Page 110 of The First Cut

“Me too, Byte. Me too.”

I ignore everyone as I make my way upstairs to Lola. I strip out of my cut and boots before lying down next to her. As soon as I touch her, she rolls into me and lets out a small, contented sigh.

She might not be okay yet, but she’s getting there. Even though today was hard on her, she dealt with it with dignity and grace. She’s slowly healing, and it’s that thought that helps merelax enough to drift off to sleep with her safely cocooned in my arms.

I’m jolted awake hours later by frantic knocking.

Lola stirs beside me. As her eyes flutter open, knocking starts up again. “What the heck?”

I climb off the bed and stalk over to the door, yanking it open so hard, I almost pull it off its hinges.

A pissed-off Byte is standing on the other side with his laptop in his hand.

“What the fuck, Byte?”

“I found it.”

I stand up taller. “The doc’s location?”

“No. The key.”

“You’re not making any fucking sense, Byte.”

“The ledger, it has a key. Once I figured it out, I was able to run the software G made and decipher it.”

“Shit.” I turn to Lola. “I’ll be right back. Stay here.” She nods as I pull the door closed behind me.

I check the hallway but find it clear, so I turn back to Byte. “Tell me.”

“We were thinking sex trade, right? We were wrong.”

“So what happened to the girls then?”

“Khan was selling them, but not for their pussies. For their parts.”

I frown, confused until it clicks. “Black market organs.”

“Bingo.”

“Fuck me.” I rake my fingers through my hair.

“It gets worse.”

“How the fuck does it get worse than this, Byte?”

He blows out a deep breath. “Remember, I said the whole community got tested when Khan’s mom needed a transplant?”

I nod warily. “That included local friendly MCs like the Death Serpents.”

I freeze solid, my brain making the connections. “Please fucking tell me that the missing princess actually did run off with her boyfriend.”

“I wish I could. From what I’ve been able to piece together, the girl was a match for Khan’s mom, so he sent Driller in.”

“The older secret boyfriend…”

He nods. “The missing women were harvested for all usable organs, but all I can find on the kid was an order for her kidney. I did find an address mixed in with everything for a supplies store. I checked it out, and according to the guy I just spoke to, a young woman fitting the kid’s description works there.”

“You think she’s still alive?”