Page 20 of Redemption in the Dark (The Righteous 5)
“Margarita, speaking,” she answered, her voice as sweet and melodic as always.
“Hi there, Margarita, it’s Wolf.”
“Hey there. Please don’t tell me you have more for me already. I’m still working out arrangements from the last group of girls you sent.”
“No, nothing like that. I just wanted to check in and see how it was going? The girls all seemed pretty scared when I dropped them off to you.”
Wolf stared out the window at the sky. It was a stunning shade of fire orange and passionfruit tonight. As pretty of a sight as it was, it didn’t compare to Maeve. He gave his head a physical shake to rid it of the thoughts.
He really should not be thinking about his mark that way.
Margarita cleared her throat. “Most have either made their way home or chose to stay and are in good places, but I’m tapped out of resources.”
“I have money,” Wolf said. “You know you never have to ask.”
“I don’t mean money. I mean actual willing homes to house them. Most of the girls that were sent the last few times are here illegally. No fault of their own, of course, but some want to stay. You know I can’t say no. It just makes everything more complicated, but it’s worth it to get these kids away from the traffickers.”
Wolf rubbed his eyes as he wandered over to the couch to sit down. “My associate is doing too great of a job. When I get home I’ll put feelers out for more willing homes. If you need anything, just ask. Otherwise, I’ll send more funds next week.”
“Bless you, Wolf, you’ve helped change the course of so many lives.”
“We both have, don’t forget how important you are, Margarita.”
He could hear her sniff on the other end of the line and knew that she was crying. Margarita had a massive heart and was always willing to help another child, even if she didn’t have two pennies to rub together.
“I better go, but we’ll talk soon.” He hung up the phone and laid his head back on the couch, his eyes drifting shut.
He couldn’t say how long he’d been asleep, but a steady thrumming sound cut through in his mind and pulled him out of his dream. It felt like he was swimming toward the surface of the water. He sat up straight on the couch, his heart pounding as he listened. Jumping up, he ran to the window and saw a flash of a single red light as the moon illuminated ropes with men sliding on them down to the ground.
“What the hell? Maeve,” he called out and ran around the small space, gathering what he could. When they arrived, he’d found the gun cabinet key and quickly unlocked and took what he could carry. “Maeve?”
“Yeah, what’s up?” As soon as she saw him, she went on high alert. “What’s wrong?”
“Special ops is going to be here soon. I just saw the chopper drop them off. No one should know that we’re here. Grab a bag, stuff some of the food provisions in it, and then get to the back of the cabin. There is an access trap that leads to the paddock area.”
Maeve didn’t hesitate and took off running, zipping around the cabin while he finished loading and stuffing his own bag. Maeve pulled on her boots, and they made it to the trap door in the bedroom just as enough firepower to turn the cabin into splinters began to tear through the wood.
“Stay low,” he called out to her over the gunfire as she lay on the floor and covered her head. He got the hatch open and tossed his and her bag down before dropping through the hole and then calling up to her. “Come on, Maeve, I’ve got you.”
She slithered into the hole headfirst, and it was an awkward grab, but he got her to her feet.
“Grab the bridle,” he said and pulled the saddle off the rack attached to the wall as he ran for the paddock. Viho was snorting, his eyes wild because of the loud noises.
“Easy boy, we’re going to get out of here,” he said as he tossed the saddle on the stallion’s back and cinched it into place. Maeve was right by his side and held out the bridle. He tossed it on over the halter, and quickly clipped the bags to the saddle before mounting up. “Give me your hand.”
Maeve did as he asked, and he pulled her up and in front of him on the saddle before guiding the stallion out of the paddock to the trail that led away from the cabin. He hated to ask him to gallop in the dark, but they needed to move and get into the cover of the trees. From what he could see, the people were only on foot. A red light was shining on the tree near them just before a bullet hit, sending bits of bark flying.
“Come on, Viho, go!” The stallion was as sure of his movements in the dark as he was during the day. Soon, they were veering and weaving around the trees, he never saw until the last moment. The path was un-even and Wolf held his breath as he hoped Viho didn’t snag a root or trip over a log.
They didn’t speak until daylight, and he slowed Viho’s pace to a walk. As soon as he found a small patch of water, he stopped to let the stallion drink.
“Are you okay?” Maeve looked shell-shocked as he helped her off the horse. “You weren’t injured, were you?”
She shook her head no, but her body was trembling.
“Is your side okay?” Maeve nodded this time and wrapped her arms around herself.“Who was that? How did they find us, and why are they trying to kill me,” she blurted out all at once.
“Who, I don’t know, but they are well trained. How? Again I don’t know, nor do I know the why? That’s the thing that’s bugging me the most. If they had a feeling that I was in there with you, it means they didn’t care if I died either.”
