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Taylor

Two Years Ago

“Do you have my money, Darlin?”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes and plaster a fake smile on my face. “I do, but I don’t have all of it. Accessing some of his offshore accounts is proving to be more difficult than I originally thought.”

It’s not, but this scumbag doesn’t need to know that. He has enough money to sail away on a yacht and never come back.

Me, on the other hand? If I can just gather a little more, my escape from under this dirty millionaire’s thumb will look as if the girls and I have disappeared without a trace.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise as one of Ron’s guards steps up behind me. I can feel his breath on my neck and my spine shivers, but I will my body to remain unphased.

If you don’t let them see your fear, you remain in control. You remain one step ahead.

Ron taps his hand on the wooden table of the vacated bar. “Tsk Tsk, young lady. I told you if you missed one more deadline, I would send your little friend on the first ship overseas. Is that what you want? You want your name written on her sale receipt? Because I would be more than happy to, if you don’t give me what I want.”

Blinding hot rage rises inside me, threatening to billow out of my ears in a cloud of smoke.

He will not touch Reagan. He will touch none of the girls I have been selling myself for over the past three years.

My hands ache to ball into fists and knock this sorry excuse for a human being on his pathetic ass. But I don’t. Not until I can save them.

“No sir. If you could please give me to the end of the day, I can get it to you by then.”

His brows furrow and his eyes make an obvious track down my entire body, and I try to swallow the bile rising in my throat.

I want to light myself on fire so I can destroy this hideous “uniform” he makes all of us wear. White polos, plaid skirts, white stockings paired with black and white oxfords.

Real fucking original, creep.

“Hm. I shall think about your order, but first, I need you to repay me for your delay. If you try to use your teeth again, I will smash that pretty little face of yours against this table and sell you to the lowest bidder.”

I nod, despite everything in me revolting. I want to fight. I need to find another way to survive.

Almost there, Taylor. You can do this.

Taking a deep breath, I round the table and kneel between his open legs. Ron smiles down at me, his white hair falling slightly in his eyes. His mouth opens and I close my eyes as he utters the words I have heard one too many times. “Time to pay the master number 534.”

I wait for his hands to guide me into position because no matter how hard I try, I can never bring myself to perform the act, causing me to lose an ounce of myself every time it occurs.

The feeling of something on my face causes me to jump. It's not the pressure of hands or a knee to my nose, or a slap to the face. It's… it's…wet.

Slowly my eyes fly open and the sight in front of me can only be one from a dream come true.

Ron’s head hangs lifeless as blood drains from the center of his forehead. And suddenly the room erupts.

Realization hits me like a train. This is my escape. This is my chance to save the girls. This is my chance to finally break free, to survive.

The sound of shouting and gunshots ring throughout the bar, and I stand on shaky legs.

Taking a quick glance around the room, I see it is full of men in leather jackets with red face coverings. A few stand around waiting for the remaining men to finish restraining the only living guard.

Bodies litter the floor, but I don’t allow myself to focus on them and make a break for the door.

My hand reaches the metal bar of the door and I almost breathe a sigh of relief as the cool Canadian air hits me. But the relief doesn’t last long when strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back into the bar.

I kick, punch, scratch, and try to bite the assailant, but it’s futile.

“It’s okay. We are not here to hurt you. We want to help you.”

My feet hit the floor as a deep voice that sounds as if he smokes a pack of cigarettes a day sounds over my shoulder.

I spin on my heel and face the now unmasked man. Holy fucking shit.

My supposed savior stares down at me, eyes dark as chocolate, tattoos scattering up his neck and into his light brown hair, which is tied in a knot atop his head.

“I’m not here to hurt you.” He pauses to pull out his cell phone, unlocks it, and hands it to me. “Call anyone you want. I’m sure your family will be happy to hear from you. But if I can ask where the others are first, I swear I will leave you to speak to your loved ones in peace.”

I stare at him blankly. Who the hell is this guy? What kind of trap is this?

