I nodded, unable to speak.
From inside his jacket pocket, he pulled out a small photograph, and he kept it pressed between his palms and sighed.
“My father had pictures sent to him, pictures of Amy and Vlad together, but along with those came another. I have no-one else to ask but you, Ella, and I'm so fucking sorry, but if you can help, I'd fucking appreciate that.”
I choked back a sob and nodded.
He handed me a photo, I studied it, a small child, a girl if her hair was anything to go back, sat in a room that, despite the blurriness, I recognized straight away. A place I had once spent countless days and week inside. A room in which I knew every crack of the wall, every scuff on the concrete. But who was this child?
“I'm sorry,” I said. “I don't know who she is, but I can tell you where this was taken.”
“You can?” His eyes opened wide for the first time.
“Vladimir's cell. Not the ones he uses for the girls but the one he used for me years ago. I'd recognize it anywhere.”
Jax's handsome faced paled. “Shit.” He took the photograph from me and flipped it over. Showing me the name "Sarka" written on the back, but still, I had no clue who she was.
Reading my expression, he placed it back into his pocket and took both my hands in his. His touch was like lava, a burning that ignited my ever-growing blossom for this stranger. Fingers gripped mine, and I could not tear my eyes from him.
“Where's his cell? Would I be able to get there?”
I looked down at our hands. Red hair tumbled around my shoulders, my curls in need of a wash. “I'm sorry, I don't know. I was always blindfolded when taken there and brought home.” The memories flashed before me, and I couldn't hold the tears anymore. “All I know was that it was quite a drive away from here.”
Jax's thumb rubbed against mine, and I watched the veins move just above his knuckles. He had the most beautiful hands I'd ever seen. Strong and big. My belly fluttered, and my mind whirled.
What was Vladimir doing to children? The girls he sold were usually between fourteen and sixteen; I'd never once seen or heard of a child so young.
And then he hit me; it smacked straight into me like a tidal wave, and a sob burst from my lips.
“Oh no,” I cried, voice trembling.
Jax released my hands and cupped my face. “What, Ella?”
It couldn't be. Could it?
“Two years ago,” I was interrupted by another sob, “I gave birth, a daughter, Vladimir snatched her, and I never saw her again. He'd wanted a son. What if...?” I couldn't say it out loud. I could not say the words and put them out into the air and make them real. Was this photo of my darling girl? Or some other mother's poor child? Tears streamed down my face, and Jax held me against his chest, his heart pounding on to my ear.
We sat like that for ages, him just holding me, stroking my hair, letting me cry, and then he spoke. Words I never thought I'd hear.
“Ella, I'm going to fucking kill him. I swear to you, I'll burn this mother fuckin' place to the ground, and then I'll take you, and I will find your daughter.” He kissed my head. “I fuckin' promise.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jax.
It had been a few days since Ella had been allowed to roam free once more, and tomorrow night was the damn fucking auction. I hadn't been able to concentrate on much, my mind going other how the hell I could help Ella and my buddy. I'd briefly spoken to him last night, the first time since I arrived, his hurt was palpable down the line.
I wanted to see Amy's body. Fuck the rules, fuck this fucking place. But I knew I still had to win Vlad round a little more, he was warming to me well despite my lack of concentration, and I needed to keep this up.
My father had summoned our men for a meeting, guys from all over the state who specialized in all kinds of things, logistics, ex-cops, ex-military, you named it, he had it, to try and locate Vlad's cell. The fucking cell where he'd held Ella and, potentially, was holding their daughter.
The guys and I were in the library. We'd been listening to Vladimir rattle on for the best part of forty minutes, and yet, it seemed he hadn't said much. His right-hand man stood beside him like a loyal dog, a sneer fixed under his mustache. He was a mean-looking fella, scrawny like a bean pole, and scars marred his ugly face, deep pockets where acne had once sat. The look of him made me feel sick.
The door opened; all heads turned to see the interruption. And my god, was it the best kind of interruption.
Ella's wounds were, of course, still healing, but Marnie, her slightly irritating friend, had tried her best to hide them. As much as I loved seeing Ella with smokey eyes, I wanted to wipe the stuff off her face and see the beauty beneath. She didn't need that shit; I'd noticed this small cluster of freckles at the corner of one eye, and fuck, if it weren't the cutest damn thing I'd ever seen.
The girls got to work, walking passed us, and prepping the stage for tomorrow night. They weren't doing the heavy stuff, no, just clearing away tables and the such. I couldn't take my damn eyes off her.
“Jax, anything to add?” Vladimir asked, snapping my attention back towards him.
Shit. I hadn't been fucking listening. “Er, no, sir.”
“So, you understand what's expected of you tomorrow night? Outside patrols during such an event is a huge responsibility; there is no room for error. You keep my wife and I safe first, the guests come second, the girls come third.” He said, mopping his sweaty brow with a gray handkerchief.
He got to his feet.”"Well, if that's all gentlemen-”
“Sir, there's something I'd like to ask.” I interrupted, causing the men to freeze in their half-standing positions.
“And what is that?” He smirked, curious.
I cleared my throat. “I was just wondering whether I could see Amy' s body, sir, she was a friend, a best friend, I'd like a chance to say goodbye if I can’t attend the funeral.”
Vladimir considered this and took his seat once more. Clicking his fingers, Ella came scampering over and poured him a drink. She didn't look at me once before hurrying away.
“What makes you think you wouldn't be attending her funeral, my boy? What kind of man would I be if I didn't allow another the chance to pay his respects?”
My lips pulled into a thin line. “With all due respect, sir, I'd like to see her all the same.” I shrugged.
Vladimir's two index fingers pressed together against his chin, Jozef leaned into his ear and whispered something, his voice far too low for me to hear across the table.
He regarded me once more, opening and closing his mouth several times before speaking. “Jaxon, you do remember she was mutilated? I'm afraid of what it will do to you if you see her like that again.”
Bullshit, I thought. “I'm a big boy, sir.” I wasn't fucking backing down.
Sighing, he stood. “Back to work, everyone. We've got a lot to do before tomorrow.”
The room began to empty, and I sat there, dumbfounded and raging.
“Sir!" I called as he reached the door. He didn't even respect me enough to turn to face me. “Please, let me see my friend.”
Even Ella and Marnie had stilled, I could see the pair of them in my peripheral, hands gripping a side of a table each just before the stage.