The Secret Arrangement

by Vanessa Waltz

  “Don’t worry, he’ll forgive you.” General Espada yanks me to his side, wrapping a viselike arm around my shoulders.

  Reporters aim cameras at me. They wave at me, voices rising in an impatient tide I don’t understand. Alex makes helpful gestures by tugging his lips.

  They want me to fucking smile? That’s impossible.

  I’m confused. What the hell’s going on? What’s this for?

  Only Alex senses my distress. He approaches the general, whispering in his ear. General Espada looks at me, indifferent, and nods.

  Alex pulls me aside. His kindness is the only thing tethering me to the ground. “Are you okay?”

  “No.” My hands tremble violently. “I can’t speak Spanish.”

  I’ve never felt so much like a fish out of water. It’s unsettling.

  “I see.” Alex beckons to a soldier and takes his hip flask. He unscrews the top and offers it.

  I take it, the stench of alcohol hitting my nose. “Oh.”

  Alex pats my back. “It’ll help you relax.”

  I tip my head and swallow. It’s harsh, like drinking gasoline. Dizziness spreads through my limbs, but it does the trick.

  I’m not shaking anymore. “Thanks.”

  Smiling, he guides me toward August’s father, who wraps his arm around me. We grin for the camera.

  A growl lunges from the darkness. “Hijo de puta!”

  August vaults from a car in a white button-up shirt and slacks, his features thick with rage.

  He reaches for me, but Alex blocks his path.

  “Don’t fuck with me,” August snarls. “Move!”

  Alex doesn’t budge. “Calm down.”

  Bewildered by the Spanish exchange, I push through Alex. “What’s wrong?”

  My fiancé blanches at the sight of me. He yanks me from the photographers. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “I have no idea, August! He said your father needed me here.”

  Incredulous, he releases me. “And you went along?”

  “What was I supposed to do?” My shout echoes in the hanger.

  “You could’ve told me.” He looks agitated, furious. “I couldn’t find you anywhere. I thought you took off into the jungle and was planning a rescue party, for God’s sake.”

  “Alex said that you were coming.” Stunned, I realize the easygoing soldier must’ve lied. “I figured I didn’t have a choice.”

  “Jesus.” August rubs his forehead raw. “He wanted me to come.”

  I’m lost. “Who?”

  “My father! That fucking bastard.” General Espada glances in our direction, and August makes threatening movements toward him.

  I seize his arm. “You can’t attack your dad. He’ll throw you in jail!”

  A rage builds in August like a storm. He can’t be reasoned, pleaded, or bargained with. He shakes free of my grip.

  August crashes into the smaller man, throwing him off his feet. They beat each other with swift, heavy blows. The photographers click madly as the two men brawl.

  I sprint to the struggling pair. “Stop it!”

  “Yes, he’s getting married.” General Espada beckons to the soldiers standing at attention, who break August and Alex apart. Alex sports a split lip. His brown eyes are narrowed in malice.

  August’s fists are bleeding. Again. He brushes aside Espada’s henchmen, and they scatter like flies. Horrified, I grab napkins from my purse and offer them to Alex.

  “Oh my God, are you okay?” Of course he’s not. “Stupid question, sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  Alex dabs his face, shrugging off my concern. “It’s fine.”

  But it’s not.

  A harrowing look replaces the forced politeness. I can’t help but feel this is my fault.

  General Espada laughs as though it’s a joke. “Take her home. We have the photos.”

  There’s an ominous ring to those words. I’m not sure I want to know what I participated in.

  “Let’s go.” August takes my hand.

  I’m disgusted by what he’s done. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “You’re coming with me now!”

  “No.”

  Alex taps my shoulder. “I’ll take you.”

  “Lily.” August’s ringing shout follows as I walk. “Lily!”

  Shaking, I slip into the same car that brought me here. Alex sinks into the driver’s seat and stems the flow of blood from his nose.

  We sit. I try to digest this nasty version of my fiancé I never knew existed. Tears stain my cheeks, which grow hot under his stare.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I should ask you that.” I shake my head. “Let’s go.”

