The Help She Needs

Stepping away from Eloise and turning on the shower, letting hot steam fill the room, he motions for her to move away from the door and into a walk-in closet at the back of the bathroom.

He closes the doors behind them and turns on the tiny light. She doesn’t know why, but she doesn’t feel nervous with Pat, maybe because he reminds her of the guys back at the house—big but kind.

“Look, Eloise, I’m not a bad person. I never asked to work for the Cartel. I was just born into this life. My father was a runner for cocaine when he met my mother and got her pregnant. The trouble was, when she found out who my father was, she tried to leave him. They only let her live until I was born.”

His eyes shift downward for a moment. “I found out later my father was the one who killed my mother. I’ll spare you the details.”

“After that, my father gained the trust of the higher-ups and soon ran a few groups smuggling weapons and people in and out. I had to keep my head and mouth shut if I wanted to live. They started me out small, but once they realized I could slip through the border with no problem, I was transferred to work with my father, and from there to here.

“Landon has known me for a few years and told me I would be working for him a year ago. You don’t say no to Landon. I hate it here. I hate those women. Two of them, I’m convinced, played Landon because they were evil from day one, and the other three are way past trying to live.”

“I’m sorry about your mother, Pat.”

“Thank you, as I am about your mother.”

This throws her. “You know my mother is dead?”

“I know all about you, Eloise, down to your shoe size.”

“Well, that’s not incredibly creepy,” she muttered sarcastically.

“It’s my job, just like it is for Pierce’s company.”

Her breath gets caught in her throat. Nicholas’s name being uttered from Pat’s lips is unnerving. “You know about Pierce?”

“I know he’s Special Forces. I know what he specializes in. I know that as soon as he slips back into the States, he drops off the radar just like Landon does. Landon has been trying to track Pierce’s group for years but hasn’t succeeded. When Landon found out Pierce had you, let’s just say my job’s been pretty miserable.”

She sinks into a small chair, as her legs can no longer hold her weight. She was just going to say it. “Pat, you must know Pierce is a good man.”

“I do,” he interrupts, making her pause and stare momentarily.

“Okay.” She nods. “Well, you can slip across the border without being seen. Can you help me get out of here and back home?” She was careful not to say where home was.

“You want to go home?” His eyebrow rises. “Back to your father? Back to that bitch, Mary?”

“No.” She stands. “I want to go back to the States to live a real life that’s mine.” He smiles slightly. She was guessing that was the answer he was looking for.

“You’ll never get that while Landon is alive.”

She feels bold. “Then let’s deal with that problem.” His eyes pop open. “Look, Pat, I’ve been through some real shit before. I’ve never killed anyone, but I know good trumps evil. You said it yourself; Landon is pure evil. Let’s try to make this world just a little bit better by taking him out of it.”

He stands there towering over her, studying her, thinking for a moment. She started to guess second if she could trust this guy. Damn! Maybe this is a test!

“It can’t happen right away,” he finally says, putting his hands on his hips. “It’ll be too obvious.”

“How long are you thinking?”

“A few months.”

“Two weeks max is all I can do.”

He makes a face. “A month.”

“Two weeks.”

“Three.”

She let out a long, shaky breath, mulling over her options. She could try to escape, but she knows she will break if he punishes her like Pat says he does. “Okay, under one condition.”

“What’s that?”

Nicholas clicks his radio, signaling Blackstone that they are close to the drop-off spot. They’re five minutes out when a call comes through on the satellite phone. He glances at his father, who shakes his head.

No one should be calling unless something’s happened. Everyone is silent; only the rev of the Land Rover engine can be heard.

“Dyke?” Nicholas answers quietly.

“You’re not going to believe this, Pierce, but…go ahead.”

“Nicholas?” Her voice smacks his stomach into a somersault and lodges it into his throat.

“Eloise? Where are you?” He has a ton of questions, but he stops himself.

“Hi.” He can tell she’s fighting tears.

“Hi, baby,” he gets out. “Where are you?”

“I’m somewhere in TJ. Some farm with a Louisiana—looking home. Nicholas, his name is Landon.”

“The Americans?” he asks, still shocked to hear her voice.

“Yes. Lucas is dead. The Americans killed him. I don’t know where Damian and Mary are. I’m here at The American’s house, and other girls are here. Five others.” She races on, “The American brainwashes them. He says he wants to sleep with me tonight, but…” Nicholas clenches his jaw so hard he’s sure he cracked a tooth. “Pat is his muscle, and he will help me.”

“Hold on.” Nicholas is trying to take in her words, but she’s talking a mile a minute. “Who’s Pat?”

“The American’s bodyguard. He said he didn’t want to help Landon anymore. Nicholas, he’s going to help me get rid of him. It will take three weeks; then Pat will help me return home.”

Nicholas glances at his father and shakes his head. “Eloise, I need you to listen to me. Are you near a window?”

“There’s nothing for miles, Nicholas. The security key code to get through the driveway gates is, ahh, 031523.”

Nicholas scribbles her information on his arm. “Okay, calm down, slow down. How long did you drive for?”

“I don’t know. Pat gave me Tylenol for the pain, so I slept most of the way.”

Nicholas lets out a long breath. “Baby, that wasn’t Tylenol. He drugged you, so you didn’t know where he was taking you.”

“No, Nicholas, Pat is going to help me.”