Chapter 39
Samson pursed his lips in response to the mayor’s question.
His fists clenched at his sides as if he would burst through the door and knock out everyone in the room.
Esmie shook her head, placing a hand on his forearm.
He breathed out, closing his eyes then refocusing them on her.
She already knew what he was thinking. Being here was a mistake, a huge risk that could cost her her life.
But finding this bit of information was key to her survival too.
“We’ll leave right after this I promise,” she mouthed to him. His frown only deepened but Mr. Johnson was talking now.
“Sir, we have it under control.”
“Under control? Meaning you have her?” The mayor persisted.
“Not necessarily,” Mr. Johnson stuttered.
“Well, what does it mean then? I could care less about Tyler’s musings in his tablet diary.
I care for real, hard facts and the fact is there is a girl running around here who is the key to perfecting purple glass.
She needs to be found, by you all, before someone else finds her.
Need I remind you I am keeping your secret from Andloor Capitol Law Enforcement Division’s Laboratory.
I personally know the Laboratory Director, Jared, would love to know you can’t access Tyler’s files in order to cancel your contract.
” The threat hung in the air. What was the mayor’s interest in purple glass?
Why was he pitting Genetronetics against the Capitol Law Enforcement Division? What did he gain from this?
“I can assure you we have identified who the girl is, and my man is currently searching for her.” Stanley spoke up.
“Really? Who is she, then?” The mayor’s voice rose.
“A bright student, who is about to graduate Brookshire State University. My informant had her, but she escaped and is in hiding. He assures me he is closing in on her location and will have her any day now.”
“Chad.” Samson mouthed to Esmie, his face impassable.
They knew who she was. She made the right decision to run away from Chad.
He planned on handing her over to Genetronetics, the highest bidder.
Did Mamá know what Chad was up to? Was she na?ve enough to think Chad and Genetronetics would help Esmie?
Her heart pounded in her chest. Would Mamá really betray her like this just to prove a point?
Tears stung her eyes. She didn’t want to cry under the mask, especially in front of Samson.
As if reading her thoughts, he pulled her against his chest, his face in her hair.
Esmie took deep breaths to control her racing heart.
“Any day now isn’t fast enough. Jared is pushing to release the face recognition drones. Once they are deployed, he will find her faster than some guy you hired.” The mayor’s voice shifted in volume as if he were pacing the room.
“What would you suggest we do sir? We’re using all resources at our disposal, every technology we are allowed to use,” Stanley countered.
“Ah, dear Stanley. Sometimes technology isn’t the answer.
You have to go back to what works. Good old threats will do.
If you know who she is, then you know who her family is.
Threaten them unless she reveals herself and you’ll get your girl.
They can be such sentimental creatures, you know.
” The mayor chuckled to himself. Esmie balled up her fists.
Now she was the one who wanted to burst through the door and smash the mayor’s nose in.
Samson released her, holding her biceps and shaking his head.
“Yes, sir. I’ll notify him, immediately.”
“Perfect. Contact me as soon as she is found. I must be going. I have another charity event to attend. Have a wonderful celebration, fellas. Ensure it isn’t the last one.” A door slid open and closed announcing the mayor’s departure.
Murmurs echoed, with another meeting announced to follow after a brief respite, but Esmie didn’t care about whatever else they wanted to discuss. She ducked around the other side of the projector screen, with Samson meeting her in the front.
“We need to go to my parents’ house. Now. Do you have your car here?”
“Yes, but we need to get Leo first. If he finds out we left him out of this, he’ll be livid.”
“Agreed.”
They stood by the door of the conference room, listening for the executives to finish their break and reenter the meeting again.
Samson’s nearness not the full distraction it was earlier, although their kiss still seared through Esmie’s mind.
Once the coast was clear, they snuck out, checking for anyone else and ensuring the mayor hadn’t stayed behind.
The ride back down the elevator remained quiet, as Esmie’s nerves got the best of her.
Samson had to remind her to take the loop off the security cameras once they exited.
All she could think about was how she had put her family in danger.
Again. She needed to get to them before Chad did.
Then she would take care of Chad herself.
Samson led her down a side hallway on the first floor which ended at the parking garage.
Once in the car, she yanked off her mask, fisting her eyes to keep the tears at bay.
Samson revved the engine and tore off into the night toward Leo’s apartment.
They wound through the empty streets of downtown Andloor while Esmie’s mind raced.
Would her brother be angry? What would he say?
