Page 46 of Cavern of Silence

He grins. "I was hoping you'd say that."

8

Ryker

"You're originally from Costa Rica?"

Julieta nods. "I have an apartment there." She furrows her eyebrows. "Actually, they've probably auctioned off all my stuff by now."

I kiss her on the forehead. "Did you have anything of sentimental value or that was irreplaceable?"

"Not really."

"So you lived in Costa Rica, and Miguel lived here?"

"He wanted this land forever. We knew the owners. So I picked up extra shifts to buy this place. But I didn't know..."

"Know what?"

She closes her eyes.

"Please tell me. It'll stay between us."

She rolls onto her side and rests her head in her hand.

"At first, the extra shifts were commercial flights. Then they moved me to private ones, which were more money. From the beginning, I didn't like them. Rules didn't exist. Regulations to protect both passengers and staff disappeared overnight. Illegal acts became a normal routine. Drugs were imported from country to country with the full knowledge of the crews. I also overheard Jonas and others talking in the planes about how they utilize the commercial flights as well. I went to my boss and told him what was happening, and he said he would take care of it. Nothing changed. I reported it again and told him I wouldn't work these flights anymore, and that's when I learned that there's no getting out. Once you take one job, they own you."

I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "What did they do?"

"The same night, two men grabbed me in the parking garage. I was leaving work, and they drove me to a warehouse in a remote location."

My blood beats in my ears. "Then what?"

"They made me put on an evening gown. Then Jonas Torres arrived." She shudders, and I pull her closer. "Jonas explained who the Global Leaders were and what they did to those who disobeyed. There were so many men."

My rage boils, and I try to stay calm so I don't upset her or lose her trust. "Men were there doing what?"

Her lips tremble, and tears fall. "He has a fight club. They were all men who defied Jonas in some way. He called them traitors and made them brawl until death. Hundreds of spectators were there placing bets. And the fighter who killed the last man could hardly move when it was over. But Jonas showed no mercy. One of the men who abducted me went up and kicked him in the head until no more life remained in him."

"That must have been horrible for you to watch."

"I hadn't ever seen violence before. It was so gruesome and inhumane. And Jonas got off on every minute of it, just like all the other thugs who came to place bets. I... I still see their faces. Men who did God knows what to be in that ring."

I've been to war and seen evil, but what she describes is the epitome of hell. Jonas Torres is the devil himself.

"Is that when he branded you?"

She sniffles. "No."

I trace my fingers over the edge of her scars. "How did that happen?"

She closes her eyes. "I only wanted to help her."

"Who?"

"I don't want to say. It's not her fault."

"It stays between us."