Page 18 of Kristoff

I can’t imagine putting myself in such a dangerous situation on purpose. But now, with limited options, that may be the only thing left to do.

“Two, even if I can trust him, it’s going to cost a good amount of money.” Kristoff looks at me point-blank, leaving the question unasked. But we both know he’s wondering where I would get the money. A schoolteacher, especially in this country, isn’t going to be making a spectacular salary. Yeah, I don’t want to lie to him, not after everything that happened between us. Not just the sex, which is more than enough, but the simple fact he’s kept my secret.

“I have money available once I get to the coast.” That’s if everything else is going to plan. At this point, I’m not ready to consider something may have gone wrong somewhere else. My contact could also have decided it was a lost cause when I didn’t show up. But I have to keep a positive attitude if I’m going to make it through this. “My brother has made arrangements for me to get home safely.”

A knot of emotion forms in my chest. I don’t want to put Kristoff or his brother in jeopardy. “I don’t think I’ve said it, but I’m very grateful for your help. Thank you.”

“Don’t go thanking me yet,” he chuckles. “We still have to figure out how to send you out of here without anyone knowing.”

“Still…”

“Then there’s what we’re going to do to keep you busy these next couple of days.”

My pulse goes into action, doubling the beat against my chest.

He pulls my face to his for a kiss.

CHAPTER TEN

Gerald

The stench of fuel is stuck in my nose and on every inch of my body. After spending hours in the truck with that cretin, what else could I expect. Things would be so much easier if I were the one going to Georgetown. Alone.

But no. Faust made it clear I was to keep the peace in the village. The only way I could work in the trip out of this Godforsaken hellhole was to say I was protecting the fuel truck. As the only person allowed a weapon, it would be my duty to protect any Faust property from the bandits on the road to the coast.

Now I’m stuck having to ride withMin-go. After so much time spent in the truck, it’s taken on his smell. I regret making him sleep there instead of giving him a hammock to set up somewhere else.

I should go bathe, straightaway. But I’ve got another, more pressing matter. I have to find Erica before the sun goes down. I hate showing up and having her sucking cock. As the Faust representative, I should be the first customer of the night. I don’t need her carrying somebody else’s germs when she services me.

I throw open the door to the hut she shares with her kids and her sister. Neither woman is here, only her two brats. One is wailing on the straw pallet taking up a corner. The snot-nosed one is trying to make it stop by patting it on the chest. Annoyed, I go in search of the whore. “Erica,” I call out on my way behind the huts. Sometimes they’re all out there in a circle. Damn women shouldn’t be spending time talking when they should be working.

I have half a mind to find one of the other whores. But damn if she isn’t the closest to who I really want. Celia. But those Schuniors gave her a job. The bitch can turn her nose up at the men offering money. Including me. And the one thing Faust looks down upon is taking a woman by force.

Though her pussy’s untouched, I wouldn’t risk my job over it. No, not even if it was made of gold. But the day I leave the flea-bitten village, I’m taking her with me. By then, nothing should matter. If she still has her cherry, I’ll take it. Either way, once I’m done with her, I’m getting on a plane and going somewhere they can’t find me.

“I’m here.” Erica comes from behind the huts, her hair in a messy bun. The T-shirt she’s wearing is wet, showing the dark skin at her belly and the bottom of her tits.

“What are you doing back here?” I demand. She should be bathed already, knowing I might come by. I always like seeing the whores in Georgetown, finding out what they offer. They’re stupid if they think I’m about to pay their prices. Not when I can give Erica much less for a blowjob where I can close my eyes and pretend she’s someone else.

“I’m washing diapers.” She pulls an arm across her forehead.

I recoil, taking a step back from her. I don’t want to imagine where her hands have been and what she’s scrubbing off those filthy diapers.

“I got distracted,” she confesses. “The girls and I were talking about the teacher lost up at Faust.”

I frown. “Teacher? What teacher? What are you talking about?”

“A teacher disappeared the other day,” she says with excitement. “She left her home but never got to the school. Some of the students went home and told their parents she didn’t go to school.”

“And what did happen?”

“She disappeared!” She reiterates, shaking her head, as if I’m the ignorant one.

I have half a mind to show her the back of my hand.

“They have no idea what happened to her. But Mr. Faust, he had all the people searching the jungle. Even got one bit by a cat while he was out.”

Anger boils up inside me. I have a satellite phone, the only one in the village. I use it to communicate, regularly, with Faust. Why wasn’t I made aware of this?

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