Raj nudged the gun against his temple. “Your name, asshole.”
The man winced. “Scotty.”
“All right then, Scotty. Drive.”
* * *
We arrived half an hour later at a large brick structure with lots of small windows. The area had been cleared of trees and brush. In fact, most greenery was gone. Strange.
“They won’t let you in,” Scotty said.
“Yes, they will. Take your fucking clothes off so I can put them on.” He handed me his piece. “Hold it on him.”
I forced my hand to remain steady as Raj changed in record time. Clearly he was used to changing clothes inside a car. Though I still didn’t fully trust him, I was impressed so far.
He put Scotty’s mask on and then said, “You’ll take us in.”
“They’ll wonder where my mask is. Where my clothes are.”
“Tell them you lost them. Make something up. I don’t give a damn.”
“Three of us left, and now four of us return?”
“Use your wits, if you have any. I’ll have this pistol in your back the whole time. I’m betting it will spur your imagination.” He looked back at us. “You two ready?”
Ready? I had no idea what we were about to encounter, but I was armed with two guns. Talon still didn’t look quite like himself, but we had no choice but to move now.
The time had come. Whatever was in that building was what we had come here for. I just wasn’t sure I was prepared to see it.
“Ready,” I said.
“Ready,” Talon echoed.
Chapter Eighteen
Ruby
I had only been to the main Steel house a few times. I’d spent most of my time on the ranch at Ryan’s home, which was several hundred yards behind the main house, so I’d gotten some good views of the sprawling abode from the back. I was less familiar with the front, but from what I could remember…
I was looking at an exact replica of the main Steel ranch house. The house where Talon lived with Jade, Marjorie, and Brooke Bailey.
I blinked several times. The brick color was exactly the same—red with flecks of gold and yellow—the trim painted the same pale blue, like a robin’s egg. I walked forward as if in a trance. I almost expected to see Talon’s little mutt, Roger, appear in the window by the front door.
Then I stopped. Cold.
I turned around. I had completely forgotten about Juliet. She had emerged from the car.
I ran back to her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you.”
She stood on shaky legs. “Where are we?”
“I honestly don’t know, but I recognize this house.” I turned to Theo. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“I promised you better accommodations. I trust this will suffice.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen the inside yet.” Visions of rooms filled with starving women and children chained up forced themselves into my mind.
“The inside is as pleasant as the outside. I assure you, no expense was spared. I should fucking know.”
Resentment. Resentment in my father’s voice. I didn’t stop to try to figure out why. Right now, my main concern was Juliet. I felt a twinge of guilt that I couldn’t focus more on Ryan, but at least I knew he could take care of himself.
“What’s in there?” I demanded.
“Better accommodations, as I said. Follow me.”
I took Juliet’s arm and followed my father up the pathway to the front door. Oddly, my father rang the doorbell.
The door opened, and a woman in a maid’s uniform stood there. “Mr. Theo. What can I do for you?”
“I’ve brought some guests for you, Marabel. These two ladies will need rooms and a shower, obviously.”
“Who are they?”
“The dark-haired one is my daughter. The other is her…er…friend.”
“We’re happy to have your daughter here, of course. Please, do come in.”
My father stood back and let Juliet and me in first. Gentlemanly of him, which surprised me. But I didn’t doubt my father was a charmer if he had swept Brooke Bailey off her feet. Juliet was stone-faced and showed no reaction to the news that I was Theo’s daughter. I turned to look at him.
He stared back at me with his natural brown eyes. When had he taken out the blue contacts? Sometime during the night, while I was asleep, I guessed. Funny I hadn’t noticed until now.
“Come on, girls,” Marabel said. “Don’t just stand there. You both look like you could use a good meal. I’ve got spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove for lunch. It’s the lady’s favorite. But it’s a hearty breakfast for you first.”
The lady? But I couldn’t consider the implications of Marabel’s statement at the moment. I walked in, guiding Juliet, and the spicy smell of tomatoes and basil drifted toward me. I inhaled.
A tear came to Juliet’s eye. “Why are we here?” she asked.
“I honestly don’t know,” I said. “But let’s make the most of it while it’s happening.”
“But the others…”
Her thought mirrored my own. I wouldn’t rest until the others were safe as well, but for now, we could both use a good meal and a good bed. We’d be better able to help the others if we were well fed and rested.
Marabel led Juliet and me down the corridor to a door. “Here you go. One of you can take this one.”
“You mean we’re not staying together?” Juliet asked frantically.
I squeezed her hand. “Of course we can. We’ll need just one room.”
“All right.” She led us farther down the hall. “Then take this one.”
We walked into a room that had two queen beds. “You’ll have to share the bathroom. There are robes and pajamas in the bureau. Leave your soiled clothing in the hamper, and I’ll do your laundry for you later.”
“You don’t have—” I began.
“Don’t be silly. I’m happy to do it. Now the two of you get cleaned up, and I’ll get a hot breakfast ready for you.”
“We will,” I said. “And thank you.” I looked at Juliet. I had no idea when she’d last had a proper shower. “Come on.” I led her to the bathroom and turned on the shower. “You go first.”
She looked at me timidly, biting her lip, her eyes darting back and forth.
“You’ll be all right,” I said. “I’ll be right in the bedroom.”
“Please. Don’t leave me.”
I smiled. “I can’t shower with you, Juliet.”
“No, of course not. Just stay in here while I shower. And then I’ll stay in here while you do.”
“All right. If it will make you feel better.”
She pulled the dirty gray sweatshirt over her head.
I held back a gasp.
She looked nothing like the beautiful blond bombshell I’d met at the resort in Jamaica. Her curves were gone, and ribs showed through her skin that was red and dry in places. Her full breasts now hung limp. Though she was blond, her body hair was thick under her armpits and on her vulva. Her legs were unshaven. When she finished disrobing, I urged her toward the shower before she had a chance to look in the mirror. I needed to prepare her for that.
“I’m going to find you some moisturizer for your skin. Take it easy while you shower. Don’t use a shower pouf. Just a soft cloth, okay?” I didn’t mention a razor because her skin was in no condition to be shaved.
She nodded. Her hair was a raggedy mess, and I probably should have brushed it out for her before she washed it, but too late for that now. I’d help her with it when she was done.
She let out a wail when she stepped into the hot water.
“Is it too hot?” I asked.
“No. No. It’s fine. It just feels…warm. It feels…good.”
I smiled. When was the last time Juliet had felt good? Not since that day on the beach. It had almost been worth it, to be drugged and hijacked by my father, just to hear Juliet say that the warm shower felt good.