Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 170747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 683(@250wpm)___ 569(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 683(@250wpm)___ 569(@300wpm)
“You will be Anna’s personal guard.” I glance at the guy, looking him up and down. He’s skinny, his shoulders are hunched, eyes darting around. I could easily escape him. Why would Rafael make him my guard? Perhaps he has no job for him, so this is like a token gesture; guard the helpless little slave who won’t even try to escape. “You are to stop her from leaving should she decide to be stupid, and if anyone tries to touch her, you have my permission to shoot them.” He eyes the boy meaningfully. “Anyone.”
Lucas nods, a strand of black hair falling over his forehead. “Yes, boss.”
“You can go,” Rafael says, and I do, hobbling from the room.
I’m at my bedroom door when a throat clears behind me. I whirl around and come face to face with Lucas. He looks at me and then at the floor.
“Uh, I’m Lucas.” He holds out his hand to me.
I frown at his outstretched hand, not quite knowing what to do with it. “Anna.” I tentatively take his hand and he shakes it, then lets go.
“Nice to meet you, Anna. Oh, the boss said to give you this.” He holds out a worn and battered version of Ernest Hemingway’s; A Moveable Feast. The bright blue cover is worn and bubbled. The gold writing cut off by the peeling corner of the card. This book is well loved and well read. He heard me.
“He gave you this?”
He shrugs. “I’ll uh, I’ll be right here if you need me.” I swear his cheeks tinge pink before he takes up position next to my door, his back ramrod straight.
“Um, thanks?”
He has to be the strangest guard I’ve ever seen.
I jolt awake, my throat sore as I suck deep breaths into my lungs. It takes me a second to spot the figure lingering over me in the darkness. Instinctively I leap away, my heart pounding even harder.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” the man whispers. I frown and squint at the skinny figure in the darkness before a light comes on, temporarily blinding me. “You were screaming, and I didn’t…I thought…” Lucas rubs his hand over the back of his neck in agitation. I glance at his plaid pajama bottoms and his Star Wars t-shirt, his hair sticking up in every direction. My body relaxes, and my breathing evens out.
“Yeah, that happens. Bad dreams.”
He nods and looks away awkwardly. “I’m sorry,” he says again and turns to walk out of the room.
“Lucas?” He glances over his shoulder, a look of concern blanketing his face. “Thanks.” The word slips from my lips unbidden. He’s the man ‘guarding’ me—stopping me from escaping. I shouldn’t be thanking him, but his uninhibited concern is something I haven’t seen in so long.
A shy smile pulls at Lucas’ lips before he ducks his head. “No problem. My room is next door if you need me.” He hurries from the room, and I find my own lips forming a tiny smile.
Strange indeed.
8
Rafael
Late morning sunlight streams through the windows when I walk into the kitchen. My phone is pressed between my ear and shoulder as I talk to Carlos.
“Got a rat, boss,” he says.
“Fuck’s sake. Sort it, Carlos, and send a message. I’m thinking a metal box and some rodents.”
He laughs. “Gotcha. I’ll call you when it’s done.” He hangs up, and I huff out a breath. Maria is bustling around in the kitchen, and the scent of her special chili fills the air.
“That smells good.” I peer over her shoulder into the bubbling pot.
“I’ll get you some,” she says without looking at me. Her voice is thick and wavers slightly. I grab her shoulder, turning her to face me. The middle-aged woman swipes at her cheeks and offers me a watery smile.
“What’s wrong?” I almost growl. Maria is like a second mother to me, and I can’t help but feel protective of her.
“It’s nothing.” She brushes me off. “Just an old woman being silly.”
“Maria…” She huffs a short breath, rolling her eyes.
“She just breaks my heart.” I know exactly who she’s talking about. Another tear falls onto her cheek, and she turns her back to me. “I told you I was being silly.”
I haven’t seen the girl in person in over a week, but of course, I see her on the monitors in my office every day. I know she never leaves the room but as long as she’s safe, and I’m upholding my end of the bargain, I really don’t care.
“You just care too much, Maria.” She nods as she spoons chili into a bowl and places it down on the breakfast island. I pull up a stool. “I can get someone else to handle her.” I spoon food into my mouth. Damn, that’s good.
“No! She doesn’t need to be around men. They’ll scare her.”
“Don’t get attached, Maria.”