Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
"Is that Eden?"
My blood runs cold.
Eden. That's not possible. She was at home just a couple hours ago. She would've had to do what I'm doing, fly directly there, and not only did she give no indication that she was going to do that, she has no means.
“Damn it, I lost it. Fuck. Someone took my drone down.” He curses and goes on and on about how much it cost and how precise it is, but all I can think about is Eden.
They are probably on the lookout for things like drones. They've taken drastic measures to be excluded, and safe, why would they allow a drone? Fuck.
"I gotta go. I'm going down there. Send me whatever footage you find.”
Why would they say Eden’s there? There’s no way…
We can’t move fast enough. Thank fuck I decided to take the plane and not the helicopter. We’ll cut off a few hours’ time that way.
The flight attendant, one of our old guards, looks at me funny.
I stare him down.
“I would not want to be the person you're coming after,” he says quietly. “Can I get you anything before we land?”
I shake my head, and he’s fucking right.
My phone blows up with messages from Mario, Timeo, and even Gloria when I get there.
The first is a video from Mario.
You'll probably already land by the time you get this. Keep your head on straight, Sergio. Don't lose your shit.
Fantastic.
A cold chill runs over me as I look at the little triangle on the video in front of me. I swallow hard, not sure what the hell I'm gonna see when I press play.
The video starts.
The lighting is dim, and I can tell that someone is on the floor of a dark area, some kind of shack? It's a woman, that much I can tell, because her hair is long, and she wears a skirt.
And then I remember. Mario asked if Eden was there. I try to hold onto logic, but when my biggest fears play out in front of me, I don't know how to reason this away.
Eden.
On the ground. Bruised and bloodied, and in obvious pain. Bile burns my throat, my stomach lurches and I feel like I’m going to vomit. She turns her head toward the sound of a voice, and I can see only the profile of her face.
What the hell is she doing there? Where is she? Who’s done this to her?
I rapidly tap the rest of my messages, hoping the next give me answers. A text from Gloria.
Don't jump to conclusions. They might've known that the drone was being sent. This could be old footage for all we know.
What? Who are we dealing with here?
I click the text from Timeo. It takes me a minute to remember he's not in the same room with Mario and Gloria, but back at the club.
Stay calm. Eden's gone. We can't find her. But we will.
Stay calm. Everyone’s telling me to stay fucking calm.
There's a driver waiting for me. My hands shake as I try to keep my shit together.
That can’t be Eden.
But she's gone. Where did she go?
I look at my driver and show him the address. "How far away?"
"We're exactly seven minutes out. You guys are not far at all."
If Romeo were here, he would remind me not to go in guns blazing.
I'll take my time. I'll examine the perimeter and find the easiest way to get in. These are no sitting ducks, but people well-trained in cartel life, so I fully anticipate a fight and an arsenal of weapons at the ready.
I grit my teeth and take out my wallet. “You said seven minutes? Can you make it in three?"
I’ll take my time when I get there, but I have to get there, and now. If by some chance that is Eden, I need to find where she is and make sure she’s okay. And if it isn't her… I need to find her.
The driver floors it. We take corners on two wheels and fly. We drive so quickly down the empty road, we make it there in two minutes, not three.
When he comes to a stop, I reach to open the door, but pause.
“Wait. Are you sure this is the right location?”
This was a gated community, but the gate’s hanging wide open. It’s clear from here that no one’s beyond those gates. No cars, no civilians, not even a stray dog.
I get out of the car and stare, disbelieving. It’s vacated.
They're gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Eden
The pain in my heart feels like someone's driving a knife through my flesh. I've never felt this way before, not even when I was back at the fellowship. Not when I thought there was no hope for me ever to be happy, not when I left my sister to go out into the big wide world and make money for both of us. I know why it hurts so badly now.