshine and being outdoors. I feel like I’m going to lose it in here.”
“No. No one goes out,” the old man answered.
Greyson felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder, spinning her around. Ruby closed in on Greyson so fast she had no time to dodge the punch to her face. Greyson grabbed Ruby, wrapping her arms around her and lifting her off the ground. Greyson squeezed with all her strength as Ruby pounded on her head and shoulders.
“Traitor. I saw you talking to him. You’ll be the death of us all,” Ruby shouted.
Greyson heard the old man call for help. Moments later two guards rushed into the room, each grabbing hold of one of the women, pulling them apart.
Greyson yelled at Ruby as she fought against the guards to land another punch. “Are you out of your mind? You may think you’re the queen around here, Ruby, but you don’t tell me what to do.”
The guards restrained them, but they continued to struggle to reach each other, kicking and lunging against the guards’ hold.
“Take Ruby to the lower level,” the old man ordered. “Maybe the girl can calm her down.”
Greyson saw the flash of relief on Ruby’s face. The plan had worked. Ruby would be able to see Nikki and tell her about the plan.
“What about this one?” the guard holding Greyson asked.
“Leave her.”
The guards hauled Ruby out of the room. Her curses echoed down the hall, growing more distorted with the distance until they faded into silence.
Greyson chanced a glance at Olivia, hoping she was on to the charade.
“Cuff her,” the old man ordered.
The old man watched as Greyson’s arms were wrenched behind her back and cuffed with zip ties. “I’ll take care of it now.”
“Watch her,” the other guard warned. “Everyone’s getting twitchy about the fight. There’s no telling what they’re up to.”
Greyson glared at the guard, imagining her fingers pressing into the spiderweb tattoo centering his throat. She wanted to cut off his words before the old man realized the truth.
The old man nodded. He clasped his hand around Greyson’s arm, pulling her to her feet. “Come with me.”
Greyson followed the old man out into the hall. She stood quietly as he closed and locked the door.
He took her arm again. “This way,” he ordered.
“Where are we going?” Greyson asked.
“For a walk. What the hell is going on between you and Ruby?”
Greyson huffed. “Ruby has a big head. She thinks she gets to tell everyone what to do. We’re all at our breaking point as it is—the last thing I need is her bitching at me. Hell, I know I can’t win, but she just keeps pushing me.”
The old man hesitated outside a heavy metal door that had rust showing around the edges. Greyson frowned. “What’s this?”
The old man slid a key into the ancient-looking lock and opened the door. Greyson blinked, squinting her eyes against the brightness of the sun bursting from the room. As her eyes adjusted, she stepped through the door. She was surrounded by rows of tomato plants, peppers, and a host of other vegetables.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“It’s a greenhouse. I can’t let you outside, but I didn’t think this would hurt.”
Greyson turned to the old man, shocked. “Thank you,” she said with genuine gratitude. She turned her face to the sun, letting the warm rays kiss her skin. She took a breath, feeling the air fill her lungs. It was the first real breath she had taken since arriving here. Her body tingled as if she was being energized by the plants around her.
Greyson leaned into the plants, letting the leaves brush her face as she breathed in the wild green scent. She gazed around the room, taking in every detail of its contents and construction. The walls were glass with giant fans at each end for ventilation. The only door she could see was the one they had entered.
“You won’t get into trouble for bringing me here, will you?” Greyson asked.
“I’ll take care of it,” the old man answered.
“Why are you doing this?” Greyson asked, desperately wanting to rake her fingers through the loose soil. She twisted her arms against the ties binding her hands and felt the rigid plastic bite into her skin.
The old man looked at Greyson with something of a smile. “I need you to do well at the fight.”
Greyson frowned. “Oh.”
“And I guess I owe you one for the last fight,” he added.
Greyson grinned and nodded. “How is the bean counter these days?”
The old man’s smile widened. “He looks good with a broken nose.”
Greyson had no idea she had managed that much damage.
The old man laughed. The sound was out of place and a bit sinister.
Greyson laughed too. She knew she had done the impossible. She had managed to win over the hardest old man she had ever met. She knew he didn’t really care what happened to her, but if he thought he could use her, that was almost as good.
Greyson grabbed the opportunity to try to learn more about him. “How long have you been doing this?”
The old man stared at her, his eyes silently boring into her like lasers.
Greyson continued, “You don’t seem like the others. You don’t look at us like they do. What are you getting out of this?”
His mustache bristled as he worked his mouth, the way he always did when she made him think of something he didn’t want to talk about.
