“Maybe,” Tristan mutters. “Maybe not.”
The chill morphs into a wave of sickness twisting in my gut. Someone wants me dead. And the love of my life doesn’t even care.
“Karina saw you together last night,” Mateus finally says.
“I know.”
My cheeks heat, knowing we’d been caught.
“You care for her.”
“I want to fuck her. It’s animal attraction. Nothing more. And last night was a mistake I have no intention of repeating. I was relieved that Karina interrupted us. I can’t seem to…”
“What?”
“Nothing.” Tristan’s voice is barely audible.
My heart starts to race. Last night’s humiliation feels even more raw now. I should go before they find me eavesdropping on their conversation. But Mateus’s sense of urgency has me planted where I stand, desperate to learn more and find out our next steps.
“Do what you wish. You know what I think. Be ready at noon if you want to come with us.”
I don’t wait to hear more. I retreat to the bedroom. My thoughts sprint through what I need to do. Pack what little I have. Find Tristan or appeal to Mateus. Maybe he’ll take me with him. I can’t trust Tristan’s heart.
I throw my toiletries in my bag with the few clothes I brought. The sound of a vehicle rolling over the gravel in the front drive draws my attention up. I glance through the window as a black Hummer idles near the gate. The armed guard is speaking to the driver obscured behind the vehicle’s tinted windows, but I can’t hear what they’re saying.
Then the guard’s head jerks back violently with a sharp pop, and he collapses onto the ground. I slap my hand over my mouth to mask my scream at the sight of his wound gushing onto the chalky white stones.
The second guard lifts his automatic weapon and gets a few shots off before he’s given the same fate—a single answering crack of the air that sends his gun and limbs flailing. He drops like a ragdoll to the ground only a few feet away from his post. My shaking hand closes tightly around my pendant. I try to scream, but I’m frozen in place until the Hummer lurches into motion toward the house.
“Tristan. Tristan!”
I grab my bag and run to the kitchen to find him, but he’s gone.
“Tristan!”
I spin around and run into the sitting room, finding it empty too. I scream his name again, unable to control the violent shaking of my limbs. Finally the back door opens and Tristan is there, his eyes wide with concern.
“What’s wrong?”
“They’re here. They killed them. The guards. They’re dead. Oh my God, Tristan. They just shot them both.”
He grabs me by the arms. His eyes turn from blue silver to dark steel. “Who? Who shot them?”
I can only shake my head and swallow over my tears. “I don’t know,” I whisper. “But I think they’re coming for us.”
Mateus rushes into the room, eyes wide.
Tristan looks up. “We have to go. Right now. Get Karina.”
Mateus exhales in a rush. “She’s gone… She went into town to get a few things before we left.”
Tristan hesitates. Precious seconds pass as he quietly assesses the other man. “Who the fuck did you tell?”
Mateus pales. “No one, Tristan. I would never put you in danger. Not after what you did for me.”
Tristan pulls a gun out of his waistband and points it square at him, shoving me to the side. “You’re lying. I know the price on her head. What’s mine?”
Mateus takes a tentative step forward, halting when Tristan cocks the gun. My heart lodges in my throat.
Mateus speaks quietly. “That’s not what happened. You have to trust me. I would never betray you.”
“I don’t trust anyone, and you know it.”
Mateus lifts his hands in surrender. “Money will never turn my alliances. I have no reason to bring harm on you.”
Tristan’s jaw is tight. “No? Getting rid of me wipes the debt. And it’s a pretty big fucking debt, if I recall.”
Mateus doesn’t move. His expression is steady. “A debt you’ve never called, friend.”
I jolt at the sound of two car doors slamming in close succession, but neither men flinch. Voices outside. Footsteps on stone. Then I can only hear my own heartbeat pumping blood and adrenaline through my veins. My throat tightens with panic. I don’t know who to trust, but the bad guys who want at least two of us dead are mere seconds away.
“Tristan. We need to get out of here.”
“She’s right,” Mateus says evenly. “If your comrades make it through the front door, none of it will matter. They’ll kill us all.”
Comrades?
What the hell has Tristan gotten us into? The phantom demons he’s been talking about have suddenly become real. If I thought I was living a nightmare before, I’m certain I’ve just arrived at the gates of hell.
Tristan grimaces tightly. “Where’s the car?”
“Downstairs. Keys are in the ignition.”
Tristan gestures with the tip of his gun toward the hallway. “Let’s go. Move.”
I manage a relieved exhale as we move together through the house. Tristan pauses at a second bedroom, where he retrieves his bag and slings it over his shoulder.
“This way.” Mateus opens the door to a basement stairway that leads us to a dark and dingy garage.
In it sits a cream-colored classic car that looks like it’s decades old but in mint condition.
“You’re kidding me,” Tristan says.
“It’s fast,” Mateus assures him, slipping into the driver’s seat.
Tristan tugs my backpack off.
“No, I need this,” I say, my voice trembling badly.
“I know you do. But you need to go with Mateus.” He rounds to the back of the car, pops the hatchback open and, after a few seconds, closes my backpack in it, slinging his own bag over his shoulder again.
“What are you going to do?” I ask shakily.
My breathing is ragged as he walks toward me. I feel like I could pass out. When my fingers start tingling, I worry that I might. Tristan seems eerily calm, though.
“I’m going to stay here and take care of this,” he says.
I shake my head violently. “No. Come with us. You have to get out of here. They’ll kill you.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it. I’ll meet you after.”
Mateus looks up at us through the rolled-down window. “There’s a safe house in town where we can stay until the coast is clear. It’s near—”
“Fuck your safe house.” Tristan’s anger breaks his calm but eases when he looks back to me.
My brain whirls and stutters until it lands on at least one place I’d rather be than here under siege.
“I know a place,” I say quickly.
Tristan stills, his gaze locked to mine.
“From yesterday.” I touch below my right eye, hoping he picks up the hint.
He nods slightly and looks down at Mateus. “Drop her at the edge of town. She knows the rest of the way.” Then he curves his hand firmly at my nape, forcing me closer. His voice drops to a whisper. “Don’t let him follow you. And don’t fucking talk to anyone. Blend in. Understand? I’ll meet you there.”
“Okay.” I can barely get out the next words. “What if something happens to you?”
I can’t lose you again…
“I put your phone and some money in your backpack. Get out of Brazil as fast as you can. If you can’t talk your way out of it, don’t be afraid to get creative. Bribes always help.”
My eyes threaten to bulge out of their sockets when he presses the gun into my hand. “Take this. Feel free to shoot him if you need to.”
“Tristan, I can’t.”
“You do what you want, remember? You’re braver than you realize.” His hands fall away. “One more thing. It’s important.”
“What?”
His expression hardens. “There’s a red notebook in your bag. If I don’t come back, give it to your father. No one else.”
Another bang sounds from upstairs. My heart nearly flies out of my chest.
“Now get the fuck out of here.”
He steps away, and I rush on shaking legs to the passenger side, joining Mateus in the car. He starts the engine and rests his hand on the gear shift.
“Mateus.”
He looks up through the window. Tristan simultaneously leans in.