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“What?” I said with a gruff and firm but light tone. It was quiet on the other end and that slightly pissed me off. “Harlow, what is it?” I repeated, my tone still gruff but light, awaiting an answer. For a moment it remained quiet before a voice was finally heard. “We found the guys you were looking for,” Harlow started. “But there was a slight problem.” His tone was gentle.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqXF6qFdIw
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Harlow was a body that Amar only used for the time being. He was quickly disposable and wouldn’t mind doing so at the drop of a pen. But of course, he didn’t know that...223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qWuWV7XAl
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I sighed and leaned against the counter slightly, my free hand fiddling with the ribbon gently. “Go on,” I stated, the annoyance clear in my voice. “The men are in Talamah’s bowling center and hotel. Their on the third floor which can only be accessed via invitation,” he stated and then let out a gentle breath. “The bad news is that Audrey has been captured by their boss.” I let out an aggravated sigh and looked at the ribbon with a newfound fury. It took a minute or two to calm down before I finally decided to speak. “Last known location and possible update?” Each word that left my lips held the anger and fury I kept inside of me. My hands were clenched tightly, each muscle very noticeable and tense against my clothes. 223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTkGXEnzl9
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There was the sound of typing, then pages of papers being flipped before the voice eventually spoke out again. “The boss, Shane, was discussing how he wanted more people to initiate his program due to the last bunches of girls being dropped off. That was the last I heard of her. Audrey’s coms dropped about 3 minutes before I lost her location. As of right now, I have no sight or ears on the situation... Or if she’s even still alive.” A curse left my lips and I slammed my hand against the counter in total frustration. “Fucking hell... Harlow, get those invites and make sure to put the name ‘Aston Goldberry’ on it. Send it to my phone when you are finished.” I hung up after finishing, casting a single glance at the only known evidence of me being there, that yellow ribbon, and then left silently.
I got into my 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 and threw off my jacket, headed for my hotel room which resided in The Ritz-Carlton in New York. When I got there and entered the room in the spacious suite, I paced back and forth, my mind consumed with thoughts of Lucas and the dangerous situation that Audrey was trapped in. I needed to act quickly, but I also needed a plan. As I surveyed the room, my eyes landed on a stack of maps and notes I had gathered during my extensive research on Shane and his organization. I grabbed them and laid them out on the coffee table, studying the layout of Talamah's bowling center and hotel. Every detail was etched into my mind as I formulated a plan to rescue Audrey and get rid of Shane and his men once and for all.
As I looked over the notes and the maps, my phone buzzed, indicating a message from Harlow. I opened it to find the invitation, crafted perfectly under the alias of Aston Goldberry. Satisfied with his work, I sent him a quick reply, thanking him and urging him to remain on standby for any further updates.
With my plan in place, I donned a sleek, black suit and checked myself in the mirror. Amar Dusk stared back at me with cold, determined eyes. I was ready for what lay ahead.
Stepping out of my hotel room, I made my way to Talamah's bowling center, blending effortlessly into the bustling city streets of New York. The rain had subsided, leaving a misty atmosphere that obscured my presence even further. As I entered the building, I could feel the tension building within me. The echoes of laughter and the sound of bowling pins crashing together filled the air. I looked around as I walked and then I stumbled, hearing a small groan. I looked up and was met with Shane. I swallowed hard as he turned to face me in an instant.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx73NuGXqu1
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“God— oh! Ashton! I’m glad that you can make it tonight!” Shane said with his eyes sparkling brightly. I internally shivered. As much as I hated associating with people like pedophiles, he had to… just this once. For Audrey’s sake. I let a soft, low chuckle leave my lips and plastered a smile on my face as I shook his hand. “This isn’t one event I would turn down. And my god, look at this place! You've outdone yourself this time,” I said softly and eventually allowed myself to look around, taking in the looks on the faces of all the little girls who were captive by this cruel man. It made my skin feel tight and my blood boil, but of course, I kept that to myself. 223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJit4m7e9xC
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He let out a deep laugh and gestured to his wife who was making small talk with the guests. “It’s all my wife’s doing, old friend. Willow has such great talent which makes me a lucky man to have her by my side,” he stated before beckoning one of the teens over, gently wrapping his arm around her waist and holding her to his body. He didn’t mind her blank expression which held that slight bit of fear of getting used or abused. All he cared about was the bodies... Not the individuals... I couldn’t stand looking at the expression across her face but he put up with it for now..223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxrFJ9Kqyj
