Read Between the Cracks and Burning Doors: Book 2 of The Extraction List Series for Free Online Page B

had beds in the middle, and curtains that tied up against each edge of the adjoining walls with huge tassels, interwoven with gold and black threads. The beds in each were big enough for two people, with pillows in all different shapes, fabrics, sizes, and colors that matched their sections.
    In the middle of the basement were three velvet couches. Two men sat at one, and a girl in a gold lame corset served them wine while jumping on and off one of their laps. When she got up to refill one of their glasses, one slapped her on the ass. She giggled and sat back down, full glass in hand.
    The curtains on the black and green rooms were closed. Bile swelled up in my stomach when I realized what we were standing in. Not only was she making children sell drugs, she was making them sell themselves too. Maureen had made a business out of the worst of humanity. And worse than that, it looked like it was thriving. I turned to face her.
    “A brothel? A fucking brothel ? How old are they?”
    Maureen threw her head back and laughed. Unsurprisingly, her laugh sounded like a bunch of canaries singing on a summer’s day. “Oh, Jack, don’t be so upset. These girls are courtesans . The profession dates back to the early Europeans, hell, probably before that.” She came over and took my hands in hers. Her skin was smooth and warm. “You know how the world is out there. I’ve given these girls the power to be in control of their own lives. They get to live here in this beautiful place. I keep them safe. We’re a family. Wouldn’t you rather them be here then out on the streets? Or reduced to God-knows-what?” She released my hands only to brush her fingers across my cheek. I stared at her. “They’re better off here, I think you know that.”
    I had to shake my head to pull myself from her gaze. My concern was Nick, and the heroin. I had to get him out of here. The girls were something I could figure out later. I pulled away from her delicate hand. “Whatever. Can we talk upstairs?”
    “Of course.”
    I barely made it up the stairs before I started in on her. “Look, I caught Nick selling heroin. It’s going to stop. End of story.”
    Maureen smiled, and looked around the hall of the empire she’d built. “I’m afraid it’s not that easy, Jack. Look around you. All this doesn’t come cheap. I give them shelter, they give me a little something in return.”
    “Well I’m taking him with me then. He’s not going to be doing this anymore.” I grabbed Nick’s hand and started to drag him away, but Maureen grabbed my shoulder with more strength than I thought someone of her size could muster. I couldn’t help but turn around.
    “Jack, let’s talk in private for a minute?”
    I sighed. If it would make getting Nick out easier, I’d humor her. She had me follow her around the corner and into the room where I’d seen the children playing games earlier. Nick stayed in the hallway.
    Once we were safely out of sight, she stunned me again. As I started to head toward the couch, her hands slammed against my chest and I found myself pinned to the wall, her face inches from mine.
    I could have gotten away from her, of course, but I was shocked into submission. Her voice came out in a low whisper. “Who do you think you are anyway, huh? You think you can just come in here and tell me what to do? Is that what you think?”
    “Look, just give me Nick. That’s it. We can walk right out that door and never come back.”
    Suddenly, she started laughing; and not a pretty, sing-song laugh, a maniacal loud cackle that belonged to someone else, someone dark. “Wow, that easy, huh? You know, you’re quite the hypocrite.”
    “What?”
    “You heard me. Coming in here, judging me for what I’ve done. But you’re willing to just walk right out that door and never come back, conveniently forgetting about the rest of the kids I have here doing such terrible, awful things.” She dragged out the last two words, and said them in a higher