by Linda Warren
As he rushed into the hotel, his phone beeped and he yanked it out of his pocket. He had a message from Myra. Thank God! His hand touched the screen. The moment he did that he knew he wasn’t over Myra. He still loved her. He could deny it all he wanted, but he’d only be fooling himself.
CHAPTER EIGHT
LEVI READ THE message while walking into the room. I’m in. Daniel is here. They hired me to take care of him. He seems to remember me. I’ll text later.
He let out a long breath. She was okay. For now. And the boy was there. Now Levi just had to figure out a way to get them out.
He texted her back. Call as soon as you can.
While he waited, he downloaded her location onto his iPad. She was on the south side of the house at the back, and nowhere near the gate. That could be a problem.
His cell buzzed and he picked it up. “Levi, I can’t talk long.” She was whispering.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. It’s a little scary, but I’m fine.”
“I learned some information I want you to be aware of. A waiter in the cantina said there are bad men there. They beat and rape the women. Please be very careful.”
“I’ve gotten that same feeling. There’s a young girl here in her teens and they have their eye on her. I’m worried about her.”
“Worry about yourself.”
“I am.”
“Have you learned anything?”
“I’m in the servants’ quarters, in a nursery, which seems odd.”
“I already have your location.”
“I should’ve known that. I have orders to stay in my room and take care of the baby. His crying is upsetting someone named Bonita, who is obviously someone important here.”
“I’ll do some checking.”
“Marco’s mother came into the nursery and I was surprised to see she’s white. Marco never mentioned that. I’m sure it doesn’t make a difference. I’m just surprised.”
“I’ll check into that, too.”
“Daniel is getting fussy. I better get off the phone.”
“Myra, let me know if anything happens out of place. Stay away from the men.”
“I plan to. Since I have orders not to leave this room, I won’t have contact with anyone else.”
“Don’t let your guard down. As soon as it gets dark, I’ll make my way to the house. Just stay alert.”
“I will. I’m just worried about the young girl.”
He sighed. “Myra, you can’t help everybody. Your life is at stake here. These men are bad people. Just remember that.”
“Okay.”
“Stay in contact and...”
“What?”
“I’m glad the baby’s okay.”
That wasn’t what he wanted to say. The words rose in his throat. Words he needed to say. Words that surprised him. Words he couldn’t even voice in his head. He just wanted her safe and he had to make that happen. As long as he had contact with her, everything would be okay. He had to keep telling himself that.
After an extensive search, he found information on Bonita Guzman. Her father was a well-known drug lord. She’d married Marco five years ago, rumor had it to solidify a drug empire. That was the reason Marco never introduced Natalie to his parents. And the reason the baby was in the servants’ quarters. He had a wife—an important wife. The baby was upsetting to Bonita. He had to wonder what Marco’s plans were concerning his son.
Ava Gilman Mortez hailed from Galveston and her family was in the yachting business. She was known for her charitable works in Mexico and Texas. She didn’t quite fit in with the Mortez drug scene, but he didn’t have time to dig further. It was getting late and he had to focus.
* * *
CALIDA BROUGHT A bottle and baby food for Daniel, and beans, rice and tortillas for Myra. Daniel bounced in her lap with glee at the sight of the bottle. She sat with him in a rocker to feed him.
“I don’t like it here,” Calida said.
“Just stay close to Gloria.” The girl was very nervous and Myra didn’t know what else to tell her. Myra’s Spanish was rusty and she was trying to keep up.
“Can I sleep in here with you?” Calida asked.
Myra was taken aback by the request. She wanted to help her, but she didn’t want to jeopardize them getting Daniel out. “There’s only a cot in here and your room is right across the hall. If you need me, just holler and I’ll come.”
Calida wrung her hands. “Okay. I gotta get back.”
Daniel was asleep in her arms after finishing his bottle, and she hadn’t even fed him the baby food. He probably wouldn’t have eaten it, anyway. Natalie bought a special brand for him.
She gently laid him in the baby bed and covered him with a blanket. At least the house was air-conditioned. Before she could take the bottle to the bathroom to rinse it out, the door burst open and a woman in a flowing silky black negligee stood there. Her long black hair hung down her back and all around her face. She had a wild-eyed expression that Myra had seen in drug addicts.
“Shut that baby up!” she screamed.
At the loud sound, Daniel raised his head with a wail. Myra ran to him and rubbed his back, as she’d seen Natalie do, and Daniel went back to sleep.
“I’m sorry if he disturbed you. He’s sleeping now.”
The woman grabbed her head as if she was in pain. “Why does he cry so much? He’s taunting me.” She pointed a finger at Myra. “That’s what he’s doing. He’s taunting me. I will be pregnant soon. He doesn’t have to taunt me. He’s evil. He has to go.”
Myra backed toward the crib, not sure what the woman would do.
Gloria came up behind the woman. “Señora Bonita, what are you doing here? Come, I take you back to your quarters.”
“Why is he here, Gloria? I am Marco’s wife. His puta’s baby should not be in my home.”
