Page 2 of Hidden Truths

“I don’t have any papers or a passport. What will I do when I get there?” I skip mentioning that I don’t have that many friends there either. “And the driver will recognize me.”

“He probably won’t, you look terrible. But we’ll make sure, just in case.”

She reaches into the drawer, takes out scissors, and starts cutting my shorts and T-shirt in a couple of places. When she’s done, there is barely any cloth left to cover my boobs and ass. Just like Diego likes it.

“Now, the hair.”

I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and turn my back to her. I don’t let the tears fall as Nana shreds my waist-long hair until it barely reaches my shoulders in slightly uneven strands.

“As soon as you reach Chicago, contact Liam O’Neil,” she says. “He can help you get the papers and a new passport.”

“I don’t think that’s wise, considering the situation. What if O’Neil tells Diego I’m there?” My father did business with the Irish for the past year, but he was never a fan of their leader. He called Liam O’Neil a “tricky bastard”.

“You have to risk it. No one else can get you forged documents.”

I stare at the floor where black strands of hair lie around my bare feet. It’ll grow back... if I live to see that happen.

Nana taps me on the shoulder. “Turn around.”

When I do, she grabs a flowerpot with her favorite agave plant from the table, takes a handful of soil, and starts smearing the dirt over on my arms and legs. She takes a step back, looks at me, then spreads a little bit of it on my forehead as well.

“Good.” She nods.

I look down at myself. My hip bones are protruding, and my stomach looks sunken. I was always on the thin side, but now my body looks like someone sucked every piece of flesh from it, leaving only skin and bones. I definitely resemble the girls Diego locked away in the basement. When I look up, Nana is watching me with tears in her eyes.

“Take this.” She grabs a bag that has been hanging on the chair and thrusts it in my hands. “Some food and water. I didn’t dare to put money in, in case the driver decides to check it.”

I wrap my arm around her, bury my face in the crook of her neck, and inhale the smell of powdery fabric softener and cookies. It reminds me of childhood, summer days, and love. “I can’t leave you, Nana.”

“No time for that.” She sniffs. “Let’s go. Head down and don’t speak.”

Outside, holding on to my upper arm, she drags me toward the truck parked in front of the service building.

“It’s about time, Guadalupe,” the driver barks and throws his cigarette on the ground. “Get her in the back. We’re late.”

“You don’t want to get near her.” Nana pushes me around the driver. “The bitch vomited all over herself. She stinks.”

I keep my head down and try not to trip as I jump inside the back of the truck. My legs are trembling from the strain of trying to hold myself upright. I duck behind one of the boxes and turn to look at Nana Guadalupe one last time, but the big, sliding door drops down with a bang before I can catch a glimpse. The dark is complete, and a minute later, the engine roars to life.

The phone in my back pocket rings. I send the knife I’ve been holding in my right hand flying, then reach for the phone and take the call.

“Yes?”

“The Italians’ shipment just left Mexico,” Roman Petrov, the Bratva’s pakhan says from the other side. “I need you to go with Mikhail when the men head out to intercept it tomorrow night.”

“Oh? Does this mean I’m allowed in the field again?”

When I joined the Russian Bratva four years ago, I started as a foot soldier, and during these past years, I climbed the ladder tothe pakhan’s inner circle. I handled the field duties until a year ago when Roman banned me from them.

“No. This will be a one-time deal. Anton is still in hospital, and we’re short-handed, or I would never send you.”

“Your motivational speeches require serious work.” I fling the next knife through the air.

“When you’re motivated, the body count tends to climb through the roof, Sergei.”

I roll my eyes. “What do you need me to do?”

“Rig their truck and blow the thing. It will have to be while the driver stops to sleep, because our intel says that there’s a girl on the truck with the drugs. We need to get her out first. Mikhail will call you later with more details.”

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