Beautiful Innocence (18 page)

She nods with a big smile. “I was going to surprise you and tell you I went on the pill a few weeks ago, but then my lie got in the way, so I haven’t had the chance to surprise you.”

I pull back. “So no more condoms?”

“No more condoms. Unless you want to?”

“Fuck no.”

It’s the next morning and Ava is sound asleep. I gave in when she looked at me with those sad, tear-filled eyes. Deep in my heart I knew I would. It was just a matter of time. I just had to realize that I won’t be able to kick back and have a beer at a bar with her for a whole year, and that she’s way too young to want to settle down. I’ve never wanted to before her, but whenever I look at her I see what I want. I want us to be together. Because I’m at the point where she has me wanting her 24/7 and I’m cool with it, but is she? Will she move on? Will she stay? Twenty-years old is way too young to be ready for forever—hell at twenty I wouldn’t be entertaining these thoughts. How can I expect her to?

What if I sink so far in and a few years pass and she wakes up and doesn’t want me anymore. Both of my brothers are lucky bastards and found their special someone’s right off the bat. Can finding the one really be that easy?

Ava rolls over and she runs her hand up my bare chest. She scoots over and rests her head on my stomach. “Are you regretting last night?”

“No, babe, I’m not. I just have a lot of shit in my head I’m thinking about.”

She tucks her hand under my back and squirms closer. “Bad shit or good shit?”

I sigh as I run my fingers through her hair. “I don’t know yet, but I’ll let you know when I figure it out.”

AVA

I’m meeting Sam for lunch today. Josh isn’t too thrilled, but I feel like I’ve been a horrible friend lately and really want to spend some time with him and give him the answers he deserves. He even promised to take me fishing if we have enough time before we have to get ready for work. Of course Josh complained a little because I’ve never been fishing and he isn’t too keen on having my “fishing cherry popped”, I believe is the phrase he used as he ranted and raved when I mentioned it. He’s just jealous and I think it’s adorably cute of him.

I’m early, so I slide into a booth and read over the menu, deciding it’s never too late in the day for pancakes. I set the menu down and glance outside looking for him. A few minutes later I pop a quarter into the mini jukebox on the table and look all around as I bop my head to the beat, excited to be spending the day outside. I stop, immobilized when I notice David watching me from the counter stool. I gulp, debating whether I should yell for help, hit send on my phone to call Josh or run. I’m frozen to my seat and even if I scream, I don’t think any noise will escape my mouth I’m so scared.

Before I make my decision and the reality sinks in, he pushes me over so I’m pressed up against the wall. He turns toward me. “Ava, what the fuck are you doing here?”

“What?” I stammer, unable to catch my breath.

“I though you were smart enough not to come here. I wanted to grab you before, but I know people are watching.”

“What?” I ask in disbelief again. My heart is racing so badly it’s about ready to leap out of my chest, but he’s acting weird and saying things I’m having a hard time comprehending.

He sighs dramatically and then runs his hand through his hair. The waitress comes over and asks if he wants anything. He glares and I know he’s telling me to stay quiet. He turns for a second. “No, nothing.” She flees, and I can tell she’s mad that were taking up a booth and not ordering. And I want her to come back so I can tell her to call for help, but she disappears.

“Do you really think Roger and Alex didn’t know about this place? Shit, Ava, I was hoping you were smarter than this.”

Come again?

“I don’t understand,” I whisper.

“Oh, yeah.” He holds out his hand. “Agent Riley Parker at your service. I’ve been under cover for three years on his case. He caught the attention of the FBI by doing some computer searches and then making contact with several players. We’ve kept our eye on him since a child pornography sting caught him years ago. His brother pulled some strings, got rid of some evidence.”

“Bu…but, I drugged you.”

“Yeah, I know. I was going to sneak you out that night. I had a four-hour window and I was debating how to tell you everything. I never saw it coming from you.”

My hand flies to my mouth. “Oh, my god. I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. They were pissed off but sent me to look for you. They sent me straight to you. Those friends of yours tipped him off by calling the cops. That’s how they where to find you. I met Josh, he sent me here to pick you up. They’re both on their way down here from Maryland to get you.”

