Chapter 5
Chapter five
Xander looked down at the dark-haired woman, quickly assessing her. Then he leveled his fiercest scowl on her. The one that made most men take a wary step back. To his surprise, and to her credit, her dark eyes didn’t waver as she held his stare. Unflinching. Even tilted her chin up a notch.
She was either overly brave or incredibly naive. He knew he must look half-feral. So why wasn’t she scared of him? And how did she plan on getting him out?
“How?” he demanded, fingers curling around the bars.
She arched a slim, ebony brow then crossed her arms, drawing his attention down to her full tits hugged by a fitted, black sweater. “With the key,” she answered. Her accented voice possessed a melodic quality and a tinge of sarcasm. “How else?”
Debating whether or not he could trust her, his gaze zeroed in on the gold cross hanging around her neck. So similar to the one Alyssa used to wear. Maybe it’s a sign. He didn’t know many women who wore religious jewelry.
“Maybe the better question is why?”
“My reasons are my own.”
She lifted her chin higher and he did a quick perusal of the rest of her facial features—long lashes, high cheekbones and a slim, pert nose situated above full lips with a deep Cupid’s bow.
Lovely, tanned skin. He leaned in closer, forehead practically pressed to the steel bars and breathed in her scent.
Warm and a little spicy with a dash of cinnamon. Slightly intoxicating.
Warning lights flashed in his brain. A gorgeous woman just showed up out of nowhere, promising him freedom? Something wasn’t adding up.
She must’ve sensed his hesitation, because she stepped closer. The soft lantern light illuminated her flawless skin. “You can trust me. I want out of this prison just as much as you do. But we have to move fast.”
Well, alright then. Who was he to argue with that kind of logic?
Suddenly, the distant sound of voices filled the air, and she glanced over her shoulder. Her slim fingers fluttered to her throat and caught the delicate cross, lightly holding it. For the first time, she looked nervous. “I have to go.”
When she began to turn around, Xander snaked a hand through the bars and grabbed her upper arm. “Wait!” He tugged her back, and panic flared in the depths of her dark brown eyes. “I thought you were getting me out of here.”
“Tonight. And only if you agree to get me out of Tierra Caliente and safely escort me to Manzanillo.”
Ah, so the little senorita was running. Now things were falling into place. She was probably some low-level soldier’s girlfriend and she’d experienced something unsettling. “Cartel life’s not as good as you’d hoped?” he asked, beyond droll.
Her full lips flattened. Then she jerked her arm away. “Maybe you’d like to stay in your cell?” she tossed back, sweet as can be.
“I’d rather not.” He pulled his arm back through the bars. “So, when’s the big escape?”
She eyed him for a moment and his heart sped up. If she didn’t return… Well, he hoped she did. If he didn’t stage a prison break soon, he was going to lose his damn mind.
“Do you promise to take me to Manzanillo?”
“Sure.” If it would get him out of there, he’d promise to take her to the moon.
“That doesn’t sound very convincing.”
“I promise.” He made a little cross over his heart.
Her pretty eyes narrowed. “Good.” She nodded, as though trying to convince herself it was perfectly alright that she’d just struck a bargain with the devil.
Xander smirked. That’s exactly what he’d become over the years. El diablo. A man hellbent on revenge, willing to do anything to see Barrera and everyone he loved dead and buried.
Because that was all that mattered. Revenge, he’d discovered, was the most powerful force. And, currently, it was driving every single decision he made.
As she turned to leave, he found himself wondering about his newfound savior. Hoping he could trust her, but knowing he shouldn’t, suspicion flared in his gut. But he tamped it down, knowing he could always ditch her when they reached the surface. She wasn’t a part of his master plan.
Sheer curiosity made him ask, “What’s your name?”
She paused, and his attention dipped to her jeans and the lovely way the denim sculpted her ass.
Juicy as a fucking peach. Even in his current hell-hole situation, his dick twitched.
It had been far too fucking long since he’d been with a woman.
And she was one hell of a nice sight beyond those wretched bars.
She looked over her shoulder. “It doesn’t really matter, does it?”
Hmmm. What secrets was she hiding? “Guess not.”
She shrugged a slim shoulder then walked away, disappearing into the dim tunnel beyond. Her sudden absence made the silence seem so much louder than it was before. Standing up straighter, he lifted his nose, breathing in the last of the cinnamon-dusted air before it turned musty again.
Who are you?
Guess he’d just call her Peaches.
Around the corner and out of view, Essie leaned a hand against the cool tunnel wall and sucked in a sharp breath.
She swelled with pride for putting on such a brave facade, but inside she was still trembling.
Whoever he was, the prisoner had taken intimidation to a whole new level.
She pressed a fist to her chest, willing her rapid heartbeat to slow down.
Her plan was coming together. That’s all that mattered. In mere hours, she and the big, fierce stranger would escape into the night, and she’d be free of her brother and his brutal empire.
Essie’s mind raced as she hurried back to the door connecting to the bunker. Making sure the coast was clear, she pushed through and returned to her living quarters. Time to pack.
Since they’d be trekking through harsh terrain, she couldn’t bring much. Food and water would be most important. Maybe a few supplies. Her mother’s rosary. She wished she had a weapon, but José made sure she had no access to the guns everyone else carried.
Throwing open her closet, she rummaged around and found her old backpack.
She would sneak into the kitchen and fill it with provisions later that evening.
