behind it, pulling in between the building and an old dumpster. “Okay, I’m good. What’s going on?”
“They’re on the move.”
I clench my fist at his words. “Fuck!” I shout.
“Where? What’s the deal?”
“They’ve loaded up. Looks like they are about to head out, presumably heading towards the border. I’m sorry, looks like they’re meeting at Ojinaga sooner than expected.”
“Well, that’s not a good sign. Do you think they caught wind of our arrival?”
I check my pockets, making sure all my weapons are where they should be.
“I don’t see how they could. They don’t seem in a rush. Maybe there is pressure from Mexico, I’m not sure, but you still have to stay vigilant. Keep your eyes open.”
“How many?” I bark.
“Fourteen, from what I could see.” Fourteen? That’s not awful. We’ve got twenty-five, and that’s not including The Seven, who are on standby and waiting for our word if we need them.
“But they will have much more at the border, guys. I’m expecting another twenty to thirty men.”
Easton sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb. “Give me the word when they’ve cleared out. I’ll get ahold of Hugo and change course.”
“Sounds good. Oh, and Jackson? I just wanted to let you know that I was able to confirm that Cara was one of the four loaded in the van a while ago. She’s alive.”
If I was a weaker man, I’d outright bawl right now. But I do press my fists to my eyes and let out a heavy breath.
She’s alive.
“Thanks, man. Talk soon.” Easton hangs up.
Looking over at him, I say, “We gotta get her, man. I can’t let her cross that border.”
He shakes his head, clenching and unclenching the steering wheel. “We’ll get her. We’ll fucking get her.”
25
Cara
The ride is long.
Bumpy.
Terrifying.
I can hear murmurs of the men in front talking, but they speak Spanish so I can’t understand a word of what they’re saying. I don’t think I even want to know. I choke on my fear and watch the three other girls with me do the same.
I try to watch the landscape, looking for any kind of signs or buildings that I could use if I somehow was able to escape, but the sun has gone down and all I have is the moon submerging the sand into a massive abys.
I wonder if Jackson knows where I am. I wonder if he's even coming for me. I hope he would. If roles were reversed, I would be doing anything I could to get him back. If I know Rose, she would be on her way herself if Jackson and Easton aren't.
I smile.
Rose would tear down the world for something she wanted.
We slow down, and I snap out of my dreams and come back to reality. Daniella reaches over and grabs my hand, and I link my fingers through hers and give her hand a squeeze. The girls across from my link hands as well, and we all four look up and give each other small, nervous looks.
Whatever happens, we're in this together.
I hear the doors slam, and voice start barking at each other. My heart races.
This is it.
I'm either going to be saved, or I'll forever become a memory.
I turn around, pressing my face to the window to try and see what's going on out there. I can't see much besides a few vehicles and more sand.
There are more shadows walking about then there was at our last location though, which makes me nervous. There was no way of getting away from the last beefy guys. There is maybe double that now.
One guy standing near the van turns around, his eyes glowing in the night as they lock with mine. He has a cigarette hanging out of his lips, and I watch as the cherry glows with his inhale. I lower myself so only my eyes are showing. How could he see me, though? These windows are so tinted you can't see a damn thing in this van.
Still, I swear I saw his eyes lock with mine. The evil in them makes my body break out in goosebumps.
When he starts walking towards the back, I shrink down and press myself into the wall of the van. Please don't open the door, please don't open the door.
The door opens, and I curse my luck as his dirty eyes look over each one of us. They linger on our chest and our legs, and I pull the potato sack dress further down my legs, but it doesn't nothing. There's