Page 63 of Embedded
“Okay.” She hugged me once more. “Thank you, Nicole.”
I hurried out the back door and dialed Jack.
“Washington Post.”
“Jack, it’s me. I need to get Mari and her family out of town asap. Raúl got caught up with some of Bruno’s soldiers. He swung and hit one of them then ran. They’re looking for him.”
“He had one more week to stay out of trouble. Shit,” he huffed. “Yeah, give me twenty-four hours and I’ll send a car. Just don’t tell Emily about this. She’ll worry, and with my luck try to smuggle the kid over the border herself.” Raúl was like a son to Emily.
“She has my phone. I’ll use a burner and text you the number. Thanks, Jack.” I hung up, tossed the phone onto the bed of a hay truck going by, and ducked down the next street to the hotel where I was staying.
I stared at the cell phone well into the night. My mind spun and begged me to check in with Mari, but I couldn’t risk it.
There was a knock at the door, and I raced to open it. I was greeted by Armondo, who held up a box.
“Ms. Winter, you’ve been requested to join Mr. Perez at the Sanchez manor tonight.” I felt my stomach drop. “I’ve been sent to get you.”
“I told Bruno I wasn’t able to attend.” I started to close the door when his foot blocked it.
“I must insist.” He pushed the box toward me. “I’ll wait outside.”
Internally, I let out a string of curse words. I should have known Bruno wouldn’t take no for an answer.
An hour later, dressed in the gown Bruno, sent I sat unhappily at a table set with crystal and silver. I saw Sully speak to the bartender, then he approached me with a glass of champagne in his hand. He must have seen me arrive.
He sat down and silently handed me the glass. I immediately tipped it to my lips and took a long draw of the cool bubbly. I knew I’d need another, but before I could ask, the lights dimmed, and the music faded away.
“Welcome, welcome.” Bruno stepped onto the stage and played the role of host even though it was Sully’s party.
“Any idea what’s going on?” Sully eyed me. “Because this wasn’t part of my night.”
“No idea.” I shrugged, and suddenly a floodlight nailed me. Like the proverbial deer in the headlights, I sat there blind and frozen. “There she is, everyone, my date for the evening. Come on, sweetheart, come up and join me.”
“Over my dead body,” I whispered.
“Don’t make a scene, Nicole. You better get up there,” Sully’s voice held a warning.
I put the champagne glass down and stood. A hundred pairs of eyes followed my every move as I made my way slowly to the stage. I could hear whispers as I went. People knew I was an American reporter; they wondered what I doing there. I kept a low profile no matter where I was. I didn’t want to be noticed; you got a lot more information that way. That especially applied to parties.
“What are you doing?” I snapped at Bruno, who gave me a warning glare to shut up.
“Isn’t she stunning, everyone?” I got a round of fake applause as Bruno signaled to someone. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I have this beauty up here with me tonight. It’s so I can remind her of who I am and what I’m capable of.”
My insides clenched, fear twisting through me like a blade as Raúl and Raphael were hauled up on stage chained together like in some horror movie.
“No,” I whispered, and Bruno tilted his head at my reaction.
Armondo stepped forward and handed him a scythe. Blood drained to my feet and my head went light. The crowd went silent, locked in fear. We all knew there was nothing to be done but be witnesses to Bruno’s cruelty.
“This is a reminder of who I am and not to mistake my love for weakness.”
Love? He was mad. I felt a pair of arms wrap around me and hold me in place.
“You watch and learn. You forget you are a guest in his world,” Armondo hissed in my ear.
Bruno stood over Raúl than turned to look at me. “You didn’t listen, Nicole, and this is what happens when you don’t obey.” He swung the scythe.
“No!”