“Sí, señora.”
Ava joined the group. “Bonita, darling. You need your rest.”
“I can’t take it, Ava. Marco is flaunting his puta’s baby in my face. It makes me angry. I want to kill it. I want to kill Marco.”
“Shh.” Ava put an arm around Bonita. “In a few days we will go to the home in Florida. You’ll love it there. We’ll spend long hours on the beach sipping margaritas. We’ll have a good time.”
“I want that baby out of here,” she snarled, and then in a pitiful voice, she asked, “Why can’t I get pregnant?”
“Marco loves you. You have to be patient.”
“Why does he need all these women? Why am I not enough?”
“That’s just men and, Bonita, you really need to understand that. You’re his wife and those other women don’t mean a thing. No one will be able to take your place.”
“Why did he have to bring the baby here? And why do you support him?”
“It’s a delicate situation, but I promise you the child will not touch your life. We will send him away soon.”
“I want to tell Papa, but he will kill Marco. I love Marco. I don’t know why he has to hurt me so much.”
“Shh. Everything will be fine.” They walked off down the hall.
Gloria stared at Myra. “Stop gawking and get back to work. And make sure you keep that baby quiet.”
“Sí.”
Gloria snapped the door shut.
Myra carried the bottle, which was still clutched in her hand, and went into the bathroom. Marco had a wife who was close to the edge and Myra knew who had driven her there. She was just surprised Marco hadn’t gotten rid of her by now. There had to be a reason he hadn’t. Bonita had said something about her papa. The two families were probably connected and probably by drugs and marriage.
She placed the bottle back on the tray Calida had brought in. What had Ava meant
by sending Daniel away? Where would they send him? The obvious conclusion would be to his mother, but Myra knew that was not the answer.
Myra wasn’t too concerned with what was going on in the house. In a few hours, she and Daniel would be out of here and the only place she wanted to see Marco Mortez was in the courtroom. She glanced at her watch. It was almost six. At least another two-hour wait.
Daniel sucked on his thumb while he slept. Natalie had broken him of the habit but now he was doing it again. The little guy was upset, too.
Hearing a noise, she went to the window and saw a big covered truck backed up to one of the buildings. Men were unloading something, but she couldn’t make out what from her position.
Restless, she walked around and the time seemed to drag. She opened the door and heard male voices. She stepped out into the hallway to listen. The voices were close and she took a couple of steps to get nearer. They had to be in the big dining room she’d glimpsed off the kitchen.
“I’m tired of cleaning up your messes, Marco.”
It had to be Marco and his father talking.
“What else was I supposed to do? That bitch demanded I marry her or I’d never see my son again. No woman tells me what to do.”
“If Bonita’s father finds out you have a child by another woman, he will bring holy hell down on the Mortez family. Do you understand that?”
There was no response.
“Your mother has arranged for her cousin in Galveston to take the boy. He will have a new name and have no connection to you and you will not see him. Is that clear?”
“No, it is not clear, Papa. He is my son and I will make arrangements for him. You cannot run my personal life.”
A loud sound of skin slapping skin echoed. “You will not talk to me that way. I am your father and I demand your respect. You are the one who is jeopardizing everything we have worked for. Do you think you are my only son?”
A powerful silence followed.
“But you are the only son of my wife. There is a difference, Marco, and it is time you learn what that difference is. You do not bring your women friends’ children into the family. Is that understood or would you like to be taken back to Texas? I can make that happen in a heartbeat.”
“You would turn me in to the cops?”
“You are my flesh and blood and I love you, but I will not tolerate disrespect and disobedience.”
“I’m sorry, Papa.”
“We had a shipment come in today. Take care of it.”
Myra hurried back to the nursery, grateful Daniel was still sleeping. Poor baby was going to be shuffled off to someone else. How pitiful was that? Especially when he had a mother who loved him.
Natalie had demanded that Marco marry her. That’s probably what had sent him into a rage. Myra wondered why she’d taken the baby into that situation. What a mess. And what a lovely family. She trembled. The sooner she got Daniel out of here, the better it would be for everyone.
She toyed with the idea of talking to Marco and offering to take Daniel back to his mother, no strings attached, no questions asked. But Marco didn’t deserve any type of leniency. With Marco’s short fuse, she might find herself in a shallow grave.
Daniel awoke and she played with him. He was so adorable with his big eyes and dark hair that curled slightly. Natalie was waiting for him to turn one before cutting it. The baby pointed to the door.
“No, sweetie. We can’t go outside today.”
When Natalie visited her apartment, Myra used to take Daniel out on the patio and let him look at the swimming pool and the people lounging around it. He liked the outdoors.
There weren’t any toys in the room except for a ball and a small truck. What did they think he was going to play with? Children needed stimulation and it was probably the reason he was crying. That and he missed his mother.
The door flew open and Calida ran in. She was crying and shaking and her blouse was torn at the shoulder.
Myra put Daniel in his bed. “What’s wrong?”
