Page 24 of Hansel
Could the murders and Keeley’s rape be connected? Those poor women had been raped and beaten before being executed. Was that what was going to happen to Keeley before she managed to get away?
What were the odds that there would be two rapists in the same club house? They were rough men, men who lived on the very edge of society, but they weren’t rapists. Most had blood on their hands, but they weren’t the murderers of defenceless women who had only just gotten their lives back.
I didn’t want to believe any of them could be capable of it. But the proof was asleep in the next room. Her battered and bruised body would heal, but her mind might not. And if it was someone I knew that had done this to her then I would make them pay in blood.
Spending my life getting women out of sexual slavery, I had seen it all, but Keeley was my friend. She was sweet and good. And I was tired, tired of women falling prey to men who thought they could take what they wanted, when they wanted. For every one woman I helped, a dozen more lived in fear. It was a never-ending battle.
I knew I couldn’t save them all. I couldn’t avenge them all. But I could avenge Keeley. I could find out who had taken the light out of her eyes and I could make him hurt.
“Darcie, can you lock all of the internal doors? Iris, grab whatever can be used as a weapon. Gypsy…” I grinned, “you sit there, pregnant momma, and keep watch.”
“You think it's him?”
“I'm not taking the chance.”
“What are you going to do?” Gypsy followed my movements as I headed towards the door.
“I'm going to wake up, Keeley. I want that asshole’s name. This shit needs to end once and for all.”
Chapter Fifteen
Hansel
Money swapped hands easily enough. I had done these kinds of drops often, so it was no big deal. What was a big deal was the fact I was miles away from Gretal and she wasn’t answering her phone.
I had been calling her pretty much nonstop. It was one thing The Judge telling me she was fine but I wanted to hear her voice. To see her in person would have been better, but I could tell if she was really ok by her voice. I knew her well enough.
Leaning heavily on my bike, I fished my phone out of my pocket. My fingers pressed the redial button without looking. I didn’t expect her to answer, so far she hadn’t, so I was surprised when she picked up.
“Hansel.”
She sounded breathy, like she had been crying and was trying to hide it from me. “What the hell is going on, Gretal, are you crying?”
Doubt ripped through me. She was upset. I had been right when I thought something had happened but I had taken The Judge at his word that he would protect them. Had I been wrong to do that?
“No, it's fine, I'm fine. Keeley is fine, everyone is fine.”
I frowned in the dim morning light. Keeley was fine? Why would she bring up her name specifically? The Judge had mentioned Keeley as well. And Gio, he had said Gio had a man watching over them. The head of The Family had a sweet spot for Monster's cousin and everyone knew it.
Maybe it wasn’t Gretal who was in trouble, maybe it was Keeley.
“I’m fine, Hansel. Stop worrying. We are all together and…”
I didn’t let her finish. “And how about Keeley, is she fine?”
There was an intake of breath, and then a loud noise as Gretal asked someone to get out of the way. When the line was quiet again she finally spoke. “What do you know about Keeley?” My wife’s voice was sharp. “I told Gio and The Judge I would skin them alive if they told anyone. She doesn't want anyone to know what happened to her. I can’t fucking believe they told you.”
I let her rant. Her words whirling around my head in a blur. So, Gio and The Judge knew something had happened to Keeley and they hadn’t informed the Sons? They hadn’t informed me or even Monster.
Keeley was Monster's only family. One of only two people the angelic psycho cared about.
“Monster needs to know. The Sons need to know. We can protect you.”
Her laughter filled my ears. Mocking and loud. “The Sons can't protect us. We have to protect ourselves.”
“I would protect you. Monster would…”
“Monster can never know, Hansel. You know what he’s like. If he finds out she was raped, he will be back and killing people before the call is ended. Let them enjoy their honeymoon. I have this under control.”