Where could they hide her parents? Maybe they needed to leave Andloor altogether.
Samson’s sidelong glances must have read her mind.
He placed a firm hand on her knee, sending shivers through her body.
A warmth spread, starting at the place where his hand rest on her knee.
If Esmie didn’t know any better, she would have sworn Samson had a power all his own.
When they arrived at the apartment, Leo was already waiting outside.
Samson pulled up alongside him. “Get in the back, Quita. You need to stay hidden,” Leo said as soon as he opened the passenger side door.
He brandished her phone, placing it in her hands before giving her a fierce hug.
After helping Esmie into the back seat, he climbed in, slamming the door shut.
“Nice dress by the way. What trouble have you been getting into?”
His good-natured attitude dispelled any thoughts he was angry with her, which calmed some of the anxiety wrapping around her heart.
She burst into tears, expelling the whole story of what happened when she left all the way through crashing the Genetronetics party.
Samson helped after this as they both took turns explaining what was discussed in the meeting they overheard.
“Having fun without me I see,” Leo joked when they finished.
“This isn’t a joke, Leo. We’re all in trouble because of me.” Esmie felt fresh tears threatening to overcome her. Leo turned around in his seat, which creaked against him. He gripped her hands.
“It’s going to be okay. We’ll get Mamá and Papi, and we’ll hide them, and you away somewhere. El Leon de Andloor will get this figured out.”
His quip fell flat, as Esmie’s anxiety choked her. “How, Leo? The highest powers of Andloor are out searching for me.”
Before Leo could answer her, Samson interjected. “Not to break up this sweet moment, but we’re being followed.” His dark eyes flickered to the rearview mirror and back to the road ahead.
“We’re being followed?” Leo and Esmie said at the same time, the old leather protesting when they both swiveled in their seats to get a better look out the back window.
Esmie couldn’t see anything even with her superior eyesight from Purple Glass.
Either Samson had even more powerful eyesight or she was missing something.
Samson made a sharp right at the next intersection.
“I can’t see anyone. Can you?” Leo asked. A moment later a black town car sped around the corner Samson had just vacated.
“It’s Chad,” Esmie gasped. “That’s the same car he was in when he chased me the other day.”
“Well, he won’t be taking you today either,” Samson growled, the engine revving when he sped up and cut across a red light to make a left.
Their pursuers ran through the light, speeding up to follow them.
Samson continued to weave in and out of intersections trying to shake them.
Esmie grabbed onto the sides of the car to keep from being thrown about the back seat, despite her seat belt in place.
With the late-night hour, few people were on the road which made it hard to shake Chad.
“We’re almost to the bridge, Samson. We need to lose them before we get into Las Afueras, otherwise we’ll lead them straight to our parents’ home.” Leo held onto the passenger handle, attempting to stop his body from slamming into the door with Samson’s erratic driving.
“I’m trying, Leo,” Samson said through gritted teeth.
“I know this thing is a junker, but I thought these old cars had some power behind them.” Esmie stated in the backseat before being flung to the other side.
Samson narrowed his eyes at her in the rearview mirror.
Her body lit up at his glare, wishing for a moment her brother wasn’t there so she could really enjoy Samson’s stare.
Before she could enjoy it further, he made a sharp left, then pushed down on the pedal hard.
The car roared to life, the acceleration pushing them back into their seats.
Glass skyscrapers, brick buildings, and neon lights became a blur as they sped up.
The faster they went, the more Esmie felt like she was panting to keep up.
She peered out the back window but couldn’t see anyone.
“I think we lost them,” Esmie called out.
“And there’s the bridge. Perfect timing!” Leo said still holding onto the handle for his life.
The bridge’s lights brightened the closer they approached like a beacon of safety.
Samson didn’t let up on the gas though, eager to get them across before Chad spotted them.
Esmie’s breaths slowed a couple blocks from crossing over.
Relief spread through her that they would be able to get to her parents before Chad did.
After the last block, Samson slowed a bit ready to cross.
As they crossed the last intersection before the bridge, Esmie heard an engine growl, and headlights blind her from her right.
She glanced over in time to see a truck bear down on them.
A loud crash of metal and glass breaking surrounded her.
The impact flung her against the side of the car.
The Camaro flipped and rolled, but the truck wasn’t done yet.
It pushed the Camaro into a death roll, down the hill, toward the river.
Esmie’s head hit the ceiling, then everything went black.