As if mystery man can read my mind, he scrubs his tattooed hand down his face. “I apologize. My name is Aries. My team and I were sent to this location to eliminate Ron and his team. We are here to rescue you and the others that were in Ron’s captivity.”

The man, Aries, speaks as if he has done this once or twice. Either that or he is an excellent liar.

Nevertheless, I don’t trust this guy or his team. Trust has gotten me nothing but scars, and I’m not about to earn another one.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t use his perceived naivety and make good on my promise. I’m about to speak when the door flies open and a man with shaggy blonde hair points to somewhere behind us.

“I found the others. Myers, call an ambulance. Tombstone, come with me. Indy, stay with Aries. The rest of you, wait for Prez’s orders.”

Everyone moves without hesitation, and I use the commotion to carry out plan Z.

Putting on my best poker face, I reach deep inside of me and will a fake, but real-looking tear to shed down my face. I meet Aries' gaze as I put the phone to my ear, and he points to a corner of the bar and whispers, “Take your time. I will be right here. I promise, you’re safe.”

Swiping at the fake tear, I turn and quickly put the finishing touches on my stupid, but foolproof plan, then stand in the corner, speaking to a ghost on the other end of the line.

I continue the charade until the doors fly open once more. “Prez. The women are loaded up in the caravan. Do you want to drive it? Or VP?”

Aries head darts to mine and I pretend to hit end on the call and make my way over to him.

“I’ll drive.”

Aries holds his hand out, and I hand him his phone. “Thank you. My family is very excited to see me.”

“No need to thank me. Let’s get you and the rest of the women somewhere far from here.”

He motions for me to walk toward the door and I do my best to keep the facade up. I desperately want to drive my fist into this too-good-to-be-true man, get to my girls, and disappear into the night. But I can’t. I need to time this perfectly or this will all be for nothing.

The cold air hits my face and I feel as if I am moments from freedom as I catch a glimpse of the caravan full of my girls. Some are smiling, some are sobbing, and some are staring straight ahead.

Just a few more steps.

Aries yells to someone behind us, and I use this as my opportunity.

I take off in a dead sprint towards the caravan and go straight for the driver's door. I rip the door open and melt into the chair at the sight of the keys in the ignition.

Time to get my girls the fuck out of here and onto a better life. I don’t know where we are going, but our pockets are now half a million dollars richer, thanks to Aries.

I should feel bad, but I don’t.

I don’t bother putting my seat belt on before slamming the car into drive. “Hang on, girls. I’m going to get us the hell out of here.”

My head looks back for a brief moment to do a quick count and when I turn back, ready to peel out of the parking lot, I freeze.

Aries and his men are surrounding the caravan, guns pointed at the van.

Fuck.

I stare straight into his dark chocolate eyes and contemplate running through them, but I don’t. I can’t risk anyone getting hurt.

My hands grip the wheel, my knuckles turning white, and I follow Aries as he makes his way towards the driver-side door.

With his gun still aimed at my head, he motions for me to roll the window down and I do.

“Listen. Just let us go. You saved us. You don’t need to do any more. We will take it from here.”

“Get out of the car.” Aries' voice is full of malice and I should be scared, but I don’t move.

“Get the hell out of the car before you make this day of celebration for these women turn into a nightmare.”

Once again, I don’t move and slowly let my foot off the gas.

“Taylor.”

My eyebrows hit the top of my head. How the—

“You may think you’re twenty steps ahead, but I can promise you, you most certainly are not.”

The car slowly crawls forward. “I beg to differ asshat. Now move, before one of your buddies gets a tire mark on their face.” With hardly any movement, I motion with my right hand for the girls to duck down. In the rearview mirror, I can see they caught my gesture and all of them slowly begin to sink down.

A huff of laughter escapes Aries and my head snaps to him. “You really are not as smart as you think, but I’ll humor you before I lock your ass up and throw away the key.”

