Where was Gus?
He’d gone to bed with me last night. He slept either at the foot of my bed, or right next to my bed on the floor. He hadn’t been there when the alarms started, but God, where was he?
I turned around before I knew what I was doing.
I was going back for the dog.
So stupid.
Suddenly one of the trucks veered straight for me.
My heart hit my sternum, and I dropped to the ground. It was dark out, so I laid flat, and then I prayed.
The truck went right past me. Gunshots filled the air. A bullet hit the dirt ten feet from me. Jesus. My vision was blurring. I had to calm my thoughts. I had to slow my senses.
This wasn’t the first situation like this that I’d been in. I should’ve been more prepared, more able to think clearly. I ran through the possible consequences.
I was having déjà vu from when I first ran from an armed man, but this situation was on steroids.
I could get shot.
I could get taken.
I could get sold.
I could be tortured.
I could die.
Okay. All those sucked.
God, I was so dumb. So dumb.
The trucks had moved to the other side of the house. I still couldn’t hear Gus barking, but the shots continued like a steady rain.
I hurried to the back of the house and paused, listening.
They were fully engaged on the other side. I didn’t know if anyone was in the house, but I crept up, letting myself in the secret doorway this time. There, a rubbery nose hit me and a tongue. Gus had followed my scent.
He’d found his way into the secret room. I had no clue how. The door was closed… Raize had done that! He’d put him in here for me, or for safe keeping.
I didn’t know why Gus wasn’t barking, but thank God. It might’ve saved his life.
“Okay, buddy—” The floor creaked, just on the other side of the wall.
Someone was in my bedroom.
Gus turned and started growling.
No!
I clamped my hand around his mouth, trying to stop him from making noise.
He shook me off, going to the door and scraping, still growling.
The floor creaked again as the person hurried forward.
They knew we were here, that there was another room.
The person ran. In the hallway, back to my bedroom.
They were looking, trying to find us.
I couldn’t wait any longer.
Grabbing Gus, I pulled him after me, and he ran out when I opened the back exit. He started running, but he waited for me.
A blast of relief made my knees weak. Thank God for small miracles.
I jumped down next to him, and we took off, running in the direction I’d gone before.
More gunfire sounded behind me.
We kept going.
I glanced back a few times, but I couldn’t see the trucks anymore. They’d turned off their lights, and they weren’t driving around. I didn’t know if that was a good sign or not.
Gus sniffed the ground as we went, and I tried not to trip over the bushes and small trees scattered around the land. I tried to stay away from the denser pockets of trees. I assumed that’s where they would look for me.
As we ran, the sounds faded. We went a little farther, and I heard a trickle of the creek. I hit the ground, my lungs burning. Tears had caked my face. Tears and sweat. I could taste the salt. I needed to keep going, but dammit. Dammit!
I didn’t want to lose Raize. In all this madness, he’d become my anchor. I never knew. Without him, I’d have to… I couldn’t think like that. I could try to get to San Antonio, but I had no idea where he’d stashed that bag for me.
I had no idea what to do, and I wasn’t in the clear.
Estrada—if he won, if he was the surviving side back there—he would look for me. That’s how cartels were. You got on their radar, and if you fucked with them, you were dead. No matter what.
Gus started licking my face. I realized I’d started crying all over again.
I looked at Gus, and he moved to clean out my eyes, then my forehead.
I let him.
I was so weak. So tired.
I knew I had fight in me, but for a moment, just a moment, I wanted to stay here.
I wanted to hide.
Gus nudged my shoulder, smelling my hands. He was looking for treats, and I was still clutching my clothes.
Right. My clothes.
I’d been running in my pajamas.
A slightly hysterical laugh came from me—softly, though. Then, as I bent down—bang! A bullet hit the dirt just beyond me. If I hadn’t bent down... Why the fuck was I thinking?!
I ran. But I only took two steps before a pair of arms caught me.
“No!” I screamed.
“We got her, boss. Tell the bastard to stop.” That voice came from the darkness.