Page 80 of Scarred Souls

Not only that. It sounded like Vaughn and el Capitán were old pals.

What in the actual fuck?

This wasn’t possible. He couldn’t be in league with the enemy. Or could he? Vaughn had only been here for a week. How well could you really know someone after such a short time?

My mind raced as I struggled to come to terms with what I’d just heard. What did this all mean?

An oily feeling settled in my belly, sending me off-balance. Despite the warm morning sun, tiny hairs on my arms stood on end.

Something was very wrong.

Vaughn ran his hand over his stubbly jaw. “Listen, I recently came across something special, and I want to deliver it to you in person.” He laughed at el Capitán’s response. “You could keep it for yourself, but once you see the treasure I’ve found, I think you’re going to want to gift it to Espinoza. Trust me. It’ll make you his new favorite.”

Something special Vaughn had recently acquired and wanted to gift to my father? What was he talking about? All he had in his possession was a shitty truck, a duffel bag of black clothes, and a bunch of weapons. The only thing of value he’d recently found was?—

My hand flew to my mouth to hold in my gasp.

No.

Vaughn had to be talking about me.

I was the special delivery my father would be thrilled to receive.

Why would Vaughn do this to me? He’d told me to trust him. He’d promised to protect me. In reality, all he’d been doing this week was making sure I didn’t disappear until the exchange could be made with la Mano Roja. He must’ve been waiting for this phone call to set it up.

He’d probably said those things to make me compliant. It was much easier to steer a willing subject than one who resisted. And I’d fallen right into his trap. Something cold and painful stabbed at my chest like a shard of ice sinking between my ribs.

What did Vaughn have to gain from getting in my father’s good graces? The same things anyone did, I supposed. Money. Power. And I was his ticket to it all. Humans were greedy by nature, and the possibility of becoming wealthy beyond imagination was too tempting to resist. Vaughn had probably thought he’d won the lottery when he’d stumbled across me. Tears welled in my eyes. I felt so goddamn stupid.

“Yes, I’m in the country,” Vaughn said. A moment later, he winced and braced one hand on his hip. “All right. Tonight it is.”

He was going to hand deliver me to la Mano Roja tonight? Daphne was away. There was no one to stop him from kidnapping me. No one to alert the authorities that I was missing. Today was my day off from Javi’s. My disappearance wouldn’t be noticed until Daphne got home tomorrow.

I pressed my back to the palm tree as panic erupted within me. I wouldn’t let Vaughn hand me over to the enemy. I’d end up back in the hell I’d escaped. Trapped in my father’s gilded cage and ripe for marriage and breeding with Jorge.

Absolutely not. I refused to accept that fate.

I had to get away from Vaughn. Of all the people I’d thought I might have to run from, I’d never imagined he’d be one.

I didn’t have much time. Barely enough to grab Titan. I’d have to steal Vaughn’s truck before he realized what I was planning.

Move, woman.

I wiped away the first tear. The second I let fall. But as I turned to leave the safety of the palm grove, I slammed straight into a solid wall of muscle.

Vaughn grabbed my shoulders to steady me. “Going somewhere?”

“Take your hands off me!” I slapped them away and scurried out of his grip.

“What are you doing here?” His eyes scanned my blotchy face and narrowed. “You were listening to my phone call.”

“Stay away from me.” I backed up one cautious step at a time.

He advanced in equal measure. “Are you going to give me a chance to explain?”

“No.” My muscles tensed, preparing to bolt. “I understand everything.”

“Don’t do it.” He lowered his chin, his body balanced and ready to pounce if I made the slightest suspicious movement. “Don’t you run from me, Hope. You know I’ll catch you.”

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