  An awful stillness fills the space between us as we drive. I’m dreading when I’ll have to confront August. I don’t know what I’ll say.

  The guards don’t blink at the sight of Alex’s busted lip. They wave us ahead, and he parks in the sweeping driveway. For several minutes, Alex sits in tactful silence as I cry into my hands.

  “I’m fine,” he murmurs. “Swear to God. It’ll heal.”

  “He behaved like an animal.” I wipe the tears, angry. “There’s no excuse.”

  I’ve taken enough of Alex’s time.

  “Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

  I grab the door, but he touches my wrist.

  “Wait.” He digs into his wallet and produces a card with his name and number. “Here.”

  A chill runs through me as I accept it.

  “This is my personal line. Call me if you need anything. An escape—or someone to talk to.”

  “Thanks.” I give him a watery smile. “I appreciate it.”

  “De nada,” he says, with a casual shrug. “He’d want me to look out for you.”

  I wave at him, folding the paper in my pocket. When I reach my bedroom, a sudden realization stops me cold.

  Alex didn’t mean my fiancé.

  11

  It’s been a long day. I’m tired. And I’m not in the mood to deal with him.

  I was looking forward to crashing in bed, but I can’t while he’s here. “This is my room, remember?”

  August tears the ruined shirt from his back. Buttons fly as he rips it off, throwing it in the corner. “Too bad.”

  “You’re angry with me? That’s rich.” My fatigue sparks into flame. “Get out.”

  “It’s still my bedroom, sweetheart. Just because I allow you to use it, doesn’t mean it passed ownership.”

  “You haven’t been here in days!”

  “Yes, I have. I pop in every morning. You don’t notice because you’re out cold.” He grabs a long-sleeve and pulls it over his head, and then I glimpse the bruise darkening his eye.

  “So how often do you lose your shit and punch people?”

  “You do not understand what happened. My dad used you. Tomorrow, you’ll see your face all over state-sponsored media.”

  A dart of fear pierces my heart. “It was just a dumb picture.”

  “It’s never like that with my father!”

  “I didn’t know what was going on.” He’s acting like this is my fault. “No one bothered to translate.”

  “Because if they did, you would’ve put up a fuss.” He strips from his slacks, dressing in shorts. “Leaving without telling me was stupid. You can’t do that again.”

  “For the love of God, I’m not a teenager. You can’t expect me to run to you whenever something happens! Besides, Alex told me you were coming.”

  The mention of Alex’s name raises his hackles. “Pretty fucking please, don’t hang around Alejandro.”

  I laugh at him. “He was helping me.”

  “That’s not all he wanted to do.”

  Okay. I’m done.

  I charge into the closet, yanking blouses off hangers. “If I knew you were this insecure and jealous, I wouldn’t have come.”

  His eyes glitter and flash laughter. “I am not insecure.”

  I snort. “Whatever.”


  “You’re right about the jealousy, though.” August approaches me, simmering with a quiet rage. “I can’t be held responsible for what I’ll do if he touches you.”

  “It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m going.” I shove a pair of underwear in the duffel bag, packing it with lightning speed.

  Dark amusement rolls into his voice. “Where do think you’re going?”

  “Out of here.”

  “With the clothes I bought you? No.”

  I glare at him. “You said they were gifts.”

  “They stay here.”

  I balk, taken aback by the force in his words. “Fine. I’ll pack my rags and get out of your hair.”

  Everything I brought with me was crammed into a forgotten pile in the corner.

  I stand. August blocks my path. “How will you travel to the airport?”

  He’s building to something that’ll crush any hope of escaping. “I’ll ask the guards to escort me.”

  “They can’t speak English,” he sneers. “Even if they did, they wouldn’t allow you to walk away.”

  “I don’t care.” Fury builds like a pulsing roar in my chest. “I’ll hike through the jungle if I have to.”

  “No, you fucking won’t.”

