by L. A. Boruff
We were stopped in the road by police carrying large guns. They spoke rapid Spanish, and I didn’t understand a word. Anthony handed over a small wad of cash, and we were on our way again. I didn’t ask to drive after that.
* * *
I didn’t see Mexico City coming. It was so immense that I didn’t realize we were there until we were almost in the middle of it. The city was a mishmash of vibrant colors, Aztec-inspired architecture, and modern skyscrapers; absolutely stunning. Elias drove us to an opulent downtown hotel, The St. Regis.
“Shouldn’t we stay somewhere less conspicuous?” I asked as we pulled up to the front doors. Anthony got out to secure a room, and Elias drove around to the parking garage.
“We’re taking a page from Michael’s book and hiding in plain sight. Plus, this hotel has excellent security and surveillance. Anthony will tell the front desk we're transporting an American celebrity, and we'll be given access to the service entrance. Grab my bag, there’s a black hoodie in there. Pull the hood low so your face won’t be on camera.” He parked the SUV as I rifled through his stuff. We waited for Anthony to find us before unloading our bags.
They climbed in the back seat with me, and we loaded our holsters with guns, as well as tucking several into each bag before putting the rest in the hidden compartment. The blood came up to the room with us. In case of car theft, we could afford to replace the car and the guns but not the blood. I wasn't allowed to carry anything up to the room so we could maintain the celebrity facade.
My steps were slow between my bodyguards. I soaked in the opulence of the hotel as we made our way through a hallway to an elevator. Even coming in through the service entrance, my feet sank in the plush carpet. The wallpaper looked too expensive to touch, and the light fixtures sparkled enough to hurt my eyes. It was by far the most expensive hotel I’d ever been in. Michael and I rarely traveled, and when we did, we stayed in cheap roadside hotels and motels.
I kept my head down and my gaze on my feet, afraid someone might be watching the cameras and realize I was no one special. We made our way upstairs in a ritzy elevator covered in rich wood paneling. My jaw dropped when we entered our room. The view was phenomenal—I couldn’t wait to see the city lit up at night. I pulled back the hood and turned in a circle, taking in the room. An enormous bed with an ornate wood frame dominated the room. A separate seating area circled a television, and a small, fully functioning kitchen shared space with a grandiose dining table. I sped to the two doors off of the sleeping area. The first door was an empty walk-in closet, and the second was a bathroom I knew I’d never want to leave. The bathtub was so luxurious it even put Elias's tub in Tennessee to shame, and I was sure four or five people would fit in the shower.
“Are we in a hurry? Well, I know we’re in a hurry, but do I have time for a bath?” I called to the guys. They stood inside the door with bemused expressions on their faces. I realized they’d been watching me admire the room.
“You have plenty of time, Coya. It’ll take us a while to arrange transportation out of Mexico. I’m going to try to charter a plane.”
I jumped a little and clapped my hands. Then I scrambled to take off my shirt as I shut the bathroom door. I stripped and filled the enormous tub with scalding hot water.
“Riley?” Elias called through the door. “I’ve got your clothes and toiletries.”
“You guys can come in here,” I replied. “You’ve seen me naked already. There’s no point in being shy.”
Elias opened the door and set my bag on the floor. He avoided looking up at me.
“Eli, will you order me a steak, medium well, with a loaded baked potato and steamed broccoli? I’m starving.”
“Of course,” he said, looking up at me. His gaze perused my body, lingering on my lower half, and I blushed. Saying I wouldn’t be shy didn’t make it easy to actually not be shy.
My big toe protested as I dipped it in the hot water. “Leave the door cracked open, please. In case I want to talk to you guys.” He smiled at me, then walked out, leaving the door open about a foot.
I spent some time sniffing the selection of bubble baths before choosing something that reminded me of a lotion Michael always loved, sweet pea. I sank down into the water. The tub was so big the water completely covered my body. It was heaven.
