Page 63 of Matrix

“No shit. Sorry.” I run my hand through my hair. “Sometimes, I wondered why we even tried to stop him. We made sure he didn’t have any more kids, but I knew. In our souls, every one of us knew that a man like Blackstone would never stop. His perversions aren’t the kind that just fizzle out with age. If anything, it gets worse.”

“And now he’s into human trafficking.”

“Exactly. We had no idea that was going on until the night I followed you to the campground.”

“That feels like a hundred years ago, but it’s been less than a week.”

“As far as we’re concerned, what he’s doing now is far worse than what he did to us in the basement. It was horrific, but he didn’t have more than twenty kids at a time.”

“That many?” Tears fill her eyes, but she doesn’t shed them.

“It’s a lot, but it’s nothing compared to his current operation. If Lulu’s had forty girls during its heyday, how many do you think they’re running now? I’m sure it’s at least that many, and that’s just one location. We don’t know how many other houses are operating around the country. Hell, he could have places like that all over the world.”

“We’ve got to stop him.” She’s on her feet, pacing back and forth in front of the door to the balcony.

“That’s why we’re here. If we can find your sister and get her to testify against him, then we finally have a real shot at stopping him.”

“She might not be here anymore. What if she isn’t? Then what?” She stops and looks at me.

“Then we keep searching until we find her. Earlier, you asked me whatwewere.” I slide off the bed and cross the room to join her.

“You don’t have to answer that. It’s okay.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what to call this. But I do know one thing.”

“What’s that?” she asks as I take her hands in mine.

“I care about you a lot. You’re strong and beautiful, and smart. You hacked my system, which basically makes you old lady material.” I manage a quick grin.

“I feel the same way about you.”

“Then let’s do this together. After we find your sister, we can figure out what we want to be to each other. But I don’t want you to think it’s going to be easy. We need to consider certain things if we want to stay together.”

“Things like my job?”

“That’s the big one.”

“I’ve thought about what my life would be like without it.”

“And?”

“I’m not sure. I go back and forth. Although I love my work, sometimes I wonder how much of a difference I’m really making.”

“You don’t have to decide anything tonight. Let’s take it one step at a time. For now, let’s just enjoy what we have. We can worry about the future later.”

“I can do that.”

A knock sounds on the door.

Vapor hollers through it. “Talon’s back. Church in five.”

Daisy runs across the room and pulls open the door. “Please, just tell me, is my sister at Lulu’s?”

“Yes.”

I grab Daisy as she collapses against the wall. After pulling her back into our room, I get her situated on the bed. “Babe, lay here while I go to Church. When I get back, I’ll tell you everything. I promise. Trust me.”

“I do.”