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“I’ve known Antonio my whole life,” the man who I would have laid down my life for says. “As boys, we played soldiers in the vineyards along the river. Even when we were surrounded by the imaginary enemy, he would save himself first.”
Is that how he remembers it?
“When your back’s against the well, you know who your friends are.”
The tape gets fuzzy again, and then it ends.
Cristiano is working with the Russians.My closest friend,my brother, is a traitor.No chance.It’s not possible.
Don’t let emotion cloud your judgment. The facts are the facts. Traitors come in many forms.
I lower myself to my haunches, my back against a post, and play the recording again. This time listening for clues.
Cristiano doesn’t sound under duress. We have precautions in place. But he doesn’t use a single code word to let us know he’s been abducted. Not one.I’m fucked.
I scan the crowd behind Daniela for Lucas, replaying the recording over and over inside my head, every word tattooed on my brain. My legs are like rubber as I make my way up the ramp to Daniela. The day is not going to end as we planned. She’s not going to like it, but she needs to go to the house with the girls, right away.And stay there.
When your back’s against the well, you know who your friends are. When your back’s against the well, you know who your friends are.
Against the well.
I pull out my phone and listen one more time.“When your back’s against the well…”
“Get her out of here,” I shout at the guards surrounding Daniela. “Now!” I roar over my shoulder as I race toward the boat, barking orders the entire way.
73
DANIELA
“Get your hands off me,” I shriek, throwing a world-class tantrum, with an unsuspecting crowd behind me. “I’m not going anywhere without Valentina and Alexis.”
“Senhora, I have orders,” Alvarez chides, like I’m a four-year-old.
“I don’t care about your orders.”
Even as I argue, my eyes are glued to the waterfront.Something’s wrong. Very wrong.
Antonio disappears onto the boat. Within seconds, everyone’s jumping overboard into the river.
Panic ensues, and I cling to the railing, kicking and spitting at the guards who are trying to pull me to safety. It buys me a few minutes, because they have to be cautious. I’m Antonio’s wife and they won’t risk his wrath by manhandling me.
“Valentina!” I scream. “Valentina!”
I’m losing my struggle with the guards when the boom knocks me off my feet.
There’s shouting from all directions. The crowd disperses in terror, tripping over one another. It’s bedlam, even before the bloodcurdling screams.
I turn toward the river.
Black smoke obscures everything along the bank. I can’t see anything but fiery embers flying through the dense fog.
All the air leaves my lungs.
The boat!
Where is it?
I don’t see the boat. I don’t see anyone.
The boat is gone.
No!
“Antonio! Valentina! No! No!” I screech, breaking free from Alvarez and running toward the river.
* * *