  “Move.” I nudge his side, but he refuses to budge. “This tough guy act is getting old.”

  “You don’t know what the hell you’re doing. You won’t last five minutes in the wilderness.”

  I’m sure he’s right, but fuck him. I shove past, heading for the door.

  August follows, torn between disdain and humor. “Lily, don’t be an idiot.”

  “I’ll take my chances.” Stumbling from the weight of my luggage, I grab my sunglasses and cram them on my head. I snatch the can of mosquito repellent and spray my arms.

  “I’m tempted to let you run amok,” he chuckles. “Just to laugh at your shock when that crap doesn’t work.”

  I rub it into my skin. “It’s worked fine since I’ve been here.”

  “If you believe that, go ahead.” He smiles darkly. “You’ll come back covered in bites.”

  “Whatever. You’ll say anything to make me stay.”

  He yanks the bag from my hands. “I’m trying to keep your stubborn ass alive.”

  “Try to stop me, and I’ll scream.”

  “Ha!” An amused roar bursts from his mouth. “You think my guards will give a shit?”

  Fuck it. I cease fighting for my things and leave.

  He’s quick on my heels. “What happens when you’re lost?”

  I steamroll through the compound. “I won’t get fucking lost!”

  “Sure. You’re on the the wrong track, by the way.” Smirking, he stands at the entrance of the forked path. “Do you even know how to find water? Build a fire?”

  No, jackass.

  My silence makes his voice crack with glee. “Where’s the north star?”

  I don’t know.

  “You’re right. I don’t stand a chance in the wilderness. I’m not a privileged asshole who had everything at his fingertips. No one ever took me camping.”

  “Then what are you doing?”

  “Taking my chances with the snakes.” A fog of outrage blinds my way. “And the big cats, monkeys, and God knows what else. Just because I’ll be away from you.”

  A scornful chuckle follows me as I squeeze past a wall of leaves, crashing into a thicket. Thorns snag my skin and hair, but the branches are too thick. I push harder, but it’s no use.

  “Forget something?” A cruel smile blazes on August’s lips. “You won’t cover much ground without a machete. Too bad.”

  I eye the blade strapped to his waist. “Give me yours.”

  “Hell no. You wanted to leave. Leave.”

  “What are you doing?” What I said must’ve gotten to him. Good.

  “Letting you go.”

  The jungle seethes at my back. “You don’t mean that.”

  “I do,” he fumes. “Get out of here. I won’t stop you.”

  “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “Except refuse to follow my advice.” Hurt cracks through the rage. “I’m trying to protect you.”

  He doesn’t know what freedom is like. “I need my independence. I will not be caged in here.”

  “You’re better off here than you were in that dump.”

  “I’d rather be free.”

  “Why? So you can die in that place?” He glares at me. “Face it, Lily. You’ll accomplish more here than you ever would’ve there.”

  My skin burns. “Fuck you.”

  I crash into the gloom, squeezing through a tight place. I blunder into the forest, vines slapping my cheeks. My legs ache with the pain of hundreds of thorns slicing me. I keep going until the thickness presses on all sides. Then I can’t run any further.

  I burst into tears, slumping against a tree.

  You’ll accomplish more here than you ever would’ve there.

  Even my fiancé thinks I’m a failure. I’ve always been too poor and scared to make big changes in my life. Coming here was a mistake.

  “Lily!” He crashes forward. “I’m sorry!”

  A swell of misery forces me upright. I lash through the vegetation until a hard force rams into my ribs. I double over, gasping, and grope the darkness. A pained breath rattles through my lungs.

  Cold surrounds me like a fog. I sink to the ground and close my eyes. I will for the night to wink me out of existence.

  “Lily!” Echoes of his desperation bounce between trees. “Follow my voice! Jesus Christ, say something.” I open my eyes. The faintest white winks through a tangle of flora. “Lily!”

  I rise and continue on. Branches snag my clothes, dragging across my skin. It hurts. I crash into a brush, slamming into a trunk. It sends me sprawling into thick, wet slime.

