Page 88 of Queens and Monsters

“No, I think Mia—SeñoraMia Roríguez—is in trouble. We need to get into her room. Please. She’s bleeding.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “SeñoraRoríguez—Josefina.”

“I’m on my way to get her.”

The woman hurried toward Mia’s cabin. Two large doors marked the entrance to Josefina’s quarters. I pounded on the door and called her name. “Josefina.” My fist ached as I pounded.

The door opened inward. Josefina was standing before me in a bathrobe. “I’m sorry to bother you.”

Alarm showed in her eyes. “Is everything okay?”

Jorge came from behind her, looking as discombobulated as I’d ever seen him. There wasn’t time to think about what I’d interrupted. I concentrated on Josefina. “No.” I shook my head. “It’s Mia. I couldn’t get to her, but I heard her…”

“Mia.” She turned around saying something I couldn’t understand to her husband before rushing past me. “We need to get to her. It’s too early for the baby.”

“She said she was bleeding.”

I ran beside Josefina as she took the quickest route to Mia’s room. As we approached the door was open. Our steps slowed and Josefina entered before me. Mia was lying on the bathroom floor covered by towels. A member of the staff was with her, using a stethoscope tolisten for the baby’s heartbeat. Mia looked up at us with a tear-stained face and puffy eyes.

The staff member spoke in Spanish. While I didn’t understand him, Mia and Josefina did, as they both took long, ragged breaths. Josefina hurried to Mia. “We need to get you to a hospital. I don’t care what Jorge says.”

Mia nodded. Her gaze came to mine. “You heard me.”

“I did. I’m sorry I didn’t hear you sooner.”

With our help, Mia dressed. She said she’d been in the shower when she felt the cramping and saw the blood. When she got out, she doesn’t know if she passed out or what happened. She woke on the floor, afraid to move, and started to call for help.

“Get your purse, ID, and phone,” Josefina said to me.

“Why? Where am I going?”

“With me. You’re an American citizen. I have fake identification, but I don’t want trouble.”

The dots became connected. “We’re going with Mia?”

“Sí. Jorge wants us to take guards with us. He’s calling Silas to meet Mia at the helipad.”

“We’re flying?”

She shook her head. “We won’t all fit in the helicopter, and Mia can’t ride in a boat across choppy water. She’ll need to fly with guards. You, I, and more guards will travel by boat.”

“Is there any way to contact Aléjandro?” I asked.

Josefina’s expression grew solemn. “Jorge says no.”

I reached for her hand. “Are our husbands alive?”

“Sí,Jorge swears it.”

“Is he coming?”

“No. Something horrible happened today. If he’s found in the States, they will arrest him.”

“What happened?”

Josefina’s posture straightened. “Not our business. Right now, Mia is our concern and in our prayers.”

I watched as Mia was carried to the helicopter and strapped into the back seat. Two of the dark-suited men also boarded with the pilot. One sat in the co-pilot’s seat and the other sat next to Mia. As the helicopter took off, blowing my dress and hair, I looked around, taking in the lack of guards.

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