Page 107 of Protecting Addison
As she headed for the entrance to the shipyard, she glanced to her right, toward the fence. Stopping in her tracks, she stared at the way the fence was pulled up out of the ground in one spot. It would be easy to slip under. She was small enough. At only five foot five, and after losing at least twenty pounds in the last few weeks because of her situation, Bree knew it would be a simple matter of getting on her belly and slithering under the fence. Hell, that’s probably how the other local homeless men and women got in and out. There were probably lots of empty containers that would make excellent shelters from the sun, rain, and wind.
She considered her options for a heartbeat before glancing around. Seeing no one, she moved without thinking any more about it. She dropped to her belly and crawled under the fence. Once on the other side, she quickly ran behind the closest container.
Smiling, Bree couldn’t believe she’d done it. She’d gotten in without having to make up some lie and without coming face-to-face with the people she’d been semi-stalking for what seemed like forever, but in reality was only a few months.
Moving stealthily through the shadows, Bree made her way in the direction the cars had gone. She would get close enough to hear what was going on, then she’d leave. For real.
She’d walked about half the length of the shipyard when she heard something odd. Pausing, Bree tilted her head to listen carefully.
The sound of someone crying was unmistakable.
It was quiet, hushed, but she’d done the same so often, sobbed hysterically but tried to do so quietly, so her hiding place wouldn’t be discovered, that she easily recognized the sound.
Turning in a circle, she tried to figure out which direction the sound was coming from. The sun had dipped below the horizon now and it would be dark soon.
Pinpointing what she thought was the right direction, Bree began walking. Around one Conex, then another. She glanced to her left just as she was passing a tiny little space between two containers—and stopped abruptly.
There, smushed together, were two of the girls she’d seen around the house where everyone had been earlier. They’d somehow managed to squeeze themselves into a space that was only about twelve inches wide.
Instinctively, she crouched down so as not to look so threatening. She wasn’t the tallest woman in the world, but to two scared kids, she probably looked huge and terrifying.
It hit her like a ton of bricks—these girls must be the reason why everyone had left the house earlier like a bat out of hell. And since they’d come straight to the shipyard, they had to know they were here somewhere. Bree had no ideawhythey were here, or what was going on, but they were in trouble, of that she had no doubt. Why would they be hiding otherwise?
“Hey. My name is Bree. Bree Haynes. I’m a…friend of Jude Stark’s,” she said softly.
“I don’t know who that is,” the older girl said. “Go away! Leave us alone!”
Of course she didn’t know him as Jude. The SEALs who’d saved her had called each other by their nicknames. “Smiley. He goes by Smiley.”
It seemed like a weird name to Bree, as she hadn’t seen Jude smile even once when she’d met him. Or even much since she’d been following him. He was as serious a man as she’d ever met…which weirdly made her more comfortable. Too many people—her ex and the man he’d sold her to included—smiled all the time. Maybe assuming that would make people relax around them. As if.
“Smiley?” the girl said.
“Uh-huh. And he’s here. Along with the others.”
“Others who?”
“Um…everyone? There were about a half-dozen cars that entered the shipyard just minutes ago. I bet they’re here looking for you.”
For a moment, Bree thought that would make the girl come out of her hiding spot, but as soon as she started to straighten, she slumped back down, holding onto the younger girl even tighter.
“He’s looking for us,” she whispered.
“Who is?” Bree asked.
“The guy my dad sold me to.Usto.”
Bree was so confused, but now wasn’t the time to ask questions. The girl was old enough to know what she was talking about. And the fact that she’d been sold to someone, just as Bree had, was enough for her to want to do anything in her power to protect her.No oneshould have to deal with what Bree herself was going through.
“Where is he? When did you see him last?”
“I don’t know but it wasn’t long ago. Yana was tired and couldn’t run anymore, and everywhere we hid, he found us. I don’t know how.”
A noise nearby had the girl whimpering and lowering her head toward the smaller girl in her arms.
“Want Ricky,” the little girl said between sobs.
Determination rose within Bree. “I’ll distract him. Lead him away. Then you and the little one can get to Ricky.” She wasn’t sure which of the guys was Ricky, but if these kids wanted and trusted him, she’d do what she could to help them get to him. “Stay here until you can’t hear anything anymore, then go back the way you came. Toward the cars and lights. They’re looking for you.”
