Page 68 of Deliverance

"That was before you took off with my daughter."

"She's—"

"I'm not your daughter!" Zell screamed.

"What are you talking about, girl?" Saffron questioned. "Of course, you're my daughter."

Frankie chuckled. "Actually, we had a nice morning with Jackie and know all about you taking Zell."

The girls gasped, some of them covering their mouths in shock. My eyes widened as I looked over at Erin. Zell didn't look like Saffron, and now we knew why. I wasn't entirely shocked. If Frank and Saffron could kidnap women to work in their brothel, they could kidnap a child. But, who was Jackie?

"That's right," Frankie continued. "You can't control Zell any longer. Not only is she eighteen, but she's also not yours. Just like none of these girls are legally here."

"I've had enough of you," Saffron stated and fired her gun.

Zell jumped and screamed, as did all the ladies. Frankie turned, grabbing at his chest as blood seeped through his fingers. He fell to his knees, and so did Zell, holding him in her arms.

"You shot him!" she roared with a sob.

I moved to stand in front of Erin, not sure what Saffron was going to do next. I pulled my gun out, ready to do whatever was necessary to keep everyone except Saffron safe.

"Of course I shot him. I'm not going to let some kid ruin my business," Saffron seethed.

Zell reached for Frankie's gun. "Some kid?" She stood and pointed the gun at Saffron, tears rolling down Zell's cheeks. "He's a better person than you'll ever be."

Saffron snorted. "What? Are you going to shoot me, girl?"

Zell's hand was shaking as she continued to point the gun at Saffron. Then she looked over at me. "Please?" she begged me. "Help us leave."

"Oh, please," Saffron sassed. "He's not going to help a little girl, especially now that her big bad boyfriend is bleeding out."

Hewasbleeding out, and I needed to attend to him to stop the bleeding. I needed to call 9-1-1 before it was too late.

With a shaky hand, and still aiming the gun at Saffron, Zell roared, "And no one will help you!" She pulled the trigger, anotherpopechoing in the wide space of the main floor.

I watched Saffron's eyes grow huge with confusion, and then she grabbed her stomach, blood seeping throughherfingers. Zell pulled the trigger and shot her again, the force of the blow causing Saffron to jerk back. She fell onto her back, groaning and moaning in anguish. No one went to check on her.

"Let's go!" I ordered, waving the girls to come to me as I pressed the button to the elevator, Erin's hand in mine. I wanted them to leave, so I could call for help and they would be long gone.

"What about Frankie?" Zell cried and rushed over to him, dropping the gun from her grasp as she knelt beside him again. His eyes were closed, and I didn't know if he was dead or alive. He had stopped groaning in pain or making any noise.

"I'm a doctor," the client stated, stepping forward. "Let me help." Zell moved aside, and we watched, thankful for the client who had gotten caught in the family drama. "I need something to stop the bleeding. Grab as many towels as you can, and something to sterilize the wound with."

Krissy and the girls ran off to help.

Zell looked toward Erin. "Please? He saved me."

Erin looked up at me. "I can't leave her."

"Please?" Zell pleaded to me again.

"Okay." I stepped away from the elevator. "We better hurry in case Frank Sr. comes."

* * *

"Is he going to be okay?" Zell asked for the millionth time. We were all standing and watching the client tend to Frankie.

"Zell, let's sit down." Erin grabbed her hand and tried to lead her away, but Zell stopped her.