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Shane must have seen me looking at her because he started to smile. “You seem quite interested. Have you got any preference?” he asked softly, his tone coy and gently. I hesitated before pulling out my phone and showing him an older picture of this sweet little girl of the age of 6. I had saved her a couple of years ago and the way he looked at the picture made me regret showing it. Regardless, I played the part. “My plaything... I can’t tell you how nice it is..” I forced myself to say with a chuckle. 223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Zpxmba6p
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He smiled and nodded as he watched me put my phone away. “Oh my... Well, I’ll make sure to get you such a better present,” he said with a tone that revealed a bit of his evil intent towards the young children. I just nodded and cast my glance elsewhere. In moments, he spoke again. “So, Aston... What did bring you to town? Last time we chatted, you were often too busy to give a simple response or even pick up the calls,” he said softly and looked at me.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AYrrHQwxB
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I swallowed. I hadn’t thought this through.. For moments, I kept quiet but then I spoke with a light-hearted tone. “Ah, well I came by to pick up some small business details from another old friend,” I lied. I had never been too much of a good liar but this was somewhat solid. “Speaking of business partners, I have to make a call. Do you, by any chance, have somewhere quiet for me to do so, old chap?”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LJVbisCqF
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He nodded and led me to the basement level. It was quiet but disturbing... Young girls lay in the corners of the room, chains around their necks, wrists, and ankles. Their clothes were torn in all the wrong places and they looked half dead. It was a global nightmare for me to see but I quickly focused. When Shane left, I walked over to one of the girls and crouched down. 223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0AGZeiDhH
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“Hey, don’t worry.. I’ll get ya out of here... I just need you to listen to me carefully..” I said softly into her ear before pulling back. I didn’t wait for any confirmation or acknowledgment before I gently pulled her to her feet and looked her in the eyes. I pulled her to one of the private rooms and then gently pushed her to her knees. “Just listen..” I said quietly as I worked the chains off of her in an instant. I could only imagine how she felt to be free after god knows how long. I called Keiko and gave him the location for the pickup of the girls... Then I left to resume my little facade. 223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyx5cnbMhh
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When I got back upstairs, it was rather empty and quiet besides some light chatter. I wasn’t gone too long.. Right? I ignored my mental moments and walked for a bit before feeling the cold steel of someone’s handgun against my temple. “Move and I’ll shoot..” the man said firmly. I mentally cursed myself. I knew that my cover had been blown and that in minutes, my plans would be ruined. But I still had to get to Audrey. I wouldn’t leave her behind.. Not again. I turned too quickly, his gun going off and leaving a nice bit of blood against my cheek but I ignored it and grabbed his arm, twisting it painfully, and pressed his body against the wall, getting close to his ear. 223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tp2lNVreg
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“Where?” I had asked coldly. I wasn’t going to play around. I applied pressure. “I-i don’t know what your-” I cut him off with a painful jerk of the arm, sending waves of pain down his shoulder and causing a loud scream to pry from his lips. “Where?” I asked again. I had no plans of killing him but if he kept playing around.. I would. “S-second floor!” the man cried out in an instant. “S-shane and Talamah i-is on t-the second f-floor..!” I kept him in the firm lock for a moment before finally letting him go and taking his gun, slipping it out of sight. I couldn’t tell if he was lying or not... It was too quiet to think... But for now, I gave him the greater flip of the coin and let him live. I started for the stairs then paused. “And where’s everyone else?” I asked with a cold, but calm tone of voice. I was done playing around. I needed to know. “T-they left.. Only a selected few went with Shane..” he stuttered out as he slowly peeled himself from the wall and rubbed his arm. “How many?” He was quiet, which pissed me off. I had this impulse to pull out the gun I took and shoot him down but I could do that later… ”About 15…”223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v7cZX5qze
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I nodded once more before going up the stairs. I couldn’t waste time... Not when someone I needed was in danger with two crazy men like Shane and Talamah... When I got upstairs, I looked around, listening for any chatter from the men before knocking on one of the doors, and then pushing it open. There they were... Sitting around on the lounge couches, talking and smoking like it’s a normal day. Talamah looked up in my direction but I ignored him, walking over with a heavy sigh, taking a seat next to Shane and another short, plump brown-haired male I didn’t know… 223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3EfMhyd1p
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More pretending… Just fucking great…223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmjvS0Ctwr
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