Page 60 of Catching Camila

Camila

Friday 12:18 a.m.

John skidded to a stop at the edge of the tree line and set her down. They peered nervously into the field toward the trailer park. No barking dogs, no police sirens.

John clutched her hand, his brow stitched together. “I don't like it. What if they take you in for questioning? I should come.”

She shook her head. “So what if they take me in? They can't keep me. They might question me, but I'll just tell them that Fer was confused or high or something. It's not far-fetched. Thumb screws, water boarding, whatever. My lips are sealed.” She made a zipping motion over her mouth. “Besides, Fer's probably just lying just to get me back home.”

She peered toward her trailer in the dark. No sign of police anywhere.

“Still don't like it.” He leaned down and touched his forehead to hers. “I could take you away. Somewhere we'd be safe.”

She shook her head. “What if the cops do have my mother? I have to make sure she’s okay.”

John lifted his head, sighing. “Then I'm going to hang around.”

She nodded. “Don't get caught.”

It was the first time he'd smiled since she passed out. “Not a chance.”

She stood on her tip toes, turning her face up and closing her eyes. His soft lips pressed down on hers, his arms circled around her back and drew her in. He's an alien, was her fleeting thought before passion took over. Desire burned through her body as he pressed his chest to hers. His hands were in her hair. His mouth trailed kisses down her neck until she stopped breathing, until her body cried out for him. Heat pulsed up her veins, warming her, making her long for his touch. She wanted this hands everywhere, his mouth. The desire was stronger than anything she’d known possible.

When he pulled away, she felt a tug deep in her heart, as if John were anchored there.

He was the hottest man she’d ever seen. His eyes. His lips. The longing on his face. She had to leave before she begged him to stay.

“Camila,” he murmured. His chest was heaving.

“John, I… have to go.”

Then she turned and ran toward her trailer. She could still taste his kiss. A current sparked her skin like an electrical wire. She'd never sleep tonight thinking about him, about what the hell she was doing kissing a perfect stranger.

A very hot stranger.

Then she saw the red and blue flashing lights. All good feelings drained away.

Two cop cars sat in front of her house, their flashers splattering the night in garish red and blue.

Camila ran up the street, her feet slapping the pavement. As she neared, she saw police officers struggling with someone. She looked up, flashing wild caged-animal eyes. Mama.

Camila clutched her chest. This could not be happening.

The cops had her wrists pinned behind her back as they snapped on cuffs. Camila caught Spanish curse words as Mama kicked a cop in the shins. One grabbed her legs and began stuffing her in the back of his cruiser.

As Camila sprinted toward the scene, a hand clawed around her wrist and yanked sideways. She stumbled behind a dark shed.

“Let me g—” A hand clamped over her mouth. She fought with elbows and knees.

“Jesus,” her attacker said, scrambling to grab her hands. “Watch those elbows, Chuck Norris!”

“Fer!” Camila whispered as she pulled back.

Fer frowned and rubbed her stomach where Camila had hit her. Fer looked straight out of bed with her Sponge Bob sleep pants and matted hair.

“What's going on? What're you doing out here?” Camila asked, leaning around to look for Mama. The police were pulling out with her mother in the back of their cruiser.

“No!” she yelled, turning to run after it.

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