“There are things you don’t understand about this world. You think this is just about you and the girls. You think you’re above all this. But the truth is, we are all slaves. You go to a job and complete a task for money. You use other people to advance in your career and get things done. We do the same. We’ve just found a different way to use our resources. This life has existed for centuries and it will go on long after you and I are forgotten.”
“So this is just a business deal for you?” Greyson felt the cold grip of rage tighten around her heart as she imagined this man’s worldview and complete disregard for human life.
“I like to study people. I like to see how you will adapt to the world you are thrown into. Women fascinate me because of their resilience, their willingness to sacrifice themselves for others. Even you. You were easy to break. All he had to do was make you responsible for another and you were willing to do his bidding. It’s amazing, if you think about it.”
“It’s pretty disgusting, if you ask me.”
He glared at her. “That’s what makes you weak. You will never understand what it is to have power and control.”
Greyson sighed. “I’ve heard of women being trafficked for sex, why the fights?”
“Sex is everywhere,” he said with a dismissive look. “Pain is a special commodity that is much more gratifying. Anyone can overpower someone weaker than them, but it takes real power to get someone to hurt another person, to endure the physical pain, to do your will. Love is your weakness.”
Greyson fell silent. Money and power, that was all these men cared about. This man would never care about what happened to her. His only concern was getting what he wanted and what he wanted was to feel like he could control her. She could use that.
“So what do I have to do to get to come back here, maybe without the cuffs?” Greyson asked. If she could make a deal with him, she would be able to turn his own game against him. Whether he knew it or not, she was playing his game.
His cold eyes studied her for a while before answering. “You’re going to make sure someone doesn’t make it through the fight.”
Greyson swallowed hard against the lump of dread that suddenly developed in her throat. “You want me to kill one of the girls?” She shook her head. “That’s not going to happen. I can’t do that.”
He shook his head. “No. When the time comes, I’ll tell you exactly what I want.”
“There has to be something in it for me.” She turned so her hands were toward him. “The cuffs.”
She felt the cold bite of steel against her wrist as the pliers were put into place. She heard the faint snap of the blade, and an instant later her hands were free.
Greyson rubbed her wrists and turned back to the old man.
His gaze was cold and hard. “We understand each other?” he asked.
Greyson nodded. She had the feeling she had just made a deal with the devil.
* * *
Olivia sat on the sofa watching the Recruiter. He had sent for her almost every day for a week. Most of the time he didn’t even speak to her. He just wanted her to sit in the room with him, get things for him, and clean up after him. Today he seemed out of sorts, as if he couldn’t get a piece of a puzzle to fit the way he wanted. He rubbed his temples as if trying to grind his fingers through his skull. Stubble grew on his normally clean-shaven face and his hair was disheveled. More than once he yelled at his computer screen, cursing someone she couldn’t see. His agitation made her nervous. Being with him was like sitting in a room with a ticking time bomb. She had been on the receiving end of his anger more than once and she never knew what might set him off.
Olivia was scared, but she knew she had to try to loosen the screws with this guy. Anything she could find out might help get her out of here. She swallowed her fear and gathered what courage she could muster.
“You seem upset today. Are you okay?” Olivia asked. Her voice sounded loud in the quiet of the room.
He looked up as if he had forgotten she was there. “No. But you wouldn’t understand business.”
Olivia nodded, ignoring the slight. “Is there anything I can do?”
He watched her as if trying to read her mind. She knew he didn’t trust her, but she had to play the role he had assigned her. She had to pretend she was on his side.
“Can I get you another drink?”
He nodded. “Yeah. That would be good for a start.”
Olivia felt her heart jump into her throat. What did he mean by that?
She poured the drink and stepped behind the desk next to him. He turned off the computer screen, preventing her from seeing what he had been working on.
“You look tense—that’s probably what’s causing that headache. Would you like me to rub your shoulders for you?”
He took the drink and sat back in his chair as Olivia moved behind him and began massaging his shoulders. She tried to control her hands from shaking as she stared at his neck, wondering if she had the strength to strangle him. She peered over his shoulders as she worked.
“You really carry a lot of stress in your neck.” She moved her hands to the muscles on either side of his spine. She imagined wrapping her hands around his neck and choking him to death, but she knew she wasn’t strong enough to do it. She glanced around for something she could use as a weapon. It was easy to imagine killing him, but finding a way to do it was proving much harder.
“How does that feel?” she asked, trying to keep him calm and distracted as she searched for anything that could be used against him.
“Nice,” he answered.