The guilt burrowed in the back of my mind became harder and harder to ignore. I was luxuriating in a bubble bath while my kids were being raised by strangers, and I was pulling Anthony and Elias away from their own kids. The bath lost its luster.
“Coya? Quick question.” Anthony stuck his head in the door and blinked several times as he stared at me.
“Yes?” I was secretly happy that the sight of me in the bath made him lose his train of thought.
“I wanted to make sure you didn’t mean medium rare.” He made a face of disgust as I replied.
“No, I’d like medium well, please.” He opened his mouth to argue with my steak choice, but I sent a splash of water toward the door. He dodged it with his lightning reflexes, laughing.
I soaked and leisurely washed while I waited on my food. When we heard a knock Anthony shut the bathroom door so no one would catch a glimpse of me. My gnawing stomach urged me to get out and wrap up in the ultra plush hotel robe. I made my way out to the dining area to see the guys ordered the same meal I did, with their steaks rare.
“Do you two have a craving?” I asked.
“We need to keep up pretenses, and it won’t hurt us to absorb a few extra vitamins with the food since we're rationing our blood,” said Elias through a mouthful of steak.
Dinner was delicious as long as I didn’t look at their undercooked steaks. When I’d eaten my food and a little of their vegetables—no way I was touching their raw steaks—I climbed up into the bed and turned on a TV that floated up out of the end of the bed. Low chuckles matched my giggles as I made the TV go in and out of its hidden cabinet. I flipped through a few channels until I found a show about a vampire slayer, and left it there to be cheeky.
Anthony went out to see about finding us a plane. Elias watched a few episodes, laughing his way through the misconception of a vampire while I paced the room, bored and restless. I changed into yoga pants and a tank to have something to do.
“Play cards with me.” Elias produced a deck of cards, and I sat down with a sigh to pass the time. We started playing strip poker, and I was down to my tee and panties in no time.
I fanned my full house out on the table with a flourish. “Read ’em and weep, Eli. Take off your pants.” I gave an exaggerated eyebrow wiggle and duck lips.
“Not so fast, there, smarty pants. I’ve got four of a kind.”
My ridiculous expression left my face as I read his cards. He had four aces. “Dammit!”
“Lose the shirt, Riles.” I gave him a fake scowl and started to take off my shirt when the hotel room door burst open.
“I can’t leave for a few hours coming back to find you two in a compromising situation.” Anthony walked over to the table and quirked an eyebrow at Elias's state of undress.
“We were restless.” I feigned a pout.
I was surprised to discover it was dusk outside, I’d become so wrapped up in the card games. The darkening city was beginning to light up, so I settled into a plush chair by the windows to watch the night come alive.
Anthony filled us in on his day. We wouldn't be able to embark on the rest of our journey until morning, given how long he looked for a plane. He’d been unsuccessful chartering a plane straight out of Mexico City but heard of a pilot willing to make trips for cash in Córdoba.
We prepared for an early bedtime. My eyelids grew heavy, my body snuggled in between the two new enigmas in my life. I was content, despite my guilt, despite my nerves, despite missing my boys. I drifted off to sleep between them.
* * *
Riley, I'm coming. Don’t worry, beautiful one. I'm finally on my way to you. Stay with Elias and Anthony. They are the least dangerous option right
now. I will find you wherever you are. You are my destiny, and I'm yours. Sleep now, and watch for me. I will take care of you.
* * *
I woke in luxurious splendor. The mattress in the hotel matched the comfort level of the tub. I was rested like I'd slept on a cloud sent to me by angels. Are angels real, too?
Two large blood-sucking heaters enveloped me in warmth and security. The city illuminated the night and I was surprised I'd slept so well with the room brightened by the city lights.
We were a triple spoon on the big bed. Anthony was behind me, and I was snuggled up to Elias's back. I wiggled down the bed so I could cool off a bit. All the body heat had me sweating.
Elias's flip phone sat on the bedside table, so I checked the time. Five after three in the morning. I had the urge to use the bathroom and gave their sleeping forms a gleeful look. They didn’t move as I got up, so hopefully, they were sleeping soundly. I ran to the bathroom. I could poop without them smelling!
