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Aside from this man and Marta, there are three other men who live here and watch over me.
I purse my lips and watch for several minutes. Though I don’t have a watch, I am pretty sure that the guard is about to change. For the past week, I’ve kept close track of the movements of the people assigned to keep me here.
Another minute passes. I lick my lips, growing anxious. Maybe they have changed their routines.
Maybe the guards are onto me somehow.
But as soon as I think that, another man emerges from the house and greets the bald guard. I drop the curtain, peering at them through a crack as they exchange a few words. Then the bald man heads off into the trees behind the house, disappearing.
I step back, sucking in a deep breath. I need to know where he is going. When the guards finish their shifts, they always head in the same direction.
My thoughts are interrupted by Marta knocking softly at my bedroom door and calling my name.
“Señora?”
I turn around, a little surprised. “Yes?”
She pushes the door open with her elbow, then comes in the room bearing a tray. It holds my dinner and a glass of water.
I arch a brow at her as she sets it down in the sitting area. Marta puts a finger to her lips and crosses the room, closing the door. Then she comes close, whispering. “No coma.”
She points to the tray, then slides her hands around her neck, miming being choked. “Comprende?”
I keep my voice down, mirroring her hushed whisper. “It’s poisoned?”
“Esta…” She searches for a word. “Drogada. Is drug.”
“The food is drugged?”
Marta clasps my hands, nodding emphatically. “Is, si. Podia see malo para la bebe.”
She presses her hand against my stomach, searching my face to make sure I understand. I don’t know a word of Spanish, but I understand that she is warning me off eating or drinking what she has prepared.
Why she brought it up here, I have no idea.
“Si. I understand. Gracias, Marta.”
Her eyebrows knit. “El jefe? Boss? He… come.”
My eyes widen. My pulse picks up, my heart hammering hard against my chest. “Now?”
“Señor Lyon viene esta noche.” She holds out her wrist, pointing to the number nine. It’s only half an hour from now.
My mouth opens but not a single word escapes my lips. All I can think about is that I will see Hades within the hour.
And in turn, he will finally see my pronounced baby bump. My hands flutter up to lie protectively on my belly.
If he knows that I am pregnant, why would he drug my food? He can’t know.
Or maybe he knows but doesn’t care. That bit of news would be the hardest for me to swallow. Still, it’s worth considering the possibility.
Marta squeezes my hand, drawing me from my thoughts. “Penny. Ester bien.”
I nod. “Muchas gracias, Marta.”
Then she turns toward the door, slipping out without another word.
I sprint through a shower and then put on a knee length black knit dress. There is no use in hiding my baby bump, so I guess I will just go the other way with it. But the entire time I am getting myself dressed and presentable, I can’t stop myself from trembling.
