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Appearing annoyed with me, Victor takes my hand and yanks me out of the car

I hardly protest

We’re only in the store for fifteen minutes tops before we a pants, a plain white t-shirt and a pair of running shoes He also let e of low-cut white socks and a six-pack of white cotton panties The whole ti, but it’s not until we’re back inside the car that I re since I owned one I really did forget their iular airport and get to fly on a passenger plane, but instead we drive to a place back in Green Valley and board a private jet It only et past a security check in any public airport with a suitcase full of guns, a duffle bag with a mound of cash and another chock full of suspicious items

While on the tiny plane Victor presents me with my very own fake driver’s license, which looks so real it could easily pass for soot it, but never asked, assu just before we left he went down to the front desk in the lobby to pick up a ‘package’

I’m twenty-year-old Izabel Seyfried of San Antonio, Texas, today

And the photograph, I’ed to take it, but it’s definitely ofthe sa since I escaped the coround of the photo has been reround, so I don’t have any idea where I hen he took the photo, either I don’t know, but I have a driver’s license and that’s good enough for ," Victor says, "is safe, but the woman there should not know your real name No one should from here on out I will refer to you as Izabel and you need to answer to that naree "Who is this woh more like a contact"

Confused, I ask, "But if she’s one of you, why lie to her?"

He takes a sip of water and sets the glass down on the little table jutting out from the wall of the plane underneath the elliptical-shaped

"It’s just a precaution," he says, leaning his head back against the headrest "When one person is wanted by many wealthy others, just about anyone can be swayed"

I raise ? Do you think everyone else knows I got away from Javier?"

"I’ve received no confirmation of that, but it’s best to prepare in advance"

As if I wasn’t already on edge enough…

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Our flight lands in Houston just after twelve and there is an ordinary blue car--looks like so out front for us Victor grabs all three bags and conceals the is the contact But she looks so ordinary, just like her car I expected more sophistication, like Victor in his black suit and expensive shoes, but really she looks more like me

"I haven’t seen you in years," the woets settled in the front seat I sit in the back, just behind him

"Yes, it has been a while," Victor responds

When the woman smiles over at him, deep lines fore showing through her hair ray mixed in And she’s much older than Victor, by ten years at least But she’s very pretty and clean and I feel e myself with her innear the private landing strip and head for the freeway

"I wonder what brought you to lances back at et the feeling she’s not--"

"No, she’s not," Victor interrupts

I’ to her in French

Spanish, Geres does this man speak?

I hate it that I can’t understand what they’re saying, but I know they’re talking about lances atthe corners of her lips But even in a language that I can’t understand, I can tell he’s not being completely honest with her Or, maybe I can’t Maybe it’s just because I know deep down that I have nothing to worry about when it comes to Victor

That fact surprises me more every day

"It’s nice to meet you, Izabel," she says

I smile slimly at her and decide that since I have no idea what all Victor just told her abouthis story

Many minutes later we pull into the driveway of a humble little house situated next to other si the street on their bicycles e get out Directly across the street a man washes his car in the driveway The woman we’re with raises her hand and waves at hihborhood, the kind that all ofup and was irls than a trailer park

The woman pops the trunk from a button inside the car and I join Victor at the back as he grabs his bags But I don’t get a chance to ask hiht’ve said when she joins us seconds later