I finished my business and washed my hands. Finding air freshener under the sink, I sprayed it liberally to save any embarrassing smells drifting through the door.
When I walked out, Elias was sitting up in bed, staring out the window. Anthony slept, curled around the pillow I'd been lying on. "Good morning, Riley,” Elias whispered.
"Good morning. What does our day look like today?" I climbed onto the bed and snuggled into Elias's side. He put an arm around my shoulders, and I grasped his hand, marveling in the change our lives had taken in a few short days.
"You smell like air freshener." He laughed, making it obvious he knew exactly what I'd been up to in the bathroom.
"It’s impolite to mention a lady's bathroom habits, Elias," I said with authority, cheeks flaming. "Now, what's up for today?"
"I'd considered giving us a day of rest, but I'm too paranoid about being caught. I think we should keep moving." He rubbed his eyes. "I hope to charter a small plane from the guy Anthony heard about. Flying commercial from here straight to Peru would be easiest, but I don't want to risk our identification papers being too closely scrutinized when we go through customs. They’re much more relaxed for private airstrips. Sometimes nonexistent."
"Eli, please sleep some more. You look exhausted." I tugged on his shirt to pull him down onto the bed with me. We fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.
* * *
The morning passed in a rush. We packed up and checked out after a quick breakfast from room service. I exited the hotel in the same fashion that I entered it, hope blossoming about our journey as we encountered no problems getting out of the city.
Anthony drove us out, headed south toward Córdoba. They hoped the pilot would be willing to take us to Panama or Peru in exchange for the SUV and some cash.
I dozed for a while, and when I woke, my dream from the night before was fresh in my mind. "Uh, guys?" I was nervous about the news I was about to deliver. "I had another one of those dreams."
Elias whipped his head around toward me. "Now?"
"No, it was early this morning. I didn't remember it until I napped. The voice told me he's coming for me now. He said we're each other's destiny and that he’d find me wherever I am." I twisted my hands in my lap. "How could he find me like that?"
"He would need the help of a powerful witch to track you from anywhere in the world," Elias explained.
"And the witch would need your blood," added Anthony.
"How in the world would someone have my blood?" I exclaimed.
"We won't know until he catches up to you.” Elias turned to face the road ahead. “The best thing we can do is keep moving and get lost in Peru. Maybe, by some miracle, we'll find the entrance to the underworld soon. If we can get that spring water into you, we'll be safe…and most likely lauded as heroes." He scrubbed his hands through his hair and gazed out the window.
Anthony drove all the way. I spent part of the ride dripping blood into a bag and storing it in our cooler. Our conversation was full of silly getting-to-know-you questions like favorite colors, favorite foods, and bucket lists.
Anthony’s favorite color was red, his favorite food was rare steak, and his biggest dream was to create a strong family unit for his children and future children. Elias's favorite color was navy, his favorite food was broccoli, and he agreed with Anthony about his biggest dream. He also wanted to go on a safari.
* * *
We arrived in Córdoba with little fuss. After a quick bathroom break at a questionable gas station, we went straight to what appeared to be an abandoned military air base. I stayed in the car with a gun in each hand—paranoid—as Elias and Anthony bartered with a pilot near the small dirt runway.
I fixated on the petite white plane. I'd never been on an airplane in my life, and I was about to get in one with a seating area smaller than our SUV. My stomach rolled.
Anthony opened the back door and pulled out the first of our bags. "I'm so glad he was willing to take the SUV. We wouldn't have had enough cash otherwise. In this size plane, he'll have to refuel five times on the way there. But he’s willing, and we should have enough cash left to carry us for at least another month in Peru if we're still there."
My nose tickled from some kind of random Mexican allergen as I climbed out to help unload the car. I stayed quiet as we loaded the plane with our bags and cooler of blood. So much could go wrong. We were trusting our lives to a random pilot, so far from home. I’d never even been out of the US before!