I look all around, wishing Sam would get here. Even though I shouldn’t be, I’m scared.

He exhales and rings the napkin on the table tightly in his hands. “I hate to do this, but I need you to come with me. I can’t explain it, Ava, but we need to catch him in the act, actually selling you, in order to nab him and send him and that sick son of his away for life.”

“What?” I can barely breathe.

“We got to go now.”

“I can’t just leave. I need to call Josh. My aunt, someone.”

“There’s no time. Josh is waiting at a drop off point for us so he can keep you safe.”

He stands up and holds out his hand for me take. I refuse it. “Ava, this is bigger than you. I wouldn’t ask you to do this if I wasn’t a hundred percent sure you’ll be safe the whole time.” He leans down until his face is in front of me. “I’ll be there to protect you. I’m still undercover.”

I nod ever so slowly, letting it all sink in. After he turns I reach into my back pocket to pull out my phone and stuff it down the front of my pants, inside my underwear, hoping he’s telling the truth, but frightened he’s not. His car is a shiny black Ford with Virginia plates, and for a second I think that’s weird. Why would his car not say Maryland, but he’s opening the door for me to get in. He notices my suspicious looks and desire to run the other way. “Government car.”

“Oh, yeah, right.” I get in.

Once he comes around, he starts up the car and he pulls out just as I see Sam pulling in. Sam doesn’t see me. He smiles when he notices my aunt’s truck parked and waiting for him. He was excited to introduce me to my first fishing trip and I was ecstatic for him to teach me, so I could fish with Josh like a pro one day. “So, we’ll need to wire you and everything. I hope you’ve been okay, Ava. I always liked you and I worried.”

I nod, remembering how he was the only gentle, somewhat nice one out of the group. He wasn’t nice once, but he never hit me, just verbally abused me. Now I guess I know why. He needed to prove to them that he wasn’t a softy. After driving for over a half hour, he pulls over on the side of the highway. “How long do you think this will take? Where are they? Does Josh want me to call him or you to let him know that I’m safe. Where is he meeting us?”

“I’m real sorry I have to do this, Ava, but I have no choice.” He grabs me forcefully by the back of my neck as I struggle, clawing anything to get away as he plunges a needle into my arm. “I can’t have you awake for the transport.”

“What transport?” I’m still coherent, but my brain is getting fuzzy and my eyes feel heavy as he hovers over me.

“They’re threatening to kill my little brother. He’s twelve, Ava. I’m not undercover. I lied. You trust too damn easily. You always did.” The back of my head hit the window. “They kicked my ass when they found you gone. I need to bring you back to save my brother. He’s too young and innocent to get involved in this shit.”

As my eyelids strain to stay open, and he continues to rant, it’s like I’m being lifted away into a beautiful world where only Josh exists. I see him. I see his smile. I see his blue eyes. I can feel his hands as he picks me up out of the tub and carries me to his bed and makes love to me. These are the last images my memory gives me before my eyes shut and I can’t see Josh anymore. I can’t see anything anymore.

When I come to, I’m sitting in a chair with my hands tied behind my back and my legs are restrained by rope. “She’s coming to. Finally,” David snarls in my ear. “I thought maybe I gave you too much.”

I try to hold up my head, but it’s too heavy and I’m struggling to remember what happened to me. How did I get here? Where I am? The sting of his hand rocks the side of my cheek. Blood drips into my mouth. Shit, that hurt.

“Look up,” he orders. He has a camera and he’s filming me. “Say hello to your boyfriend, Ava. He’s probably going crazy right now wondering where you are.”

I can’t feel anything. Whatever he shot me up with is still taking affect and I just want to close my eyes and go back to sleep and never wake up from this nightmare. “Where are we?”

“Still in South Carolina. I have a delivery to make, and then I’ll take you to Roger, although I’m not sure he’s going to want you anymore, but I wouldn’t mind a crack at it.” He props the camera on a table and directs it at me. The tip of his gun trails down my face until he stops it by my mouth. I feel the sting of my tears as they trickle down one by one.

“Was it good?”

I look up confused.

“The first time? Did you like getting fucked, Ava?”

I turn my head to avoid him, but he grips my chin and slaps me hard again.

