My fingers were only a few inches away from the keys when his hand closed around my ankle.
“Got you, you stupid little rat!” Rusty snarled and yanked me backward, my chin scraping against the hard floor. I screamed in pain as my jaws peeled open, blood gushing out.
Liza shrieked as he shook her off his back like she weighed nothing, her back hitting against the wall with a loud thud.
Anabel cried, releasing his leg as he kicked her hard on her ribs. He backhanded Chloe, sending her stumbling into Maya and they both fell down.
Turning back to face me, he grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked me backward. I screamed out in pain as his grip tightened around my scalp, dragging me out and slammed the door shut.
He panted slowly, his breath coming out in puffs as his face turned purple with rage. He glared at me then at the other girls cowering inside.
“You,” he spat, pointing his thick chewed finger at me. “You’re trying to be a problem huh.”
He pulled his phone out and dialed a number.
“Boss. Yeah… the newest girl. She just tried to lead a breakout.” He growled.
“Yeah, I got her. But she got the others riled up and they jumped on me from behind. He replied after a
moment.
Rusty lowered his phone and smirked at me.
“Avery, no,” Liza whispered weakly from inside. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, it’s mine” I whispered back. I’m trembling in guilt at the thought that I had done this.
A few minutes later, the main warehouse door opened and Scarface walked in. He looked from Rusty’s bleeding leg to the terrified girls and finally to me.
He opened the door, scanning the girls inside. “Who else was part of this?”
“Her” Rusty said, pointing at Liza who was still trying to push herself up from the floor.
“Bring her out,”
Rusty shoved the door open and grabbed Liza, dragging her out.
“Leave her alone!” I screamed, scrambling to my feet. “It was my idea! It was all me! Punish me!”
My head whipped to the side my teeth cutting into my tongue as Scarface backhanded me.
“You will be punished.” he spat angrily, “But wait your turn, my lessons needs to be learned by everyone.”
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Chapter 47
He turned to Rusty. “Hold her.”
Rusty grabbed Liza, pinning her arms behind her back. Her eyes locked on mine as tears trailed down her checks.
Scarface pulled out his baton.
“Please,” Liza begged. “Please, don’t.”
“Disobedience has a price,” Scarface said coldly as he raised the baton.
“No!” I screamed.
THWACK.
The stick slammed against her back, her body jerking forward as a gasp escaped her lips.
“Stop it!” Anabel screamed from inside the cage.
THWACK
Another blow landed on her back. Liza’s knees weakened, her legs buckling but Rusty held her up.
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“Please, I’ll do anything!” I sobbed, pulling at Scarface’s arm. My face slammed against the wall as he pushed me away.
THWACK.
Liza cried out as each blow landed on her back. After about ten more blows, Scarface stopped as her body limped in Rusty’s arms.
“Let that be a lesson to all of you,” He barked. “Fight, and you all suffer.” He looked at Rusty. “Throw her back in. No food for any of them for three days.”
Rusty shoved Liza back into the cage. She collapsed onto the floor, curling into a ball.
Scarface turned to me “As for you…” he grabbed my arm and started dragging me away.
“Where are you taking her?” Jasmine cried out.
Scarface ignored her, dragging me to the other side of the building. He stopped at a metal door and shoved me inside.
I laid flatly on the ground, my dress wrapped around my waist as the cold ground cooled my tummy.
Today is the third day since I’ve been kept in here with no food, and only a cup of water slid under the door each day.
My tummy grumbled loudly as I changed my position, my vision spinning.
18:57 Thu, Jan 1
Chapter 47
The door opened and Scarface entered. “Get up,” he commanded.
I tried to but my legs buckled and I slumped back to the floor.
“Tsk” He frowned and stepped in, yanking me to my feet. “I said, get up. Lets move it.” I cried out as a sharp pain shot through my chest.
“Move? Where?” I asked, my voice hoarse. He ignored me and dragged me out through the main warehouse.
Baldie was waiting by the same van I had arrived in. He grinned when he saw me. “Are you ready, psycho?”
Scarface shoved me toward him. “Get her in. Let’s go. I want this done quickly.”
Rusty grabbed me and tossed me into the back of the van. I landed hard on the cold metal floor.
“Please,” I begged, scrambling toward the closing doors. “Don’t do this! I’ll behave, I swear!”
“Too late for that,” Scarface spat and slammed the doors shut on my face.
I curled into a ball as the van started moving. This was it. I was being sold.
The van sped faster. From the smooth road, we’re probably on a main road, maybe even a highway. I could hear the hum of other cars passing by. Out there, people are driving to work or going home to their families, completely unaware that a kid trafficking was happening a few rides from them.
I could hear Scarface and baldie talking up at the front, their voices muffled but clear enough through the small window.
“So, who’s the buyer?” Baldie asked. “The mine guy?”
“No,” Scarface replied. “Different client. Pays more. Wants a young one for… you know… private service. Fortunately, he loves them feisty.”
My blood turned cold.
“Nice,” Baldie chuckled. “So, we’re getting a bonus for this little firecracker right?”
“We’re getting rid of a problem. The bonus is a perk. Just drive. I want to make the drop–off and be done with it.”
“Relax, boss. We’re having a good time here.” Baldie chuckled.
There was a moment of silence, then Baldie spoke again, his tone shifting. “Hey, you see that idiot? What’s he doing?”
“What?”
“That truck. He’s swerving all over the lane. Probably drunk.”
I pressed my ear to the wall, my heart pounding faster.
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18:57 Thu, Jan 1
Chapter 47
“Just keep your distance,” Scarface ordered.
“I’m trying, but he’s slowing down for no reason! Jackass!”
The van suddenly swerved, throwing me against the side, my shoulder scraping against the side.
“Hey! Watch it!” Scarface barked.
“He cut me off!” Baldie yelled. “What the hell is wrong with this guy?”
I could hear the blare of a horn.
“He’s braking! He’s braking hard!” Baldie shouted.
“Change lanes! Get away from him!” Scarface screamed.
“I can’t! There’s a car right there! Damn it!”
“Tony BRAKE!”
That was the last thing I heard before a loud boom!
I banged my head hard against the floor from the force.
The van suddenly stopped, my head cracking against the front wall of the van, pain shutting through my head. I could feel something warm and wet was trickling down my forehead, into my eye. I raised my hand up to touch it and froze at the sight of blood.
From the front of the van, I heard a low, pained groan. It was Baldie.
“Boss?… You… you okay?” He asked worriedly.
Scarface coughed. “My arm… I think it’s broken. You?”
“I’m stuck… The steering wheel… it’s on my chest… I can’t… I can’t breathe right, boss.”
“Hang on. Just hang on.”
I tried to move, but a sharp pain in my head made me cry out.
“The girl…” Baldie gasped. “Is she…?”
“Forget her,” Scarface grunted. “Just focus on staying awake.”
The last thing I heard before losing consciousness was the sound of sirens getting closer.
18:57 Thu, Jan 1

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.