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“You’re right. But… Raf won’t take it well. You saw what happened last time. I can’t just leave him like that—with no explanation.”
“So what do you want to do?”
“I’m going to go tonight and tell him—beg him not to do anything foolish until we can escape. But I’m going to need your help.”
“What do you mean?” Lucero frowned.
“I thought I’ve taken all the necessary measures but it’s clear Sergio suspects something. I need you to change places with me.”
“I don’t understand…” Lucero muttered.
“This,” Noelle said as she took out a blonde and a black wig. “I’ll go over there disguised as you, while you make yourself seen around the hacienda as me. Our builds are similar enough that no one should be able to tell from afar.”
“But how are you going to get into the facility? I can certainly pretend to be you and prance around for people to see me. But you said it yourself that the guards are now ensuring no one can wander around after hours.”
“I’m going through the back. If anyone sees me, I’ll say the mistress sent me for some files she forgot.”
“I don’t know, Noelle… Even if Sergio thinks it’s me who went there, wouldn’t he suspect it’s for you?”
“He will. But at least he won’t think it’s a personal connection. I don’t care if he realizes I’ve been stealing from the lab as long as he doesn’t realize how much I care about Raf. The moment he does…”
“I’m not sure this will work,” Lucero sighed.
“I’m not sure either,” Noelle agreed grimly. “But if I don’t tell Raf and then I stop showing up… You’ve seen how bad he can get. Unwittingly, he’ll draw attention to us and that’s the last thing we need now. More than anything, he knowsmyname.”
“This is a tough situation,” Lucero pursed her lips. “But I can’t think of a better alternative, so let’s do it as you say.”
When night descended, Noelle and Lucero switched their looks. Lucero took her position in the inner courtyard by a lamp, pretending to read, while Noelle returned to the facility, going to the back where trucks unloaded the merchandise.
She managed to find a nook through which she could sneak into the storage room, and after that it was all a matter of going around undetected.
Using her tablet, she monitored the corridors, going out only when she spotted the guards leaving the main hallway. She dashed out, going straight into Raf’s room.
“Noelle?” Raf asked in a soft voice as she closed the door behind her.
He was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall as he rocked back and forth.
“Raf. What’s going on? Are you okay?” She frowned. She hadn’t seen him like that before.
“I think so,” he said, though the shake of his head indicated otherwise.
She ran to his side, going to her knees in front of him. Pressing the back of her hand to his forehead, she realized he was awfully cold and sweaty.
“What happened?”
“The usual,” he cracked a smile. “They administered the drug. But I think my body’s taking it worse because of the new breaks in between.”
“God, Raf. You have no idea how much it hurts me to see you like this,” she murmured as she leaned in to kiss his face. “You have to hang on. We’re leaving at the end of the month. It’s just a couple more weeks. Okay?”
He gazed at her with so much love, she didn’t know how she didn’t burst into tears from the guilt that clawed at her.
“Okay,” he nodded. “I trust you.”
“I have some bad news though,” she started, nibbling at her lips. She didn’t know how he was going to take it and she was afraid he was going to hurt himself again.
“Did something happen to you?” he barked out, his body tensing.
“No, no.” She shook her head. “Nothing like that. It’s just that…” she trailed off as she swallowed hard. “I think Sergio suspects something. I’m not sure what, but he gave an order that no one can say after work hours at the facility.”
