The Puppeteer

Chapter 19

As I hummed to myself, a melancholic tune that echoed the despair that had become my existence, my mind wandered to Lily. The words she'd spoken about my father still lingered, a festering wound that refused to heal. Involved in trafficking women. The very thought made my stomach churn with a mix of emotions - disgust, anger, and a deep-seated sadness. I wiped away the tears that had become all too familiar, my gaze drifting towards the small window that allowed a sliver of moonlight to dance across the cold, damp basement.

The sound of muffled noises and footsteps from above broke the silence, and I froze, my heart racing with anticipation. There were more people up there, and I strained my ears to listen, my weak legs trembling beneath me as I stood. A man's voice called out, "Kallis," and I recognized the deep, gravelly tone of my captor responding. Another voice echoed, repeating the name, and I smirked to myself, finally knowing the name of the man who had taken me.

Their conversation was hushed, but I managed to pick up snippets. They spoke of a drop, a location, and a plan to bust it. To save everyone. A female voice chimed in, her words laced with concern, "We know there are kids involved." My heart skipped a beat as I heard my father's name, DeLuca, mentioned. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, my mind reeling with the implications.

"Alright, listen up," Kallis said, his voice firm and commanding. "We have reason to believe DeLuca's operation is expanding. We need to take him down, and fast."

"I've been digging into his online activity," a male voice said, "and I think I've found a pattern. He's been using encrypted channels to communicate with his buyers."

"Good work, Jax," Kallis replied. "Can you hack into his system and get us more intel?"

"Already on it," Jax responded.

A female voice spoke up, "I've been going over the victim profiles, and I think I've found a connection between DeLuca's operation and a string of missing persons cases."

"Keep digging, Lena," Kallis said. "We need all the evidence we can get."

The conversation continued, with Kallis and his team discussing their plan of attack. I listened intently, my mind racing with the realization that these people were trying to take down my father's operation. They were trying to save the women, the children... but what about me?

Kallis's voice cut through my thoughts, "Does anyone know if DeLuca has mentioned Amelia's name? Victor DeLuca's daughter?"

The room fell silent, and I held my breath, wondering if anyone would reveal my presence. But no one spoke up, and Kallis chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "Looks like Daddy DeLuca isn't looking for his little girl."

I felt a pang of anger, mixed with a deep-seated hurt. My father and I had never had a good relationship, barely speaking or seeing each other. But to know that he wasn't even looking for me, that I was nothing more than a pawn in his twisted game... it was a harsh reality to face.

As the conversation above me continued, I realized that Kallis and his team were not what I had expected. They were a team of hackers, of operatives, working to take down the sex ring operation. And Kallis, my captor, was the leader of this group.

But why had he taken me? And what did he plan to do with me? The questions swirled in my mind, leaving me with a sense of unease and foreboding. I was trapped in this basement, at the mercy of a man who was both my captor and my potential savior. And I had no idea what the future held.