“I want to show your boyfriend what he’s losing.” He laughs cruelly. “He ruined you, and now this is my payback to him. We still have the same buyer, since I failed to report your new status back to them. And, frankly, I don’t give a shit once I get my brother back,” he whispers the last part in my ear, so it’ll be left out of the tape.

When I shift my legs and feel the hard shell of my phone case inside my panties I thank god he hasn’t found it.

He slaps my face harder than before, and then butts the gun to the side of my head. “Say goodbye to him, Ava. You’ll never see him again.”

I look up to the camera, crying hysterically. The metallic taste of blood in my mouth makes me want to retch. I can’t leave him without saying it, even though it’s killing me. “Goodbye, Josh,” I cry out loud. When he turns to get the camera I mouth the words, “Help me.”

He shuts it off and then comes back and places a gag in my mouth. “Stay put. I won’t be long.” He laughs as he leaves me alone.

JOSH

I have a surprise for my girl and can’t wait to tell her. Ashton graciously handed the keys to her family’s beach house to me for the whole weekend. I know she’s out with Sam for the day, but I plan on surprise attacking her with it before she heads off to work and maybe getting in a little sweet love from my girl. Angie pulled her from the schedule for me, so I just have to head back and pack up all our stuff after I get done at the office. I take off a little earlier from work to gather up some supplies and grab a few things to take down to the beach with us.

Her aunt’s truck isn’t in the parking lot like I expected it to be, but that’s all right. She must be having fun fishing. I jog up to my place and see Sam sitting on the stoop with his head down and my heart stops beating. “Sam, what’re you doing here?”

He looks up when he hears me approach. His eyes are bloodshot and he looks like hell. “Where the fuck is Ava?”

He shakes his head continuously. “I don’t know. I don’t know. Her truck.”

“What about her truck?”

“It’s still there at the diner. She wasn’t inside when I got there. She’s gone. I don’t know where, but she left with someone. That’s all the waitress remembers.”

“Why the fuck didn’t you call me?”

He didn’t answer.

When I throw open my front door something kicks under my foot, sliding across the tiled floor. I reach down and pick up a CD case with the word Ava written in black sharpie across it.
What the hell is going on?
I run into our bedroom and throw open the closet. Her clothes and shoes are still here. I hurry into the bathroom to see everything spread out on the counter like it was this morning when she left. Sam is still outside when I slide the DVD in my player.

My heart stopped at seeing Sam here alone, but it plummets like a boulder when her face comes into view. “Fuck, baby,” I mumble as I touch the screen, like I can feel her through it, to somehow comfort her. I watch him hit her. Each smack reverberates through me like I am feeling the pain with her. I know I need to watch and listen, but I’m shaking so badly with the need to find her and kill whoever the hell has her. “Sam,” I yell.

Sam flies in and stops dead in his tracks when he sees Ava on the television, tied up and bloody. “Call Dane and tell him to check all the surveillance tapes in here and find out if she has her phone on her.” When he doesn’t move, I yell, “Now, Sam.”

I look back to the screen. “I’m coming, baby.” I have no idea where they are, but I can tell they’re holed up at some cheap ass motel like the kind you find off the highway. Unable to look at it anymore, I stop it. I’m pacing the floor, chewing nail after nail when Dane and Jason storm in.

“What happened?” Both heads turn to the television as I click play.

“Fuck,” they both say at the same time. Sam has been sitting on the couch waiting with me. He’s several shots in.

“Sam, go over everything and I mean every damn detail you can think of.” I finally ask now that they’re here. I can’t think straight. I need someone to do it for me because I’m about to blow a gasket. I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. And her face? Christ, her face. She’s terrified and hurting and I desperately need to get to her.

“I was supposed to meet her for lunch at Olga’s. I was running late, getting some fishing gear together. When I pulled in her truck was there.”

“What time was that?”

“Just after noon. I went inside and poked around, thinking maybe she was in the bathroom. After fifteen minutes I got worried and asked the waitress if she’d seen Ava. She said she had, but that Ava left with someone.”

“Did the waitress see a car, a face, anything?”

“Yeah, he sat with her. They seemed like they knew each other. There was nothing weird about it.”