Page 120 of Forbidden Fate

“No.” She shakes her head wildly. “Where will we go?”

“A hotel. Family. Anywhere.”

She presses a hand to her chest, trying to breathe.

“I know where Señora keeps the money,” he says. “It’ll be enough to get you and the rest of the girls to a safe place.”

“Cruz,” I say carefully. “What are you doing?”

“Señora would want the women cared for. And it’s not like she needs it now,” he adds, his lip twitching.

“It’s not that,” I say. “And of course I want the girls safe. But I⁠—”

He raises a hand. “We don’t have any more time. Stay here. I’ll check and make sure the others are okay. Then I’ll get the money.”

“Please—”

He leaves without letting me finish. Esmeralda and I stare at each other, saying nothing.

He’s back within ten minutes with a black leather bag. He shoves it at Esmeralda. “It’s filled with Colombian pesos. Enough to help you and the others get to safety.”

“How much is that?” I ask.

“Probably around five hundred US dollars.”

Esmeralda shakes her head. “I can’t take this.”

“You can.”

“No, Cruz⁠—”

“You can, and you will.” His voice roughens. “Take the money. It’s what Señora would want. It’s what I want.”

She gulps and takes the bag.

“Get Mercedes. Get everyone working here. Anyone in the back. Tell them to take what they can carry quickly, not everything they own. Nothing that slows them down. No one stays.”

“What about Señora V?” Esmeralda whispers.

Cruz flinches. “We can’t take her with us.”

Esmeralda sniffles, tears falling faster. “We can’t leave her.”

“If we stay to mourn her, we die beside her.” Cruz inhales. “She’s in a better place now. It’s just her body left behind.”

Esmeralda lets out a sob.

“I’m sorry,” he says, and his voice is no longer hard. “I am so sorry.”

The apology is useless. They both know it.

But Esmeralda nods anyway. What else is there to do?

“You’re in danger if you stay,” he continues. “They’re not after you. After tonight, after tomorrow, you may have to start looking for work somewhere else. Or try to contact Señora V’s next of kin and find out who owns the house now.”

“This is the only life I’ve known,” she whispers.

I step closer.