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Noelle staredat the tablet laying on her nightstand, her fingers itching to grab it and see what Raf was doing. After Lucero had chastised her, she’d realized that shewasin the wrong. No matter how much she wanted to be by his side, she needed to find other, more legitimate ways to do it.
The clock struck midnight—by this time she would have already been with him, wrapped in his embrace.
“You didn’t go tonight.” Lucero snuck her head through her door, surprised to see her in her own bed for once.
Noelle shook her head, biting on her nails.
“It’s for the best, Noelle. Wait until you’re both out of here and you’ll be able to be a couple. Besides, you’ve already paid those mercenaries to break in at the end of the month. It’s not going to be that much longer.”
“You’re right,” she sighed.
Sergio was planning another banquet at the end of the month, and it was the perfect occasion when everyone would be busy with the preparations. The guards would also be mostly stationed around the hacienda.
The moment Noelle had heard of it, she’d known it was the perfect time for the three of them to make their escape. She would pretend to be the perfect host while the mercenaries infiltrated the hacienda and got Raf out. Lucero would meet him there and they would wait for her to slip away unnoticed. Once the party was in full swing, they would all take off, with the mercenaries serving as a shield in case they were attacked.
It wasn’t a foolproof plan, but considering the hacienda’s isolated location, Noelle doubted there was such a thing as a perfect plan. They were at the mercy of the terrain and the hundreds of people Sergio could mobilize with one word.
It was the reason why she’d been so careful choosing the right time. So many moments in the past she’d been tempted to just open Raf’s cell and run away together. Yet for all the romanticism of it, she was well aware it was foolish to think they’d simply get away—that Sergio would let her go just like that. And if they were caught…
Noelle gulped down as that thought arose.
She knew exactly what Sergio would do. He’d kill Raf in front of her, making her watch every single moment of it. It was the best revenge he could ever muster.
But beyond the perfect timing, there were other issues to consider as well, the most salient being Raf’s addiction. From the moment she’d found out he’d been put on that goddamn drug, she’d started slowly stealing some and creating her own stash to take with them when they left.
According to what she’d learned, the only way for him to get rid of the addiction was to be weaned off the drug slowly. Anything too sudden would shock his system and he could die—so manyhaddied just like that before him.
She wouldn’t take any risks with him, and though she’d memorized the recipe already, she doubted she would be able to get all the ingredients in time.
As much as she wished they could leave right away, she needed to puthiswell being first. And that meant being methodical about each step.
“Here.” Lucero stepped inside, bringing with her a tray full of treats. “I made you tea and I brought you some cookies. Maybe this will take your mind off of it.”
“You’re very nice to me for someone who pointed out just how selfish I’ve been.” Noelle smiled uneasily.
“Isn’t that what friends are for? I can’t just stand by and watch you ruin yourself, Noelle,” Lucero said as she put the tray on her nightstand.
“Thank you,” Noelle murmured.
Lucero merely gave her a smile, whispering good night as she laid a kiss on her forehead. Then she went back to her own room.
Noelle took a bite of one cookie and a sip of tea, but her attention inadvertently went back to the tablet. Surely if she didn’t go to him she could at least watch him.
She scrambled off her bed, snatching the tablet and powering it on. The entire day she’d done her best to avoid looking at it, but it seemed there was no more avoiding—not when the anxiety was killing her.
With a few touches, she accessed the video feed from the facility. Nibbling at her lips, she finally clicked on the video from Raf’s room.
A gasp escaped her at what she saw, the tablet almost falling from her grasp.
“What…”
His bed was trashed, the frame completely destroyed. There was debris everywhere in the room. And then there he was…
He was sitting in a corner, on his knees, hitting his head against the wall, blood pouring from self-inflicted wounds. Yet that wasn’t the worst thing. On the wall, in blood, he’d spelled her name.
Her stomach was in knots as she turned on the volume of the feed.
“Noelle… Noelle… Noelle…” she could hear him chant, his voice as desolate as the sight of the room. “Where are you?” he shouted, right before he banged his head against the wall again. “WHERE ARE YOU?”
