We’re ushered into the boardroom filled with people in suits, all looking tense. There are a couple of men in military uniforms and some junior staff running around doing things for their bosses. When we entered the room, everyone stood, bowed, then sat down.
The Director of the Board explains that the women’s clinic was stormed by men dressed in paramilitary looking uniforms. He then clicks onto the smartboard in front of him and brings up the security footage.
Natalia reaches under the table and holds my hand as I watch, in grainy black and white, the worst horror movie of my life. In slow motion, the men point their automatic weapons at our team. Right there at the front is Lilly with fear written all over her face.
Fuck! I squeeze Natalia’s hand tighter as we watch in silence at the events unfolding before our very eyes.
I watch as one of the men grabs a female doctor and throws her to the ground, hard. Blood begins to pour from a wound on her head. They are shouting at the group when someone steps forward to help the woman on the ground, but they get a gun pointed at their head.
Lilly steps forward, and I watch in disbelief as a gun is pointed directly at her.
Whoever that fucker is, I’m going to kill him.
Her hands are shaking. That’s the only outward sign that she’s scared because her face shows determination when she says something to the men. Two of them turn to discuss something, then one of them reaches out and grabs Lilly. The woman on the floor is crying and screaming as they drag Lilly away.
The Director explains that witnesses advised that Lilly Simpson offered herself instead because the doctor they wanted to take had two small children at home.
Fuck, Lilly. Why the hell do you have to be a martyr?
We continue to listen, but it doesn’t take me long before I’m storming out of the headquarters and to my town car. “Bunch of incompetent fools.” I slam my fist against the bulletproof glass. “They’re going to get her killed going through all that fucking red tape.”
“Their hands are tied, Luca. The charity has protocols,” Natalia reminds me.
“Fuck them! I don’t. I don’t have fucking protocols. I don’t care how much it’s going to cost… I need to get her home. I don’t care how we do it or even who does it. She needs to be home. Safe.” I thump my chest. “With me.”
“I know someone who can help.” Giorgio looks up at me. “They know how the Bratva works, especially the human trafficking side. They have rescued many women from them before this.” Hope blooms as Giorgio tells me more. “They are based out of Ibiza. Honestly, I think they can help.”
“Then do it. I don’t care how much it costs. I want her home, now!”
That night my dreams are filled with nightmares. Images of Lilly being taken from the clinic, of blood, gunshots have me waking up in a cold sweat.
Getting out of bed, I grab myself a bottle of water and look out over my balcony at the ancient buildings.
“Please don’t hurt her,” I say a prayer.
Resting my head against the cool brick, suddenly, an idea hits me. I remember I still have her phone number in my system when I was a crazy stalker. Rushing to my laptop, I open it and click on the app.
“Please, please, have your phone on you, Lilly.”
The screen turns on, but there’s no longer a blinking light, which means her phone isn’t turned on anymore. Fuck! I click a couple more links, and it shows me exactly where she was last—Kosovo.
At least now we have a place to start.
We’ll find you, Lilly.
That, I promise.
29
Lilly
I don’t want to die.
The words are on loop inside my brain.
My hands are tied behind my back as soon as we’re outside the clinic. A bag put over my head, and I’m shoved into a waiting truck. My heart feels like it’s going to launch right out of my chest, the thundering beat echoing thought my brain.
The rumble of the engine starts and vibrates through me.
When we take off, I slide across the chair and hit my shoulder against the cold hard steel.
I don’t want to die.
We travel along bumpy roads. The suspension on the truck is bad as I bounce all over the place.
Where the hell are we going?
I’ve been trying to calm myself down.
When you’re panicking, you don’t remember things, things that could ultimately save your life.
I slow my breathing down and try to remember every little thing about what just happened. It seemed to happen so fast, it felt more like a blur. I concentrate and try to remember every tiny detail.
I’ve only been in Albania a short time, but I have picked up a little bit of their language. Enough anyway to deal with the basics in women’s health, but I don’t think it’s the same words as the kidnappers. Concentrating hard, I try and see if I can pinpoint anything about what these men are saying.
Why the hell do I not know anything about guns? That may help me. The guns they were holding appeared big and black. Yeah, that could be any type of gun, I have no idea.
What are they wearing?
All black military—top, pants, I think Kevlar chest plates, ski masks—your typical standard bad-guy gear.
Now isn’t the time for jokes, Lilly.
But if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry.
No, don’t do either. You’ll have a full-on mental breakdown and probably get yourself killed for being hysterical.
Think, Lilly, think.
One of them had