I try to interrupt him, but he stops me. “Enough. My turn. See, you didn’t just steal from some biker gang. You stole from Braveheart. An organization full of trained killers who fight to save people like yourself and your friends. The money you stole goes to helping victims get back on their feet, as well as keeping our organization running.”

My stomach drops and my mask slips, but I quickly put it back into place as Aries steps up to the door. “Not what you expected? Great. Now put the car in park and we will get your friends to safety. You, on the other hand…you’re coming with me.”

The sliding door opens at the same time the passenger door does and men climb inside. The man I recognize as VP places the car in park and the other speaks calmly to the girls.

Think Taylor. Think.

I force myself to feign scared and terrified, but Aries just smiles. “You can stop with the theatrics. You see, we have profiles on everyone we rescue. I now know you as Taylor Morgan. No living family. Ran away from home at seventeen. Incarcerated three times for hacking. Luckily, the leader of my organization placed systems on our devices to protect us. A system that protects us while gathering information about an attacker.”

He pauses for a moment, and I realize I am truly and utterly fucked.

Dammit Taylor.

“Don’t worry. Your friends will be safe. Their families are actually on the way. And because I’m nice, I’ll let you see them get to safety, but the moment they are, you will be coming with me.”

For the first time in years, I allow my mask to drop. “Like fuck I am. Who the hell are you to try to control my life? Didn’t you see what I just escaped? You think I’ll let you bring me back to the same thing, just a different font? Hell no!”

Aries doesn’t miss a beat. “On the contrary. I am not taking you as a captive. I’m doing you a favor.”

My eyes roll to the back of my head and I level my gaze with him. “What could you possibly do for me?”

“Use your skills for good to take down men like Ron. Or go back to living on the run and getting into more trouble that will ultimately end in your demise. Now the answer is obvious in my mind, Taylor.”

The choice is obvious, but that doesn’t mean I want to make it.

Take it. This is your only chance at survival. Help others like Sarah, Bailey, Leah, and Tinley. The ones who couldn’t make it long enough to see the light at the end of the dark tunnel.

I let out a sigh and open the door, not bothering to avoid hitting Aries.

My feet hit the asphalt and Aries looks down at me, a look of disapproval and annoyance on his face.

“Fine. But I swear to all that is holy, if this is some twisted game, I will end all of you.”

“I can promise you, it's not. Let's go.”

Aries motions for me to follow him, but I dig my heels in, and he turns. “Taylor. I said let‘s go.”

A smile spreads across my face. “Fine, but I need to tell you something first.”

His eyes shine with annoyance as he places his gun in the back of his pants and nods at me.

In a flash, I punch him square in the balls and he hunches over, his head dipping to my shoulder. “That’s for touching me without my permission. Do it again and I will take a knife to them.”

With that, I leave him there and get into the car that is waiting with the door open, the VP standing to the side with a slight smile on his face.

Present Day

Aries kept true to his word, reuniting all the girls with their loved ones. Most of which are now thriving thanks to the constant checkups and aid from Resilience and Braveheart. The money I wrongfully stole helping with their success tenfold.

After being released from rehab, Reagan even came to stay at the Clubhouse with me, which was key for my mental health and hers, too.

And although I hate to admit it, Aries was right about me. He saw through the hardened exterior and made it so that living life in jail cells and on the street was no more. But that doesn’t mean that my other than lawful computer skills weathered away. Aries put me to work aiding Resilience. From the outside, it may seem wrong, but knowing I am a tool in helping rescue victims just like me makes it all worth it.

My life looks completely different from how it was back then. It's filled with days under Aries’ watchful eye, exhilarating missions, and friendships that I wish will last a lifetime.

But one thing remains the same. I am still that girl that was broken, beaten, and used as a pawn in someone else's chess game. I hope that one day soon I will break out of that mold, but it has yet to be seen. And until that happens, I will continue on like I am.

A girl who can fight her own battles and stand up for those who can no longer stand on their own.