The tiger’s enclosure, which wasn’t an enclosure at all—it was more like a stage—was painted to look like a vibrant forest. Ignacio spotted the tiny mirrors situated within the falsified trees. Gabriel had mentioned that the mirrors inside the menagerie tent kept the animals in place. They must be working there as well. Isadora the tigress didn’t seem too pleased. She paced back and forth, without her cubs, huffing a dangerous sort of growl.
They passed a float shaped like a volcano. A banner bearing the namePaco the Fire Breatherhung from the side. Foam fizzled from the vent before an angry burst of flame exploded from the top. A young man, wearing nothing but a cloth to cover his bits, greased himself down with something that smelled of old musty books.
“Why did you think it was me?” Esmeralda asked.
An enormous bull elephant stood behind the volcano float. A dozen smaller elephants flicked their ears and sniffed at the ground with their trunks. Dogs dressed up like tiny elephants ran around their long legs.
“What was you?” he asked, thoroughly distracted.
“Why did you assume it was me who wrote to your father? Honestly, I should bop you in your nether region for even suggesting such a thing.”
The last time they had seen each other, she had made it very clear what she thought of Ignacio’s father. She’d used words likebastardandvillainandgood-for-nothing monster.
“Because of the ink that was used. I’ve seen it once before,” he said. He waited for her reaction, to see if she’d flinch, realizing she’d been caught, but no such reaction came. Still, he didn’t completely believe she wasn’t in communication with his father.
They shuffled by a float that literally floated in the sky. It was in the shape of a kite with ribbons twirling down like tails. Below it stretched the aerialists Ignacio had seen just after the ostrich was let loose. Half of their costumes were torn to shreds. One man had a black eye. Another was missing a chunk of hair.
Ignacio tilted his body away before they recognized him as one of the contributors to their clothing loss. Though, hauling Estefan’s cage might raise some suspicions.
Two heads popped up from within a float that was built to look like a warrior’s colosseum. Ignacio recognized them both. Gabriel and the taller of the Sánchez sisters.
“What in the world are you up to, Esmeralda?” shouted the young woman.
“I’m proving how versatile I am!” Esmeralda shouted back. “I’m joining the parade!”
“You’re what?” Ignacio asked, incredulous.
“I always get stuck in a float with all the lackluster acts. No one pays any attention to us. So, I’m making my own float.”
“Dressed like that?” Gabriel yelled down.
Esmeralda winced. “I didn’t have time to run back to my wagon…or to think things through.”
The two heads disappeared. Just as quickly, Gabriel and the young woman scurried out of the side of the colosseum. Theyran to meet Ignacio and Esmeralda. Gabriel was now dressed in all black and the young woman wore white robes. Instead of pushing the cage, as Ignacio imagined they would, they got to work rouging Esmeralda’s cheeks and pinning up half of her wild hair.
“The horse opera float has a few extra costumes you can use,” Gabriel offered. “They keep them around in case one of them falls into dung.” He said that part to Ignacio as if that fact might interest him. It didn’t. Not in the slightest. In truth, he didn’t want to hear a word from this guy’s mouth. Esmeralda had moved on to someone else. The mere thought made Ignacio feel hollow inside.
“We can use the feathers in the birdcage to jazz you both up to resemble doves,” the young woman added.
You both?They were speaking about putting on costumes and masks in a plural sense. As if Ignacio was part of this charade.No way. Nope.That wasn’t going to happen. “The deal was to help you get this cage to the parade, and that was it. I’m not joining you in any fashion.”
“Fine,” Esmeralda snapped. “Whatever. I don’t care.” She turned her attention to the girl and smiled. “That’s a brilliant idea, Camila.”
“Do we want to know how you got Estefan’s enclosure?” Camila asked.
“I’m sure you’d prefer not to be implicated in such an outrageous scandal.”
The three of them laughed as if unleashing a hell bird upon an unsuspecting crew were hysterical. It was diabolical. Unhinged. Only a little impressive.
“What’s the plan?” Gabriel asked.
“To cause a scene, of course.”
Gabriel chuckled.
Esmeralda’s face lit up. And Ignacio thought his heart might collapse in on itself. She liked Gabriel. He made her smile in this silly, comfortable sort of way.
Jealousy scorched Ignacio’s cheeks.