Olivia took a steadying breath. The ledger on the desk was full of figures she didn’t understand, but she caught sight of a few names to the side of each row. She frowned as understanding dawned on her. They were the names of cities. Just based on what she could see, she would guess they covered half a dozen or more states. Were these accounts? Were they places like this one where more women were being held? She couldn’t imagine that so many places could exist and no one know about them. She read through as much as she could, trying to absorb the information in front of her. Three columns seemed to be specific to three cities that stood out to her, Nashville, Columbus, and Louisville. If she had to bet, those were the sites of the big fights and most likely more trafficking cells. Distracted by what she had learned, she absently let her hand still.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her around the chair to face him. “That’s enough.”
Olivia gasped and flinched away, expecting to be struck.
His expression softened. “I’m sorry. I’m not very good company today.” He closed his hand around Olivia’s neck, rubbing his thumb up and down her throat. “So soft.” His eyes glazed over as if he was in a dream, making Olivia even more afraid of what he might do. He leaned in and sniffed her hair.
The pressure of his thumb against her throat grew rough until Olivia whimpered from the pain. She shivered as fear and revulsion crawled across her skin like freezing fog. Something told her he would enjoy killing her. “Please stop,” she whispered.
He pulled back, staring at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. His brow furrowed. “I’ve scared you again. I’m sorry.”
He pushed a button on his desk phone. There was a knock at the door, and a second later the door opened.
“Sir?”
He never took his eyes off Olivia. “Take Ms. Danner back to the others.”
“Yes, sir.”
He kissed her cheek. “Tomorrow will be better. I’ll make everything up to you, I promise.”
Olivia fought the urge to claw at her skin as she walked down the hall. She wanted a shower. She wanted to scrub every trace of him off her. The only thing holding her together was the anticipation of telling Greyson what she had found.
Greyson had become her cornerstone. She was there for her every night, talking her through her fear after long days with the Recruiter. Greyson never showed her own fear of what was coming. She was determined to find a way out before then. But Olivia was skeptical it could happen. She didn’t want to think of what it would mean for both of them when Greyson faced the death match.
* * *
Greyson rolled onto her side and slid back the covers the moment Olivia moved to her cot. Olivia was quiet. Some nights were like that, when Olivia had had an especially difficult time with the Recruiter. Greyson wrapped her arms around Olivia protectively, hoping to give her comfort for at least a little while.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she whispered into Olivia’s ear.
She felt Olivia sigh. “He disgusts me. He’s absolutely raving nuts.”
Greyson waited, stroking her hand along Olivia’s back.
“I think this is much bigger than we thought. I saw a ledger today that had the names of cities in different states with figures next to them. I’ve been trying to figure out what it means, but I can’t fit it together. I think some of them may have been dates—the rest, I’m not sure. But if I’m right, there have to be hundreds of women like us held in places all over the US. It looked like there are some pretty big things going on.”
“Damn,” Greyson muttered. “That’s huge.”
“Yeah.” Olivia cuddled closer, curling her arms between them, against Greyson’s chest.
Greyson heard Olivia sniff and knew she was crying. “What’s wrong?”
Olivia sighed. “I’ve been thinking about my parents. I can’t imagine what this has been like for them. The last time I saw my momma, we had a fight. I may not ever get to tell her I’m sorry.”
“You will,” Greyson reassured.
“You always say that.”
Greyson chuckled. “It’s true.”
Olivia was silent for a long time, but Greyson knew she wasn’t asleep. She could feel her troubled emotions as if their hearts shared feelings they didn’t give words to.
“What’s your favorite flower?” Greyson asked.
“Don’t,” Olivia protested.
“Come on, tell me. What is it?”
Olivia sighed. “You’ll laugh.”
“No, I won’t. What can be funny about a flower?”
“A thistle,” Olivia said, her voice soft as if she was whispering a secret.
Greyson frowned. “Really? You know that’s a weed, right?”
Olivia tapped her hand against Greyson’s chest. “See, you’re making fun.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right.” Greyson thought about Olivia’s answer. She’d expected her to say roses, or buttercups, or daisies, but not a thistle. “What do you like about the thistle?”
“Well, they’re wild and gnarly, and they grow tall and thorny. I like that they aren’t perfect, but despite the rough edges they have such a beautiful flower. It helps that I like purple.”
Greyson smiled and her heart warmed. “Is there anyone else missing you? Besides your parents, I mean?”
Olivia pulled her head back and looked at Greyson through the dim light. She smiled at the memory flooding her mind. “My friend James. He’s got to be absolutely mad crazy by now. He’s like the brother I never had. I tell him everything.” Olivia chuckled. “He’s so funny. I love to hear his stories about the guys he goes out with. He’s funny, charming, handsome, and a complete dating disaster.”
Greyson smiled. It was nice to hear a hint of happiness in Olivia’s voice. She wished she could keep that happiness there between them forever.
“He sounds like a great friend.”
