Page 40 of Matrix

“Do I remember you? Ha!” She laughs. “You were running around the backyard naked as the day you were born. If you weren’t young enough to be one of my kids, I would have dragged you into the woods for a wild ride on the MILF train.”

“Oh, boy.” Matrix blushes. He actually turns redder than a firetruck. It’s hilarious.

“I like you already,” I tell her.

“Well, don’t get too comfy. I know what you are.” Her smile falls. “Acid told me. I was against letting you come here, but he insisted. Don’t poke your nose anywhere it doesn’t belong.”

“I’m not here for anything but the girls. Are they settled yet? Can I speak with them?”

“They were so stressed out I had to give them a sedative.”

“What?” I’m appalled.

“Not like that. Just some tea I brewed up. They haven’t slept in days. You can talk to them tomorrow.”

“But I need—”

“I don’t give a fuck what you need. Those girls take priority over everyone else in this clubhouse tonight. Tomorrow, you can ask them anything you want. Tonight, they’re mine. And if you try to bother them, you’ll have to deal with me. If you thought Maggie was a bitch, by the time you’re done with me, you’ll think she’s a fucking fairy princess.”

“Okay. Jeez.” I scrunch up my face and glance at Matrix. He’s got bags under his eyes because he did most of the driving. He needs to sleep, and so do I. “Acid mentioned we could stay here tonight.”

“Right. Room’s down here. Come on.” As she walks away, I can’t help but be envious of her curvy figure. She’s probably twice my age, but she looks amazing. I hope I’m half as sexy when I get older.

She shows us to a room that looks surprisingly similar to Matrix’s. In addition to a king-sized bed, there’s a dresser, a television on the wall, and an adjoining bathroom.

“Carbon will come by in an hour to check on you. He’s currently … occupied.” Her smirk makes me think he’s probably entertaining one of their club girls in his room.

“Thank you,” Matrix says.

“Anytime, hon. Make sure the Fed doesn’t sneak out when you’re not looking. You can’t trust them for a second.”

“I’ll tie her up if I have to.” Matrix grins before closing the door. “Well, you heard the lady. Time to put those little ribbons of yours to use.”

“Not now. Seriously, I’m about to faceplant; I’m so tired.”

“Shower first. Then bed.”

“Okay, but one at a time. I don’t have the energy for anything else.”

He lets me use the bathroom first before heading in to get himself cleaned up. By the time he’s done, I’m snuggled up in bed. Although I’ve tried closing my eyes several times, I can’t stand the images that immediately pop into my head. It’s a series of vile snapshots of what my sister might be enduring at the hands of men like the ones we interrogated today.

“What’s going on, babe?” Matrix slides under the sheets and pulls me across his body. I rest my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. The sound is so soothing. It’s exactly what I need right now.

“I’m worried about my sister. I’m afraid we’re too late. She might not be at the house in New Orleans. If they’re still trafficking her, she could be anywhere in the world. She could be dead already.”

“Don’t think like that.” He strokes my hair. “She could still be there. Those guys were low-level thugs in the supply chain. They might be wrong about what happens at that house. She could still be in the US.”

“I hope so. God, we have to find her.”

“We will.” He kisses my head so sweetly that my heart melts.

“I can’t imagine doing this without you,” I confess.

“Then don’t. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere. We’re in this together until the end. Okay?”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me now. Wait until after we bring Angie home.” He strokes my back in lazy circles. “Tell me about her.”