Chapter 47
Hope bloomed in Esmie’s chest when the car door opened.
To her delight, Samson jumped out of the car, running toward the guards, who had been focused on Esmie and didn’t see him coming.
He rammed into them, knocked them down, then yanked away their guns, punching one in the face with a sickening crunch.
Holding a gun, as if trained on a battlefield, he held them at bay, while he untied her parents and Leo.
Once untied, he handed a gun to Leo and her father.
Her heart soared at seeing Samson. Deep down she knew he couldn’t be dead.
She beamed at him and he sent her a smile that curled her toes.
The guards quickly regained their footing after the chaos caused by Samson’s car, aiming their guns not only at Esmie but now at Samson, Leo, and her parents who in turned, aimed back.
That wouldn’t do. Esmie returned her attention to the guards.
She yanked the guns from each of their hands, flinging them far into the trees.
Then she slammed the guards into each other where they fell unconscious on the ground.
Samson, Leo, and Papi swiveled around, checking for more guards.
Esmie ran toward them, hugging Mamá first then checking if she was okay.
Mamá was the only one who didn’t have a gun—she refused, making a comment that guns were dangerous.
Once Esmie saw Mamá was fine, she flung her arms around Papi’s and Leo’s necks.
Her brother pretended to brush her off, his face flushed saying something along the lines of “This is too mushy, Quita”.
Last she approached Samson, tentatively as if he would fade away.
“I-I thought you were dead.” Esmie voice cracked.
“You can’t get rid of me that easily.” Samson smirked. Then he slung an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his body.
“How did you fix your car?” Esmie asked to ease the building tension between them.
“I’ll explain about the car later. Did you miss me?” Samson bent low, brushing his lips against hers, and she blushed.
“More than I’ll ever admit,” she whispered.
Caught up in the moment filled with joy at having him back again, she pushed up on tiptoes and kissed him.
His mouth tasted like mint, and he smelled exactly as she remembered: a mix of the cedarwood, vanilla, and white musk she loved.
As Samson deepened the kiss, they could hear shifting of feet behind them.
“Um-ew,” Leo said loudly. Esmie pulled away, burying her face in Samson’s chest. Samson’s body rumbled in laughter. “Oh, don’t be embarrassed now, I knew all along you both fancied each other. I just pretended I couldn’t see you both making googly eyes because I knew you’d make it all awkward.”
“Did you just say ‘fancied’? Who says that anymore? You sound like a viejito.” Esmie turned around laughing at her brother’s expression before he rolled his eyes.
“Anyway, what I would like to know is, how did you escape the car crash?” Leo asked Samson.
“I was flung from the car and thrown into the water as it rolled. Then the river took me far downstream. I tried to fight the current but couldn’t until I was around a mile down. Honestly, I have no idea how I survived the crash. I should’ve been crushed.”
“It was Elohim. We thank Him for your survival and safety. You were meant to stay alive to save us and Esmie.” Mamá cracked a smile. She lovingly gazed at Esmie. Was her Mamá actually smiling in approval? This was too good to be true.
Papi walked over to them and clapped Samson on the back. “Leo has told us all about you. You’re a good man and I appreciate you coming to help us.” Samson nodded his head in reverence.
A scream interrupted them. Esmie whirled away from Samson to see where it came from. In the mayhem, the mayor had raced across the clearing to the other side of the trees and found Mindy and Tessa. He held both at gunpoint.
“I hate to break this up, but I have a city to save,” the mayor said as he pulled out his fob and pressed a button on it. A pinprick of light shone on the dome glass, before it opened up into what looked like a large round portal, the edges blurred against the glass.
“Let them go. They have nothing to do with this,” Esmie shouted across the expanse.
“Well then, if you want me to let them go, then you’ll have to come with me, otherwise I’ll toss these two out that portal and into the radiation filled wilderness.
They’ll last maybe five minutes before their DNA and organs break down and die a painful death.
” The mayor pulled the squealing girls closer to the portal opening.
“Don’t! I’ll come with you. Just don’t hurt them.” Esmie took a cautious step with one hand out, hoping the mayor would come to his senses. He couldn’t kill her friends.
“Esmie no. If you go with him, they’ll torture you during their testing.” Samson grabbed Esmie’s arm. She glanced back at him as his eyes switched between her and the mayor.
“Promise me you’ll get my family to safety. I can’t let anyone else die because of me. This is my fault, and I have to take responsibility for it.”
“It’s not your fault.” Samson gritted through his teeth.
“Promise me,” Esmie repeated more sternly.
“I need you to promise me. I’ll be okay.
” She reached back and placed a light kiss on Samson’s lips.
Turning to her family she whispered, “Los amo.” Then she faced the mayor again, walking toward him with determined steps.
They locked eyes. His ice blue ones held a menacing glare, but she wouldn’t let him intimidate her. This was her choice.
“Esmie, I’ll find you. I’ll get you out. I promise,” Samson said behind her, his sorrowful voice carrying in the clearing.
The mayor’s malicious grin spread across his face. “That’s right, Esmie. Come along now. Come save your friends.”
When Esmie was a few steps away, the mayor released a shaking Mindy and removed rigid cuffs from the inside of his suit jacket.
The power reducing cuffs he had tried to place on her earlier.
Mindy lifted up her hand, giving her their signature love signal.
Esmie responded with her own but instantly wished she hadn’t.
While the mayor pulled out the cuffs, Mindy screamed and stomped on his foot.
He howled in pain until she kicked him in the knee.
Then he roared and shoved her out the portal.
Tessa tried to run, but he grabbed her bicep and tossed her through the portal as well.
“No!” Esmie screamed, running toward the portal. She pushed her hands out in the direction of the mayor, lifting him from the ground and sending him against a tree. Then she sprinted and dove through the portal before it snapped shut behind her.