“Gloria sent me to take food to the men in the quarters,” Calida fired off in rapid Spanish. “One of them grabbed me and pushed me to another one and he pushed me to another and they started touching me. I was so scared.”
“What happened next?”
“Gloria showed up with a broom and started swatting them with it. She told me to run to the house. I want to go home. I don’t like it here. Please let me stay in your room. I don’t want to be by myself.”
It was getting dark outside and she knew Levi would be contacting her soon. She had to be ready to go. What did she do about Calida? She just couldn’t leave her here to be raped and possibly worse.
“Is Gloria looking for you?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care.”
“Rest on my cot. I have some things to do.” Calida curled up on the bed and Myra packed Daniel’s diaper bag. She put the empty bottle in, but they would need a full bottle, if not more, to make the trip. “Calida, could you watch Daniel while I go downstairs to get him a bottle?”
Calida sat up. “Sí.”
“Just play with him so he won’t cry.”
“I have eight younger brothers and sisters. I know about babies.”
“Good.” She turned toward the door. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
As she neared the bottom of the stairs, she could hear people in the kitchen. She crept closer to ensure Marco wasn’t one of them. It was Gloria and Lupita.
“Señora Gloria, the baby needs more milk.”
Gloria shot off words to Lupita. “She will bring it. Go back to the baby.”
Myra started to say something about Calida, but realized that would only be stirring up another problem. In the little while she’d been here, she sensed that Gloria was in charge and she didn’t like anyone contesting that. She went back up the stairs, intending to get Calida out of here, as well.
Lupita came up almost immediately and handed Myra a bottle. She eyed Calida on the bed, but didn’t say anything. It didn’t take Gloria long to come charging up to the bedroom.
“What are you doing in here? There’s work to be done in the kitchen.”
“I...don’t like it here. The men are cruel.”
“Then why did you volunteer to come? This isn’t Disneyland. Now get downstairs before I lose my patience with you.”
Before Calida could move, Ava entered the room again. The frown on her face did not bode well for Gloria. “What is that young girl doing here?” She motioned to Calida.
“Lupe and José brought her to work,” Gloria replied.
“I saw from my window what was going on and I will not have it. I will not have a repeat of what happened two months ago. Get Roberto to take her back into town. Now!”
“Sí, señora.”
The relief on Calida’s face said it all as she followed Gloria from the room. She glanced back at Myra in farewell.
Ava stared at Myra. “Do your job and stay away from the men.”
“Sí, señora.”
Myra let out a long breath as Ava left. The woman was not a trophy wife. She wielded a little power of her own. Myra was grateful the young girl would not be brutalized.
She brought her focus back to Daniel. Everything was packed; she just had to wait for Levi. Her cell buzzed and she quickly clicked on. She had a message. On my way. Be ready.
She texted back. Ready.
She opened the door to look out. Everything was quiet. Evidently, everyone was in their quarters or having dinner away from the servants’ area. There wasn’t even any noise coming from the kitchen.
Since the weather was more warm than cool, she dressed Daniel accordingly with jeans and a T-shirt. She put socks and shoes on him and waited.
This was the worst part, but she kn
ew she could depend on Levi. If anything went wrong, it would be on her end. She thought about Calida and hoped she was on her way home.
She paced. Come on, Levi.
* * *
LEVI PARKED THE truck as close to the Mortez house as he could without being detected. Slipping on his backpack, he started the trek to the entrance. Everything he had on, from the bandanna to his shoes, was dark so he wouldn’t be noticed or picked up easily by cameras.
A spotlight shone at the gates and he stayed out of the light that illuminated the road. About twenty yards from the concrete wall, he dropped to his knees and crawled the rest of the way. Hugging the wall, he pulled out his phone and prayed that he could jumble up the security cameras.
He heard voices behind the wall. Men were still moving around the compound, so he sank to the ground and waited. As the darkness thickened, the noises ebbed. He got to his feet. It was time.
First he texted Myra. I’m here.
Poking in numbers, he held his breath, and nothing happened. The cameras were still running. Damn it! He tried again, hoping for some sort of miracle. Typing in a code, he said a silent prayer and clicked Enter. And the lights went out. Damn! He hadn’t expected that. Somehow he’d tripped the breaker, but he’d take it. The light on the camera was out, too, so that meant the system was down. He inched along the wall until he reached the gate. Shouts could be heard inside. Taking a quick peek in the darkness, he couldn’t see anybody at the gate. He scaled it in two seconds and was on the inside.
Men were running everywhere and shouting in Spanish. No one noticed him. He ran around to the back of the house. Women came out the back door and stood some distance away. He inched along the side of the house and slipped in the door before they saw him.
He texted Myra. Kitchen. Hurry.
In less than a minute, she was there holding a baby. He had the urge to hug her, but he didn’t have time. They had to get out. Now! “Let’s go.”
As they turned toward the door, the lights came on and Mexicans with assault rifles stood there with the guns pointed at them. Levi had a gun in his hand, but he knew he was outnumbered. They were caught. Son of a bitch!