My mind raced with possible dangers. “I wish we’d flown commercial,” I grumbled to Anthony as we grabbed the last of the bags out of the SUV.
“Coya, love, I will protect you. I will see you safely to Peru.” His intense gaze unnerved me, even as I saw love in his eyes. “I wish I could calm you. I would be more relaxed if you were at peace.”
I picked up the cooler. “I’ll have peace when this journey is done and we are back with our children in Tennessee.” I kissed his cheek to show I wasn’t biting his head off and turned on my heel toward the minuscule plane.
The pilot smiled warmly and motioned for me to enter and sit. He handed me ear protection that was similar to what I used at the gun range. At least he looks like a nice person. I buckled the harness-style seatbelt in the Cessna but my hands trembled. Anthony sat beside me and took over the straps. I chuckled.
“It is going to be okay, my Coya. Elias has some experience with this size plane, so he'll sit beside the pilot.” He deftly buckled me in. “In case of an emergency, he’d get us to the ground.” He smiled and tucked my hair behind my ear.
“I was laughing because I’m nervous, and it popped into my head that you were strapping me in. It was sexy. I’m sorry, I’m scared.”
My hand came up and clasped his. He twined our fingers and set our hands in my lap. His sure grip calmed me. The seats were so close together our bodies were pressed tightly against each other, and I welcomed the contact. After so many years without a loving touch or any sort of embrace, it was heartening, even with the heavy load of guilt accompanying his touch.
I jumped and put on the headset as the pilot turned the engine over. The plane engine put me in mind of the old muscle car my mom owned when I was a teenager. I could feel the car engine rumbling in my bones—the plane was much like that. I peered around the shoulder of the pilot at the small runway. How could we take off in that short span of dirt? My legs bounced with my nervousness.
We lurched forward. “He’s putting it at full throttle!” Anthony yelled into my ear. I looked at him incredulously—he was thrilled to be taking off in the death box. He bounced in his seat with an enormous grin on his face. I watched his excitement and tried to forget to be nervous.
My stomach felt like it literally dropped to the ground as we lifted off. I looked past Anthony to see we were skimming over the top of the trees after running out of runway. I squealed and buried my face in his shoulder, but I couldn’t stop myself from peeking out at Elias as he turned around, laughing at me, though I couldn't hear
him over the engine.
Anthony draped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me as close as the seatbelts would allow. I was small and secure under his thick arm, tucked into his side, and enjoyed watching the countryside pass by underneath us.
I let out another unheard squeal as we went through a cloud. My head whipped from side to side, trying to look out of every window at once. When we broke through the top of the cloud, I was mesmerized by the sight of the puffs under us. Elias handed two pairs of sunglasses to us and I was glad to have them. The sun was unrelenting as it reflected off of the pure white clouds.
The time passed quickly as I spied sleepy villages, followed by sprawling metropolitan cities. We were so high I couldn’t make out the people, but I could see the buildings and pools of the cities, and the lakes and farms of the countryside.
I amused myself by imagining the goings on of the people in the tiny houses. Stretches of the country went by with nothing but lush green hills for miles and miles.
After the first hour, I grew tired of my game, and my eyes drooped. Three hours later Elias woke me by tapping my knee. Anthony was asleep with his head on top of mine. My neck pinched with a crick from the awkward angle I’d slept in.
I read Elias's lips as he pointed to the ground. “We’re about to land.” He mimed the motion of a plane landing. I tickled Anthony’s ribs to rouse him, and he startled awake. I giggled, watching him wipe his eyes, while I lifted his ear protection and yelled Elias's message in his ear.
Thankfully, the descent and landing were much smoother than the take off. We climbed stiffly out of the plane once given clearance. This airport was bigger than the last. “Where are we?” I asked the pilot. He shrugged, not an English speaker.
Elias helped me out. “¿Dónde estamos?”
Well, Elias speaks Spanish too. Handy.
“Acabamos de aterrizar en la ciudad de Guatemala,” the pilot responded. I looked at Elias to fill me in.