I sit up straighter, rolling my head around until my neck cracks. “Any luck on the video analysis?”
“It’s a room,” she says with a shrug. “The walls are cherry wood. The tile looks expensive. Only thing I can say for sure? It’s small. The way the voices echo, it’s less than a hundred square feet. Only a little bigger than a closet. But there was one thing that seemed…offto me.”
The video pops up on screen. “Look at her face in this last short clip. She might be trying to say something.”
The few seconds as she crumples to the floor loops, and I stare at the screen until my eyes water. “What I wouldn’t give to be able to read lips.”
“What did you just say?” Austin asks. He rounds the table, his gaze pinging between me and Zephyr’s face in the little window on my screen.
“Domina’s saying—mouthing—something. Look.” I nod, and Zephyr starts the clip playing again.
“Fuck me. Send this to Griff. Right now.”
“Who the hell is Griff?” I push to my feet, squaring off with Austin. “I don’t wantanyoneelse involved in this.”
Zephyr mutes her mic, but she’s clearly talking to someone. And ignoring me.
“Griff is one of my guys,” Austin says. “And he’s deaf. We’re notinvolvinghim. But if anyone can tell us what she’s trying to say, it’s him. You want to get her back? This is how we do it. By using all the resources we have—carefully.”
“Guys?” Zephyr is practically bouncing in her chair, her voice half an octave higher. “He said he can’t be a hundred percent positive, but his best guess is ‘Moon Ohs.’ Or…”
“Muñoz.” I brace my hand on the back of the chair. It’s nothing we didn’t already suspect, and it doesn’t do us much good. But knowing Domina had the presence of mind to send us a message—that they haven’t broken her—gives me the smallest shred of hope.
“You’re sure that’s the only thing she said?” Austin asks. “Play the whole thing again.”
Zephyr arches her brows, her lids fluttering like she can’t believe Austin doubts her. “I’ve been over every single second of the vid a hundred times. But sure. Check it again, boss.”
I can’t watch. If I do, this sliver of light I’ve found amid the darkness will vanish entirely. Wandering into the kitchen for a glass of water, I can’t help but hear her voice—and that of the man with her.
“Enough, bitch!” he snaps.
“Stupid bitch.”
“Stop!” I drop the glass onto the counter, and it’s a miracle it doesn’t shatter into a thousand pieces. “Go back. Two seconds.”
“Enough, bitch!”
“I missed it.” Back in front of my laptop, I lean down and stare at the man behind Domina. “That’s Daniel Pinzon. The asshole who broke into Domina’s apartment.”
Zephyr’s eyes light up, and she smiles. “I can get a list of all of Pinzon’s known associates and search foranythingthat ties him to Eduardo Muñoz. Back in a bit, boys. Now, we’re getting somewhere.”
* * *
Domina
Sitting against the wall, hugging my knees to my chest, I close my eyes. Sleeping is out of the question. After they forced me to record a video for Leo, Sergio and Daniel left, but it’s been hours—I think—and they could come back any time.
Did Leo understand the one-word message I tried to send him? That Muñoz is the one planning this whole thing? I had no warning before Sergio and Pinzon burst in with a chair and a phone, both wearing black balaclavas and gloves.
If I get another chance, I can say more. I hope. But what? More than a single word, and they’ll be able to tell. Pinzon? That will not help.
Tears sting my swollen eyes as I realize just how little I know. Eduardo and Sergio are behind it all. Daniel is the one who took me from the hotel. Gustavo Bernal from Muñoz’s campaign is involved somehow. But I do not know where I am. Or if they are going to take me somewhere else before the vote tomorrow. How will they kill me if Leo fails?
Quiet sobs shake my entire body. I drop my head onto my knees. “Stop,” I mutter when I have no more tears to cry. “You have been on your own your entire life. You can get through this.”
My stomach twists into a knot. My throat is parched. Why didn’t I ask Sergio what time it was when he came to make the video? The election will be certified by 8:00 p.m. tomorrow night. Or…is it tonight now?
I use the wall for support and get to my feet. With my swollen ankle, I cannot stand to keep my heels on, so I limp, barefoot, to the door.
