Page 38 of Watch Me Turn
"What a fascinating turn of events." Lazaro's smile returns, his teeth bared like a shark tasting blood. "My newborn son, defying me. For this poor excuse of a woman." He crosses his arms like a disappointed father. "Do you know how I deal with disobedience?"
"I don't give a fuck," Angel snarls. He doesn't move. "You will not lay a finger on her. I'll take whatever punishment you have to give."
"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough. Just know it hurts me more than it hurts you."
"I'm used to terrible fathers. I'm sure I can take it."
Lazaro studies him for a long moment. Then he laughs—cold and dripping with malice. "Oh, you really are special, aren't you? Even more than I had hoped." He nods to Julian. "Stand down for a moment. Mr. Ruiz is only prolonging the inevitable."
Julian nods and lowers the bow, but he keeps his finger near the trigger.
Angel spins so his back is to the angry mob, then pulls me into his arms and kisses me fiercely. His fingertips slide up my neck and into my hair, and he presses himself against me like he's trying to create an impression of my body. It's the kind of kiss that feels like he's saying goodbye, and I don't want it to ever stop.
As his lips crush mine, he moves us both backward—shuffling toward the grate.
His hand finds it above us. I hear the screech of metal as he wrenches it open. I'm already unzipping my jeans to shift as I hear Lazaro's voice cut through the chaos.
"STOP HER!" he screams as Julian's crossbow fires. The bolt whistles past my cheek as I look up into the shaft. Too close. Way too close.
"Shift," he whispers against my lips. "Now, Sophia. Please."
"No, I can't just?—"
"You have to." He backs me to the opening, his body still shielding me from Lazaro's view. "Trust me. I'll find you."
"How—"
“Roel. Ronan. Detatch Ms Vijil from my son,” Lazaro barks and the twins edge in unision toward us. Stalking us like a couple of cats trying to catch a bird.
"I'll find you, Sophia. I promise." Angel’s eyes burn into mine. "No matter what. I'll find you."
Tears blur my vision. "I love you."
"I love you too." He nudges me gently toward the darkness of the air vent. "Now go. Don't look back."
I want to fight. Want to stay. Want to drag him out of here with me.
But the others as closing in. Can feel the danger crackling in the air.
So I shift.
11
REALITY CHECK
Ordinarily a flight over the Rio Grande would feel like drifting through a dream, but right now it feels like a waking nightmare.
Each beat of my wings brings me closer to my home, closer to safety, but there will be nothing warm about my homecoming. No heroine's welcome. No open arms to hold me.
It's time to come clean and tell my fellow Malditas the truth.
Not the whole truth though. That would be like sealing my own death warrant, and I'm too much of a coward. I have no idea how La Madre will react to the news that her divine feminine bloodline, protected with magic and selectively shared with worthy witches, has been polluted by a man who will spend eternity bound to a gang of criminals.
I can't imagine it'll be good.
The maquiladoras of Juarez twinkle beneath me like a map of halogen stars knitted together in rows. I want to enjoy the view for as long as possible, but I know every moment is borrowed. As the rusted roof of the auto repair shop comes into view, my heart sinks.
It's unusual that there are no clothes waiting for me in the alley behind the shop, nothing to grab and change into, so when I shift back to my human form, I'm bare and exposed to the stilted evening air. I grab a half-damp piece of cardboard from behind the dumpster to hide my modesty and slink through the rolling door in the back, setting the heavy chains jangling like industrial wind chimes as I do.
