Page 130 of Cavern of Silence
I freeze. "Santiago is dead?"
"Yes. Both he and his brother, Nicolas, were murdered the same night."
"I don't know anything about that." I pick up several peanut wrappers off the floor.
"Julieta, I need air. Come outside with me."
"No."
"It's not a request."
I cover my face with my hands and take a few breaths. The pilot is in charge, and disobeying him will result in consequences. I remove my hands and follow him outside. He pulls me over to the back of the plane where the luggage goes.
"What are we doing?"
"The plane might be bugged, and I don't want to say this in there."
I would glare at him, but my face hurts too much. "Say what?"
"I'm sorry I left you. I didn't know what would happen, and I've done a lot of things wrong. I've been in my own bubble trying to survive this, like you."
"Whatever." I spin to leave, and he grabs my arm.
"Listen to me," he barks.
I turn back to him and cross my arms.
"Since the Gómez brothers are dead, Torres has more power."
My insides quiver, and all I see are Ryker's eyes full of desperation for me to stay alive. I blink hard. "What's your point?"
"We need to figure out how to get out of this once and for all."
I scoff. "Get out of this? Look at my face. There is no getting out of this. They are everywhere and will always win."
"No. There is going to come a time for us to escape. I don't know when, but somehow, someway, we will have a window. When it comes, we need to take it. No matter where I have to go, it's better than continuing to be a part of this."
"You say it as if we have a choice. You stand in front of me, with my face battered, and you disregard their power. Honestly, you're a part of them for all I know, and this is a trick. Well, guess what, Roman? I'm not buying into your sudden change of heart about the Global Leaders."
"I've never wanted this," he insists.
He sounds sincere. I want him to be. But I don't trust anyone who's served the Global Leaders. And he's always turned a blind eye in the past.
"I'm done with this conversation." I spin and go back into the plane, confused about where he stands and whether he's trying to trap me or not.
It doesn't matter. The only important thing is to find a way to get to the guys so they can rescue Ryker.
I finish cleaning the plane, get it set up for the next guests, and Roman comes back on.
"We need to go."
"Where are the passengers?"
"They are getting on in Guatemala." He goes into the cockpit, and I shut the door and sit in my seat, relieved I have some more time to try and calm my nerves, even if it is a short flight.
Get into professional mode.
I take out the binder where the passengers are registered.
