Page 77 of Embedded
“Depends on what you mean by hurt.” I looked away for a beat. “Physically, I’m fine.”
I saw Bruno react as someone came up behind me. “Archie,” he shouted, “take Nicole downstairs.”
“Yes, Bruno.” He headed toward me, and I pretended to cower toward Bruno. I still needed to play the part.
“I’ll deal with you later, but for now, get her downstairs and keep her there until I say otherwise.” Then he reached out and shoved his gun up under Archie’s chin. “If you touch her, I’ll skin you alive.”
“Understood.”
When he went for my arm, I jerked it back. “Don’t touch me! I’ll follow you.” He glanced at Bruno then began to walk.
“Everyone out,” Bruno ordered his men. “That means everyone. Outside, go!”
What is happening?
We headed to the bottom floor and then through a door that was flush with the wall. Inside was a cold room full of canned goods. I glanced at the pickles, onions, pears, and pepper sauce that were all stored neatly in sealed jars. The labels were all easy to read; someone had very neat printing. It reminded me of the cold room the sisters had at the orphanage where I’d grown up. I was often sent down there to get things for the sisters when they cooked. I loved to open those jars and help with the cooking.
Archie leaned against the wall and rubbed his head. I wondered if he was suffering from a hangover. I hoped so. I spotted a metal chair and table, and I hooked the back of the chair and pulled it so it scraped across the concrete floor. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard, and he grabbed his head. Instantly, something dark came over me, and I saw my opportunity. I leaned my hip into the table, and when it scraped against the floor, his eyes flicked to it, and I lifted the chair and swung it at his head with all my might. He screamed in pain, and I swung it back and rammed the leg of it straight into the top of his head. The vibration of the impact made the pieces of orange in my stomach try to come back up. I might fantasize about killing the men who hurt me in life, but it was a completely different thing actually taking a life.
“Oh, my God.” My fingers released from the chair as it fell, still impaled in his head. His lifeless body twitched, and I gagged. It had happened so fast; it wasn’t planned. I just saw the moment and reacted.
“Okay, okay,” I repeated and tried to control my freakout. I couldn’t afford to lose myself just yet. I knew the cameras would catch me, and I would only have a few moments to make my escape.
“Where is she, Bruno?”
I ducked by the stairs at the sound of Esmeralda’s voice. My skin prickled like my nerves were being dragged over broken glass. I feared Bruno because I knew what he was capable of, but I also knew he was attracted to me, and it gave me an advantage. But I was downright terrified of his mother because she just wanted me dead. She was smart enough to sense me as a threat. She might realize I could be close to discovering something.
“Don’t make me search this place inch by inch.”
“Why aren’t you back in the States?” Bruno’s voice was tight.
“Because I know you can’t handle anything on your own. Now I’m having to manage you, and both projects. Give her to me.”
“Mama, like I told you yesterday and I’m repeating today, she is not here. Whoever is feeding you this trash is lying.” Bruno was a pretty good actor himself. “Did you really come all this way for her, or is there something else going on that you’re not telling me about?”
“If I find out you’re lying, I’ll send you to join your father and brother in Mexico City.”
“Mama,” Bruno snapped, “I’d appreciate some respect and?—”
“You’ll get respect when you’ve earned it!” There was a pause, and I pressed my chest a little closer to the wall and caught a glimpse of the sleeve on Esmeralda’s blouse. “I heard Eric Noah was back.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Why did he come and see you?” she demanded.
“How do you know that?” Bruno sounded suspicious. “Where are you getting your information?”
“Does it matter? Why did he come to see you?”
Bruno’s shoes squeaked as he moved on the stairs, and I desperately scanned the room for a way out. “I noticed you’re not surprised that he’s still alive, Mama.”
“Nothing surprises me anymore.” She sounded even more annoyed, and I knew I had to get out of there before she decided she’d had enough of her reckless son. I took off my shoes and moved down the hallway with them in my hand. I slipped inside a room and saw it had a set of sliding glass doors that led to the outside. I saw the barn in the distance. The only problem was to reach it I’d have to get past all the parked cars. What choice did I have?
Slowly, I opened the doors, slipped on my shoes, and dashed across the small patio and through a succulent garden. I waited for the two soldiers up by the pool to turn the other way then raced between two SUVs and ducked down.
I heard a man’s voice very close to where I had hunkered down. “Her breasts were like ripe peaches.” Another man laughed and made a rude comment. They were only a few feet from me. I lay flat on the ground and inched my way under the vehicle then carefully moved across the sharp rocks that scraped and scratched at my skin.
Boom! A crack of thunder shook the ground so hard that I had to force the scream that wanted to erupt back down my throat. Seconds later, it was as if someone opened the gate to a dam as water poured down all around me. I saw feet run by me, and the two men raced for cover. I hurried out from under the car and jumped to my feet. With my back flat to one of the cars, I looked at the house. It was now or never. Wait, what? I spotted what could only be Esmeralda’s purse inside the car. It was open on the front seat.
