Page 89 of Marks of Rebellion
"What happened?"
"After a year of working extra shifts, they moved me to the private planes. It was more money. After three of those trips, I had saved enough money and bought the land for Miguel for his birthday. But they made me keep flying, and after the tenth trip, that's when stuff started."
"I'm confused. You used to go through the border for work?"
"No. Miguel hates to fly, since he's so tall, so we always drove everywhere. He's known the landowner on the Guatemalan side since we were kids. Instead of spending hours in the immigration line and driving out of our way, we always went through the path. As long as we paid the Honduran owner when we passed, it was never an issue. We would swap the ATV with the truck at the gate of our property when we came and went."
"When was the last time you made the trip?"
Tears well in her eyes. Pain and agony radiate from them. "Four years ago. I found out about Miguel and Josie. He had already moved there with Liliana. Said she needed our help."
I put my arm around her. "I'm so sorry. I can't imagine what that's been like for you."
She wipes her face. "I was so stupid. It was right under my nose for years. I did all that to buy that property so we could move to Belize because that's what Miguel always dreamed of. Even though I didn't need to earn any more extra money, I couldn't get out. Once you're in, they own you. There's no escape."
"It's prison," I mutter.
"Yes."
She understands everything.
"But I told Ryker some things...what if they find out?"
They will kill him and you.
"You can't do anything about it. Just make sure you reiterate to him that he can't ever speak of it."
She puts her hands over her face again. "I'm so tired of hiding and this being my life. I don't even know who I am anymore."
"If it makes you feel any better, I don't, either. I'm a forty-one-year-old mess."
She scoffs. "I've got you by a year."
"What am I going to do about Hunter?" I blurt out.
"I'm not sure, but he's coming out here..."
"What?"
Oh God. I'm not ready to face him yet.
"He's been checking on you every five minutes."
"How long have I been out here?"
"Over an hour," Hunter's deep voice booms.
I close my eyes.Shit, shit, shit!
Julieta pats my arm. "I'll see you inside."
The door shuts, and his scent flares in my nostrils and energy radiates into my cells. I don't need to look. He's next to me. Slowly, I open my eyes.
The glow of the moon shines on his face, and I can't ignore the hurt, pain, and confusion that resides in his eyes.
He quietly says, "I don't want to keep hurting you, Flower."
"You aren't," I insist.
