He slams his hand down onto the table. I know what he’s doing. He’s trying to get me to admit to purchasing the girls. They might have my name, but they have no proof. If they had it, they wouldn’t be asking me questions. If they had it, I’d be in jail right now, and wouldn’t be getting questioned.

“Now William,” he grinds out, “we can play this the hard way, or the easy way. You either tell me how you got them, or I’ll find out another way.”

“Go right ahead.”

I know I left no trails behind; I put a lot of time and money into purchasing the girls. I won’t be caught for it. I made sure of that.

“I’ve questioned some of the girls already. They remember their lives before you.”

“And?” I say, shrugging.

“And they’re likely to tell me what I need to know. It won’t take much, just a few jabs at their memories to make them realize what a monster you really are.”

I don’t answer him. I’ve done everything I can for the girls. I’ve taught them all I have to teach. I’ve given them the best of me. If they betray me now, then I’ve failed.

If I’ve failed, I deserve this.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“Goddammit!” I hear a cop growl in the next room.

He thinks I’m asleep, but I’m not. There’s no way I can sleep. I peek my eyes open and see he’s pacing the room outside, his fists clenched. I don’t move; I just stare. I can see he’s angry. He’s got a crumpled piece of paper in his fist, and every now and then he waves it around with a growl.

“What’s going on?” someone else asks.

“He’s covered his ass. I can’t find anything or any proof that he purchased those girls. As far as I know, they got away, and chose to go to him. I can’t prove anything. They’re all claiming they were with him by choice and not by force. Without them as witnesses, I have an empty case.”

My heart hammers. The girls didn’t speak. Oh, thank God.

The other man sighs. “They’ll break. Give them time to remember. There’s a few that can’t.”

“They’re being transported tomorrow morning, first thing. We’ve got a safe house for them all until we can contact any remaining family members, or at least get them on their feet again. I’m bringing in a psychologist.”

“Do you think they will break?”

“I don’t know,” the cop says. “I just don’t know.”

“What do you think he’s got them for? It makes no sense. They’re all in great condition; they haven’t been hurt. William is a well-known business man. He doesn’t seem like the type to hurt anyone.”

There’s a long silence.

“I think,” the cop begins, before sighing. “I think he saved them.”

Saved us?

Tears well in my eyes, and I think about everything we’ve been through with William. All his lessons. All his rules. At first, I thought those were a sick kind of control, but now I know about our history, I understand something a whole lot better. William was trying to build us back up. He was trying to teach us to be good people, and have structure in our lives before letting us fly on our own.

He saved us.

My heart cracks in half.

“This letter was requested to be given to you,” the officer says early the next morning. “We’ve approved it.”

I take the small, square letter from his palm and I press it to my chest. The officer stares down at me, like he wants to ask me something but he knows he can’t.

“We’ve got another round of questions before you’re transported to your safe house with the other girls.”

“Are we to stay in that house?” I whisper.

He shakes his head. “We will hold you there until the case is closed or solved. We need you for questioning, and by law you are required to attend that. Once we’re finished, there isn’t much more we can do. Without the evidence we need, we can’t force you to stay. You’re all over twenty-one, therefore you’re adults. We’ve informed any significant people in your lives that you’re found and well, and some of them want to see you.”

He stops and stares at me for a moment, before continuing.

“We can’t make you see them; as I said, you’re all old enough to make your own choices. We do, however, recommend that you stay in the safe house for a w hounderstahile after the investigation closes, let us give you the support you need.”

I stare at him. It’s such a long time to be away from William, and my heart aches at the thought. I nod at him, letting him know I’ve understood. He takes my arm without another word, and leads me down the halls into a massive room. I see all the other girls, and my heart swells. I’ve missed them. Number Twelve rushes over right away, throwing her arms around me. I wrap her in my embrace.

“Are you okay?” I whisper into her ear.

“I’m okay,” she answers, pulling back.

“Girls,” the officer says. “We’ll be in momentarily to ask further questions before you’re moved to a safe house. Emelyn has a note to share with you. Some food will be brought in for you in a few moments.”

With that he leaves the room and closes the door, leaving us to it. I stare at the girls I’ve become so familiar with over the past month, and I decide it’s time we all got to know each other a little better. I take a seat and sit down on it, staring at them all.