Page 85 of Marks of Rebellion
"Shh." He strokes her head. "Hunter, your turn to drive."
We exchange places.
"Where am I going?"
Julieta sniffles. "Straight for ten kilometers then turn left. There's a two-track path that will take us to the coast. Omoa will be east."
I follow her directions and try to release my anger about what happened.
She put my woman in danger.
She didn't know.
How did she even have knowledge of that crossing?
How many times has she made this trip, and why?
She knows stuff she needs to tell us.
What is Ryker getting himself into?
I glance in the rearview mirror. Tears stream down her cheeks. Ryker is holding her and talking to her quietly.
Vanessa turns on the radio, leans into me, and holds the bunch of bananas that fell in our vehicle in my face. "Guess what this is?"
"Your snack?"
She breaks one off and then peels it. "My favorite fruit." Her tongue darts out of her mouth, and she takes a quick lick before wrapping her lips around it.
"You're such a dirty girl."
She smirks and takes a bite then puts a piece in my mouth. A song she knows comes on, and she sings and bounces around in the front seat.
How is she unaffected by what just happened?
Because she's been through so much, that's why.
We get to the coast, and the sparkling turquoise water is as magnificent as it was during our morning drive. It's now late afternoon.
"What time do you think sunset will be?" I ask.
Vanessa looks at the sea. "Maybe an hour."
"Looks like a perfect night. Too bad we won't be able to stop and enjoy it."
"Do you know where we're going after we get passports?"
"Not yet."
"Maybe we can go to a beach location. Then we can sip fancy frozen drinks, and you can rub sunscreen on me all day."
"When it's safe, I'll take you to my place in Australia."
She beams. "Is it on the beach?"
"Yes."
"What made you choose Australia?"
