Page 2 (1/2)

"But hoill you find me?"

Tears choke her voice

"I don’t know," I admit "But the American will know He will help me"

That look in her eyes, it’s hopeless She doesn’t believe for a second that this insane plan ofto work And I probably wouldn’t have either nine years ago, but desperation s Lydia’s face hardens and she reaches up to wipe the tears from her cheeks It’s as if she knows this is the last time she will ever see me

I kiss her hard on the forehead

"I will coh the tiny roo over my back

"Get under the covers," I hiss at her as I push open the

As Lydia hides under the blanket, I climb my way out theand into the mild October heat I crouch low behind the house and h the hole in the fence surrounding the south side of the counmen everywhere, but I’ve always found theuard-the-compound-from-escapees area because rarely does anyone try to escape Mostly the guards all stand around talking and sirls who are enslaved here The one standing at the entrance to the aro The only reason Javier didn’t kill him is because that one is his brother

But brother or not, he is now a eunuch

Weaving s, I make it to the tree-line and stop in the shadows cast by the nearby house I stand up straight and press ainst the stucco and make my way carefully around to the front where the twelve-foot barbwire fence starts at the front gate Outsiders are always made to park their vehicles just beyond it where they are escorted into the compound on foot

The American would not have been allowed in any differently I’ht froate that I need to get to There is one guard posted there, but he’s younger and I think I can take his out All of un from Izel’s room last year and have kept it hidden under a floorboard in mine and Lydia’s room ever since The second I saw the American enter the house I had pulled back the floorboard to retrieve it and shoved it in the back of ht

I inhale a deep breath and dash across the light in the wide open and just hope that no one spots ainst ht it hurts the bones in h of relief when I find another shadow to hide within Shadowsfrom the house I just left I feel sick to my stomach and could actually vos to do and fast My heart is hauard out ahead standing near the front gate and leaning against a tree The hot alows around his copper-colored face and then fades as he pulls his lips away froives the iun strap tossed over one shoulder Thankfully he isn’t holding it at the ready I walk quickly along the edge of the fence, trying to stay hidden in the shadow cast by the trees on the other side of it My worn out flip-flops uard is so close that I can s in his unwashed air

I creep up closer, hoping ht behind hi and my throat has closed up almost to the point that I can hardly breathe Carefully and as quietly as possible, I pull un back and hit him over the head with the butt as hard as I can A loud whack! and a crunch! turns arette hits the sand beside his knees I grab his gun, practically having to tear it off his arht of his body, and then I take off running through the cracked gate and outside the compound

Just as I had hoped there is only one vehicle parked out front: a slick black car that is probably thehere but slums and filth This is an expensive city car with shiny ri the carleft the doors unlocked are di Surely he wouldn’t in these parts I place er’s side door and I hold my breath The door pops open I don’t have tih the front gate and I catch a gli shadow from the corner of my eye I crawl in the back floorboard and shut the door quickly before those approaching are close enough to hear it shut

Oh no…the overhead light

I grit ht fade above me so slowly that it’s torturous, until finally it blinks out and leavesthe pillowcase underneath the driver’s seat I try to hide the stolen rifle just behind the seat between the leather and the door It leaves h time to squeeze my little body as far into the floorboard as I can I wrap ainst my chest and I arc my back over and hold the aard position

The voices fade and all that is left is the sound of one pair of legs approaching the car The trunk pops open and seconds later it closes again

I hold my breath when the front driver’s side door opens and the overhead light pops on again The American shuts the door behind him and I feel the car move as he positions himself in the front seat One Two Three Four Five Six Finally the light fades I hear the key being slid into the ignition and then the engine purrs to life

Why aren’t weso

And then he says aloud in Spanish, "Cocoa butter lotion Warister the e words and to realize that he’s actually talking to me

I rise up quickly froainst the back of his head

"Just drive," I say in English, un in place I’ve never killed anyone before and I don’t want to, but I’ back into that colint of his thick silver watch catches my eye but I don’t let it distractwheel and the other on the gear shift, putting the car into Drive