Olivia was quiet for a long moment. “He is. I’ve never been closer to anyone before—until now.”
Greyson pulled Olivia closer. “My buddy Dawn probably has the National Guard out scouring the Smoky Mountains looking for me. I hope she hasn’t gone out there herself.”
“Why?” Olivia asked.
Greyson laughed. “Dawn has city blood. She breaks out in hives if someone in a ten-mile radius of her cuts the grass.”
Olivia laughed.
“She wanted to go with me on the AT. She was convinced something bad was going to happen. I guess I should have listened.”
Olivia drew circles against Greyson’s chest with her fingers. “No one could have known this was going to happen.”
“No,” Greyson agreed. “And who knows what that freak might have done to her if she had gotten in the way.” She sighed. “I don’t even know for sure how long I’ve been here now. The days all run together. Even if they haven’t called off the search for me, they’ll be looking in the wrong place.”
“I know what you mean,” Olivia answered. “I just got out of my car and went with him like an idiot. It was storming and I was waiting it out on the shoulder. He stopped to help, said my car had a flat. I knew better, but I still trusted him. I keep hoping someone saw us, that maybe there was some clue left behind that can help. But why would anyone even think to look here? There are so many other explanations that make more sense than the truth.”
Greyson pressed her cheek against the top of Olivia’s head, trying to reassure them both. “We’re going to get out of here. You can’t give up. You have to keep believing, even if the fight doesn’t go well. You have to keep trying.”
Olivia gasped. It was the first time she had heard doubt in Greyson’s voice. “Who’s the one giving up now?”
“I’m not,” Greyson argued. “But we both know I’m not cut out for this. I’m no fighter, let alone a killer. I can’t just go into that pit and take someone’s life, especially someone that’s in the same situation I am. They aren’t the enemy.”
Olivia was surprised to hear Greyson talk so honestly about the fight, but she wasn’t surprised by the revelation. She knew in her heart what Greyson said was true.
“So what’s the plan? You must have some ideas in that big brain of yours.”
“I don’t really have one. I have bits and pieces in the works, but the truth is, nothing will matter if I can’t find a way to get us outside. Nothing has worked so far. I’m sorry I don’t have better news.”
Olivia’s heart sank. If Greyson didn’t have a plan, there was no hope left.
Greyson tightened her arms around Olivia. “Don’t count us out yet. I won’t give up until the last breath leaves me. I will get us out, or I’ll die trying.”
Olivia bit back her tears. Her heart was breaking. She knew Greyson would do exactly what she said. She just wasn’t ready to let Greyson go. She felt like they were sitting on death row, just waiting for the executioner to call their names. She tried to press closer to Greyson, needing that closeness to chase away her fear. The time they spent together suspended between day and night was the only time she felt hope. After everything they’d been through together, she couldn’t believe she had been so determined to hate Greyson. It had been so easy to put the blame on the first person presented.
Greyson wasn’t anything like she had believed. If she was honest with herself, she had judged Greyson harshly from the first moment fate had brought them together. She couldn’t have been more wrong. She wished she could turn back time and go back to that first day. She would have been nice, for starters, she would have invited Greyson into her apartment, she would have talked through the night, learning everything about Greyson, and she would never have believed the horrible things the Recruiter said about Greyson.
Olivia closed her eyes against the memory. She had thought that job interview was the most important thing in her life. How many more opportunities had she missed because of her narrow view of what was important?
“What are you thinking?” Greyson asked, pulling her back to the moment.
Olivia smiled. “I was thinking about the first day we met.”
“What about it?” Greyson asked.
“I’m sorry I was so awful to you. I’m glad you gave me a second chance. I wonder where things would have gone if you hadn’t left the next day and we would have had more time together. If I ever get out of here, I’m going to be different.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was so determined to have things my way, I missed out on so many possibilities. I don’t think I could ever take things for granted like that again. It took me years to come to terms with my sexuality, and I just expected my momma to get it in an instant, even though it went against everything she’d been taught to believe. I never considered how difficult it was for her. If I ever see her again, I’ll be more patient.”
Greyson ran her hands up and down Olivia’s back. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m sure she knows you love her. That’s what really matters.”
Olivia nodded. “I just wish I could tell her.”
“I know.”
Greyson pressed her lips to Olivia’s forehead. Olivia knew it was meant to comfort her, but it stirred something much deeper. She dreamed of what it would be like to kiss Greyson for real. Not a kiss to soothe fear, but a kiss to test the feelings she felt growing between them. They had one kiss, one real kiss, and it had been enough to spark hope and dreams of more. So much had happened between them now. What would she feel after all they had been through? She could only dream.