  Perfect. I groan.

  August’s panic grows louder. “I heard you. Keep making noise!”

  I attempt to wipe myself clean, but in pitch-black, it’s impossible. I can’t see what I’m cleaning, but my arms and legs are buried in it. “Goddamn it!”

  “Shit! Hold on!” His flashlight beams through, and he pushes inside. “Lily?”

  The arc of light sweeps over my knees, and then it shines at my forehead. I throw a muddied arm to block it. “Do you mind?”

  He points it at my stomach, rushing forward. “Where are you hurt?”

  “I’m fine. Just covered in mud.” I glower at him as a deep shadow curves into his cheek. “Don’t fucking laugh at me.”

  “I’m not.”

  He is. “You are so not what I expected.”

  August hardens at my disappointment. “You’re no peach, either. I thought you’d be grateful.”

  My shoulder bumps into his as I walk through the path he cleared. “Delusional idiot.”

  “That’s the wrong way,” he barks. “Again. Home is there.”

  “I need to be alone.”

  “If solitude’s what you want, I’ll give it to you. But I’m guessing the moment I turn my back, you’ll be screaming for me.”

  I laugh, lips shaking. “You think very highly of yourself.”

  I can’t see his face, but his voice sounds like smoke. “Not really. I know what’s in this jungle. You don’t.”

  “Howler monkeys, so what?”

  “Venomous snakes. Animals that’ll rip you apart and gnaw on your bones. There are plenty of plants that’ll kill you, too. You’re not dumb enough to eat them, but that won’t matter in a few days when you’re lost and starving.”

  My nails gouge into my palm. “You don’t have to be such an asshole.”

  His fingers bite my skin. “Come with me.”

  I stumble forward as he leads me from the direction he pointed. Sooner or later, his guards will gossip about August and his errant fiancée, who walked through the compound slathered in muck.

  Shame creeps up my neck. I’m grateful for the darkness.

  We stroll a path I can’t see, August unslinging
the machete at his waist to cut. A symphony eats the silence between us. Creatures sing and chirp. The blade whistles through the air, snapping branches. A roar fills my ears—rushing water.

  “We’re almost there,” August announces. “It’s up ahead. Watch your step.”

  He seizes my waist when I walk into a giant boulder. “Shit—sorry. Coming here in the dark was a stupid idea.”

  I feel slippery rocks. “Where are we?”

  “See for yourself.”

  A fine mist from a waterfall sprays my cheeks. It pools into a deep well and empties into a river that snakes through trees. Above us, the moon shines, casting a pale sheen over the ripples.

  August clicks the flashlight as he steps into the moonlight. “Take off your clothes.”

  My thighs clench. “What?”

  “Your clothes. Take them off.” He waits for me to obey, releasing a soft chuckle. “You’re covered in crap. I’m sparing you humiliation, but if you’d rather look like that…”

  I wouldn’t. “Turn.”

  A smirk tugs at his lips. “We’re engaged.”

  “Not for long,” I growl. “Do it.”

  He sighs as he obeys. “I’ll have to use my imagination. Oh, wait. I’ve already seen you naked.”

  “Shut up.” I unzip my shorts. They slip down my legs, along with my panties.

  “Am I really not allowed to watch you?”

  I remove my shirt and unclasp my bra. I throw it, and it lands at August’s feet. His hands ball into fists.

  “Lily, come here.”

  “Nope.”

  He softens. “Please.”

  “You can’t look or touch.” Stooping, I gather muck from the bank. “Not until I say so.”

  “You weren’t this bossy in our chats.” August’s voice is like a finger tracing my curves. “You’d think it’d be a turn-off.”

  “Poor you.”

  “The more you sass me, the sweeter your submission will taste.”

  The balmy air acts as a moisturizer for my skin. I face his back, shivering in anticipation. “Is this too hard for you?”

  His head turns an inch. “Give me your hand, and I’ll show you.”

  I bite my lip as I take another step toward him. “Do not move,” I whisper. “Seriously.”