No matter what happened, she couldn’t get caught.
If José had any inkling of what she planned to do, he’d go ballistic.
If he was feeling generous, he’d probably lock her in her room.
If not, she’d likely wind up in the cell beside her new friend.
Although he wasn’t exactly a friend, and doubts plagued her. What if he turned on her? Tried to trade her to her brother for his own freedom? She’d be a memory before she even made it out the door into the night.
Or what if he hurt her after they escaped?
He could easily overpower her. Leave her stranded in the middle of nowhere, lost and caught between the warring cartels.
The Tierra Caliente environment might be bad, but the lawless men who roamed the land were far, far worse.
She could be tortured, raped, mutilated, murdered…
A knock sounded at the door, and her head snapped up. Before she could respond, the knob turned and the door swung inward to reveal her brother.
Shit. Essie dropped the backpack and kicked it under the bed with her foot.
“Hello, Estrella.”
He smiled at her, but it had been a very long time since any of his smiles reached his eyes. Over the years, he’d become a stranger. A man more obsessed with power and wealth than the teasing older brother who used to call her “Es-Es.”
“Hello, José.”
“I know it’s been a while since we’ve talked. But I think now is the perfect time to discuss your future and the role you will play going forward.”
Uh-oh. Essie didn’t like one word coming out of his mouth. She knew exactly what he meant when it came to her “future role”—a dark and dismal place she had no intention of going.
“As a cartel princess, there are certain expectations people have. Most importantly, I think it’s past time we found you a proper suitor. A man who is mutually beneficial.”
“You want me to marry someone who will benefit you?”
“Who will benefit our family,” he corrected. “A man who will help increase our status and power.”
Power, control and wealth. It was all he cared about.
“Shouldn’t people marry for love?” she dared to ask. “Like our parents.”
He scoffed. “This isn’t a negotiation, hermana. You’re past your prime and need a husband.”
“I’m thirty-two.”
“Exactly. It’s time a man takes you off my hands and puts some babies in your belly.”
Chauvinistic pig. She bit her lip, knowing it would be pointless to argue. Especially when she planned to run away and never return.
“Why don’t you fix your appearance—maybe put on a little more makeup? Perhaps change into a dress?” he suggested, raking a critical eye over her. “We have guests arriving for supper tonight, and I expect you to look your best.”
“Guests?” He never invited her to dinner when he had guests.
Hell, he never invited her to dinner when he didn’t have guests.
Normally, she ate alone. And at this point, she would have preferred things to stay that way.
Because, unfortunately, she had a pretty good feeling she knew who these guests would be.
“Yes. Men I’d like you to consider for marriage.”
Act surprised. She let her mouth drop open, but before she could think of a suitable response, he pinned her with a dark look. A look that promised swift punishment if she disobeyed him.
“Don’t even think about rebelling or causing a scene tonight. If you do, I will make you regret it in the most painful way.” He straightened his suit jacket and smiled. “You will meet these men, Estrella. And you will choose one to marry.”
Be docile and accommodating, but don’t raise his suspicions. Deflect. “What if they don’t want me?”
“Why wouldn’t they? When you put some effort into yourself, you’re a beautiful woman.”
Gee, thanks. “I’ll meet them, but we shall see how it goes.”
“See that it goes perfectly, hermana. Comprendes?”
She forced herself to nod, playing the role of dutiful sister and pretending compliance. But inside she was screaming, completely furious at her brother and this turn of events and wishing she could pound her fists against his chest and demand he be the one to marry a stranger.
Instead, she merely responded, “Yes, José,”
He studied her for any signs of deceit, eventually seeming to accept her willingness to cooperate. “You will like them.”
She pasted on a fake smile. “I hope so.”
Essie despised them. Manuel and Joaquín Cardenas reminded her of the slimiest, lowest, vilest pair of excuses charading as human beings. The way they ogled her made her skin crawl. Even worse, they spoke to her like they already owned her. Like she was nothing more than a possession. Chattel.
I’d rather marry the devil himself.
A flash of the prisoner in the mine popped into her head.
His long fingers tightening around her arm, pulling her closer.
She shifted in her seat, remembering the current of electricity that had zapped through her.
Not much caught her off guard, but the stranger with the vivid blue eyes had.
Because the truth was, she hadn’t hated the feel of his touch.
It made her strangely curious. Lit up parts of her that she’d ignored for far too long.
Taking a sip of wine, she dug deep and counted down the seconds until dinner was over and she could flee.
Whenever anyone asked her a question, she forced out a pleasant answer.
José seemed to approve, and that’s all that mattered to her.
The last thing she wanted to do was cause any suspicion or raise any red flags by being disagreeable.
Not when escape was so close she could taste it.
Suck it up, Essie. By this time tomorrow, you’ll be nowhere near here or these disgusting, power-hungry men.
The dinner dragged on far too long. Eventually, José gave her permission to leave, saying he and their guests had business to discuss.
Yeah, she bet they did. Business concerning her and which brutish brother José planned to marry her off to. Shoving her chair back, Essie bade the men goodnight and tried not to run from the room. She’d wasted enough time and had packing to do.
Tonight, she would walk away from the only life she’d ever known. For the first time, she would take her fate into her own hands. Even if that meant putting her trust in a stranger. A man who could very well be planning to strand her in the middle of dangerous territory to fend for herself.
Essie was freaking terrified.