“Or they were attacked,” I say, punching the chair in front of me with frustration. I text Amelia and wait for it to go through, then I look at my phone. “It’s not them who doesn’t have a signal. It’s us.”
I tap Ricardo’s shoulder. “Get us back quickly. I need to call Amelia and make sure she’s okay.”
Chapter 15 - Amelia
“I’m telling you, those two in the right corner are Jose’s men,” I whisper to the guard.
“You’re being paranoid. Now stop calling me over here. It looks suspicious,” he says shortly but quietly before returning to his seat.
I see a gas station ahead and lean forward, asking the driver, “Are we stopping here?”
“Yes, for the restroom. Only a ten-minute stop, so don’t be long,” he says.
I sit back, but I don’t look behind me. I don’t need to look back to know Jose’s men are staring at me. I don’t care if Frankie’s guards think I’m being paranoid. They’ll have the shit kicked out of them when Frankie finds out they’re not taking my worries seriously. It’s so misogynistic, and it will cost me my life.
But I have a plan already. I’m going to call Frankie in the restroom once we stop. They won’t follow me in there.
I wait until the bus stops completely before I take my bag and get off, heading for the restroom. Frankie’s men follow me, and I enter the bathroom, assured no one else will come in while they’re standing around.
I take out my phone and dial Frankie’s number, but it goes straight to voice mail which confuses me. I know Frankie would be expecting updates from the guards, and me, to know we are traveling safely. The bottom of my stomach drops as I realize that he might have been attacked. I swallow hard and try to think. I need to think like Frankie. Make a decent call that could save my life. Frankie isn’t available to save me, and his thugs aren’t listening… but the police might.
I dial nine-one-one and wait. “Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”
“Hi, yes. There’s been a major accident on the I-ninety-five north. People are hurt, and we need emergency services to help. It’s after the,” I glance around, “It’s after the gas station three-quarters the way between Maryland and New York.”
“Ma’am, what’s your name?” the dispatcher asks.
“Heather,” I lie, “Heather Fernando, and loads of people are hurt and in danger. My phone is going to die, so please send as many police as possible.”
I hang up and take the gun Frankie gave me out of my purse. I check to make sure it’s loaded and ready. I’m not going to depend on some brain-dead thugs to protect me when they don’t even acknowledge I’m in danger.
I leave the restroom after washing my hands, and they escort me back to the bus. Jose’s men embark shortly after us, and I meet the one's eyes. I can see a burning rage inside of him, but don’t avert my gaze.
He passes, and he and his cohort sit back in their seats. Before we know it, the bus is back on the road, and everything is quiet. I feel uneasy because I know they’ll want to do something before we reach New York. All I can do is wait for the opportunity to escape.
There’s nothing around us. It’s all open roads with bushes and trees. I know I can run if need be. I wore trainers today, especially for that reason. I’d have to leave my overnight bag, but that doesn’t worry me, it’s only clothes. My phone and my gun are in my purse anyway, and that’s what I need most.
Black smoke billows out the front of the bus, and the driver pulls over. “Something’s wrong,” he calls. “I’m going to check it out.”
Oh, I know something is wrong. I knew they’d mess with the bus while everyone was in the restroom. I peek behind me and see them shifting around. They’re getting antsy, so as the bus driver stands up, I call, “I need to pee again. Can I go behind a bush while you’re busy?”
The bus driver sighs. “Fine, but don’t be long. I’m sure I can fix whatever it is in no time, and we need to be back on time.”
I nod and follow the driver off the bus. He calls, “You might as well all stretch your legs while you can.”
I walk toward a nearby bush as everyone disembarks. I glance back to see the two men and Frankie’s two guards walking after me. I can’t help it. I break into a run.
Gunshots and screams ring out in the quiet open air, and I scream as bullets whiz by me, dangerously close.
I run into the trees, snaking my way around them as quickly as I can move. I draw my gun in case I need to shoot and click the safety off. I go deep into the trees before I find a good spot to hide, panting hard. I check my cell phone, but there’s still no signal out here. Shit, I hope the cops find the bus soon.
I can hear bullets in the distance. Jose’s men and Frankie’s men must be shooting at each other, which is good because at least they’re not shooting at me or pursuing me.
I get up and start walking to the right so that if they come into the forest, they won’t walk straight into me. I move quickly, picking my way through the roots and plants, doing my best to be silent. The sound of gunfire has stopped, and I sit down, catching my breath. I hold onto my gun tightly, listening for the slightest sound.
I hear a wailing siren in the distance and realize I now have a new challenge. I need to circle back to the road and back to the bus so that the police can find me, or I’m going to be stranded out here, possibly with Jose’s men, because I don’t know if Frankie’s men are still alive or not.
If they are, Frankie’s going to kill them later. Itoldthem that those men were following us.