My stomach bottoms out and it takes everything in me to stand tall, to not react.
“He found where you enrolled in the nursing program. All the courses you took since, your work history after you graduated… and everythingafter.”
He trails a hand towards Clutch and then drops it at his side, shrugging lightly.
“But nothing before.”
The room goes very still.
“Why is that?” He asks.
I don’t answer and I can feel Clutch’s eyes on me now, heavy and searching.
Angel continues casually. “Do you think it’s strange that even your husband doesn’t know?”
I can feel his eyes on me, I can feel the tension from Angels left, but I still don’t look at him. Because I already know what I’ll see and he is not the wounded party in all of this.
Angel takes another sip of his drink, casually steps back to the bar, leans against it and taps the bartop signalling for another beer. Cypher motions to him, Angel moves in his direction and Cypher whispers something into his ear. Angel nods once, then leans back against the bar like this is all just conversation.
“You know… just before my dad died there was a trafficking ring a few counties over.”
The women behind me go quiet. Even some of the men are looking at Angel with confusion and a look I cannot place.
“Young girls, ages ranging from six to twelve.”
My fingers curl into my palms.
Don’t react. Don’t show your fear.
For one foolish second I hope against all hope that Clutch will jump in. That he will move… dosomething. That he will choose me, stand at my side. Pull me into him like he used to when I actually believed we had something real.
But that isn’t the truth of this situation or our relationship.
He is choosing to stand silently by Angel’s side. He has chosen whateverthisis. He is choosing to allow this conversation to happen, to just stand back and watch.
“At first everyone assumed they were being kidnapped. But some rumors said the parents were trading them to settle debts, others said they were selling them outright.” Angel continues like he is talking about the weather.
The room is deathly silent now. Not a sound. I can hear the blood rushing in my ears, feel my pulse in my neck. But I hold myself still.
A few ol’ ladies shift in closer to their men, seeking comfort.Must be nice.
“After months of looking, the sheriffs, along with local MC help, raided the warehouse where they were supposed to be.”
Angel studies my face carefully.
“You know what they found?”
I don’t answer. I don’t blink. I don’t move.
“Nothing.”
The single word is loaded. But, Angel is still leaning back against the bar, a new beer in his hand that he casually sips before continuing.
“No girls…no bodies. It was like someone got to them first.”
He looks around the room like a King addressing his subjects.
“They never figured out what happened, everyone assumed they were either moved, or rescued… or something else… something worse. Leads went cold and people assumed the worst. But my father always believed those girls were still out there somewhere, hefearedthat the group relocated them and that the girls were still alive but captive, hehopedthat someone rescued them and because they couldn’t be safely returned to their families… helped them disappear."