Page 41 of Deliverance

I stopped at the bottom step and turned, looking up at her. "Who's going to man the door if Tyler comes with me?"

Saffron cupped my cheek, and I tried not to flinch. "He's staying here. I'm going with you."

I stared the witch in her dark eyes. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good." She smirked. "Let's go get her."

I closed my eyes as I turned around, bile rising in my throat. Every SEAL mission, every kill, wasn't nearly as horrible as what I was about to do. How would I ever forgive myself knowing I sent Erin to be sold? I could stop it, take my gun, and kill Saffron in the hallway.

Reading my thoughts, Saffron said, "Give me your gun."

"What?" I stopped and turned to her.

"I seem to have left mine upstairs." She grinned.

"I'll wait."

"We don't have time."

"We don't?"

"I know you want to stall. Just give me your fucking gun, and let's get this over with."

"Fine, but answer me this—"

"I don't have to answer anything, Ric. You work for me. You do as I say. Now give me your gun." Saffron held out her hand.

I wanted to tell her that I didn't need a gun. If I killed a woman, I could take her with my bare hands. Instead, I reached into my holster and handed her the 9MM.

"Good, let's go."

If I had to wreck the car, I would. Erin wasn't going to the warehouse. We were getting out of this nightmare, and Saffron wasn't going to stop me. I couldn't save Zell, and we would have to live with that. It was better than us living another day in this hell.

Without a word, I turned around and walked to Erin's room. I didn't bother to knock. We never did when we were aging a girl out, and I had to make it look believable that Erin was being taken back to the cages and would be sold. She would probably be mad at me, but I had to do it this way.

"Let's go," I ordered.

Erin startled. "Ric?"

"Now!" I barked and switched on the light.

She shielded her eyes from the harsh light. "What's going on?"

"Everyone has an expiration date. Today is yours," Saffron answered.

Erin looked at me. "No!"

I grabbed her arm. "We can either do this the easy way or the hard way."

"Ric, no!" She struggled to break free from my grasp.

"Do as you're told," Saffron ordered.

"Please! You said I had ten years. It hasn't been ten years."

"Things change. Let's go."

"No." Erin continued to kick and scream, and I was seconds from picking her up off the ground.