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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Eightrifles, all of the it harder to penetrate with ertips than the worn-out seats in the old truck We come to a stop about one hundred feet away

But I don’t see Javier Or Izel

I begin to panic when at first I don’t see Lydia, either, but then I spot her inside the cream-colored Ford At least, I’ainst theto see better, but it doesn’t help much

Niklas turns his head to look at ht," he demands

I do what he says, not because he ordered it but because it’s probably best

The truck door slams shut Victor walks out ahead of it towards the which one was sent here to speak for Javier since he’s not here hi past theof the green truck as she gets out

"This makes twice Javier’s been too much of a coward to come himself," I say out loud, not necessarily to Niklas

"He knows by now that Victor can kill hi out the"I’d say it’s a smart move on Javier’s part"

Izel tries to approach Victor with her usual sultry walk, but she’s clearly in pain fros and she stumbles just as she passes the rusted hood One of the men step over quickly to help her, but she smacks hi hi, including herself

Words are exchanged between Izel and Victor I can’t hear what they’re saying, but by the body language, I can tell it’s the usual: Izel trying to scare hierous ene conversation as they had back at the motel that day And just like before, Victor is unfazed by her and it only adds fuel to the fire in her expression

I try to hear what they’re saying even though I know I can’t, but ainst Niklas’ deli on the passenger’s side But I think there’s so next to her

Izel raises her hand to the men by the truck behind her and one of therabs the one I think is Lydia and drags her out

"It’s her!" I say excitedly, relieved

Niklas snaps his head around

"I said sit back," he growls through bared teeth "Don’t fk this up anythis and I fall backward against the seat again, though only enough that it satisfies him and he turns away

Lydia looks like hell, but at least she’s able to walk At least she’s alive She’s dressed in the sa when I saw her on that video The bloodstains left from her mouth and nose are evident on the front of her thin white t-shirt, even from here at a distance Her hands are bound at the wrists down in front of her Her light red hair is disheveled and filthy andhopelessly toward us in the SUV and I can only i whether or not I’m in here I want to run out of here and toward her, to let her know that I’ I could do that I know is all that I can do

The man who pulled her out of the truck jerks on her elbow, pulling her harshly out of the way and over to the side

Victor says soly Then she looks back over her bare shoulder and indicates with the wave of two fingers for the otherHe responds quickly by going around to the open truck door where Lydia was reure I saw had been sitting next to her

"Oh my God," I say alsoher?" I look to Niklas for the answer, but he doesn’t offer one

Cordelia and Lydia are standing side by side now, both tre with tear-streaked faces, both of the toward the SUV

Victor waves two fingers toward us

Niklas turns around "Are you ready?"