“Turn back around and get the hell out of there.” His words were tight, as if he spoke with his teeth clenched.
“I can’t. I already lost him. He’ll get away if leave now. He can’t be far.” She spun in a small circle, cringing at the ramshackle houses and run-down businesses located so close to the glitz and excitement of the busy tourist attractions.
Moist, hot breath hit the back of her neck and a shiver ran down her spine. “Put the phone away, Mickey.”
She lowered her phone to her side and slowly turned around. She swallowed hard and concentrated on keeping her breath even. Every muscle in her body tightened and she came face to face with Pete. She couldn’t show fear. She glanced around and her stomach dropped. Not a single person loitered on the sidewalk around them.
Her gaze landed back on Pete. His hat was pulled low over his face, but even in the shadow his eyes were hard, his cheeks hollow. “Where is she? Where’s Becca?” Her voice shook and she tightened her jaw to keep her chin from quivering.
A brittle laugh came out of his mouth and rage built inside of her. “Do you think I’d bring her here? No way. Becca’s special.”
Disgust turned to bile in her gut. Her fingers itched to smack his smug face, but she needed to keep him talking. Graham was still on the other line and she needed him to get to her fast. “If you don’t have her with you, then why are you here? I know you’re moving a human trafficking ring to Chicago. Why come back to Mexico if you already have things set up?”
His eyes widened for a brief second. No doubt he didn’t expect her to know so much about his operation, but all traces of surprise left his face, and his features contorted into a nasty sneer. “I have some unfinished business to take care of before Ileave Mexico for good. No reason to expose Becca to this world. She’s safer in Chicago.”
Alarm bells rang in her head. “Are you here for Paula?”
Pete took a step toward her. “What do you know about Paula?”
“I know she looks like Becca, and you’ve made her life a living hell since she was nine years old. Is that what you want to do to Becca, too? Take away everything she loves and ruin her life? She’ll hate you. Just like Paula does.”
Pete’s hand drew back and slashed across her cheek so fast she didn’t have time to react. Her head snapped back and pain sliced across her face. “You don’t know a damn thing. Paula loves me. She always has, but everyone tried to keep us apart. But not anymore. We can be together, and we can keep Becca with us. It will be so much better than it ever was before.”
Mickey rubbed the soreness from her face. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth and she spit it at his feet. “You’re a monster. I’ll find Becca, and warn Paula, too. I’ve already talked to her. She wants nothing to do with you. She hates you just as much as I do.”
Pete grabbed her phone from her hand and threw it on the ground.
Shit. She needed to have a way to reach Graham. Lurching forward, she reached for the phone, but Pete’s foot swung forward and connected with the soft flesh of her stomach. Pain shot through her. She fell to the ground and curled onto her side. Pete grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled her to her feet. She yelped as her scalp screamed in agony. He pushed her backward and forced her into a deserted alley. Her legs backpedaled as quickly as they could, but her ankle twisted in her damn heels and she fell to the ground. Pete pulled her upright and then slammed her into the side of the building. The force of it stole her breath from her lungs. Her mind raced and her hearthammered so hard against her chest she was convinced it would break through the skin.
Keep him talking.
“You’ll never get away with this. The FBI is searching for you right now. They’ll be here any minute. You’re wasting time on me, time where you could be getting away.”
He pressed his face into her personal space. His sweat mixed with the stale smell of beer and she fought hard not to gag. “I’ve been getting away with it for years. No one’s ever been able to stop me.”
A slow smile curved on his lips. “I have missed you, Mickey. I didn’t think I’d get anything out of the time we spent together, but you were so eager to please in the sack. Maybe one little taste of you before I kill you can hold me over before I get back to Becca.”
His beady eyes traveled up and down her body like a dying man eyeing his last meal. Panic rang in her head and she fought to stay calm. His free hand grabbed her chin and lifted her face to the tiny sliver of light that poured out from an upstairs window. She wouldn’t let this piece of shit touch her. She had to wait until the time was right to make her move.
He pressed his body against her and her back pressed against the hard brick of the building behind her. His mouth came down on hers and his tongue pierced through her closed lips. She bit down as hard as she could and her teeth sunk into his tongue. He pulled away, but she refused to let up. His closed fist came up and connected to her temple. Stars burst in her vision and she staggered to the side, releasing his tongue.
“What the fuck?” he screamed. Spit and blood flew from his mouth and splattered on her face. “I should kill you now.”
Pressure built in her chest, making it hard to breathe. Fear heightened her senses and adrenaline coursed through her veins. Darkness misted her vision and she forced herself to focuson the fury etched on the planes of his face. Acting on instinct, her knee shot up and connected to his groin.
“Bitch!” he yelled and stumbled backward.
She swung her leg forward and connected the pointy toe of her shoe to his balls. His shrill scream bounced around the alley and he fell to the ground. His hands covered his injured area and he rolled to his side in front of her. Now was her chance, she had to get out of here. She jumped over him and ran toward the opening of the alley. Her lungs burned as she struggled to take in air, but she was almost there.
A tight grip circled around her ankle and she crashed to the ground. Her head smacked off the concrete and pain seared through every inch of her body. Her fingertips dug into stone and broken glass and she tried to crawl toward the light at the end of the alley. “Help me!” Her voice shook and her eyes searched the mouth of the alley for someone to help her, but no one passed by.
Strong hands pulled her body backward and concrete and God knew whatever else scraped against her body. Once he pulled her away from the opening, from freedom, he flipped her over on her back. He stood over her, one leg on either side of her stomach, and hurled a wad of spit on the side of her head. “You’re going to pay for that.”
He lowered himself to the ground, trapping her hands with his own. She thrashed around, kicking her legs and bucking her hips, but he only tightened his hold. “Get off me. Stop. Help! Somebody help me!”
“Nobody’s coming, sweetheart. No one can save you now.” He lowered his mouth so it was an inch above hers. “I want one little taste before I teach you not to fuck with me again.”
Mickey lifted her mouth and bared her teeth. She bit into his bottom lip as hard as she could. He pulled away and grabbed his lip. “Sonofabitch.” Blood coated his hand. He reared back andslapped her across the face. The sharp sting bit into her cheek and she clenched her jaw to keep from screaming. “Big mistake, bitch.”
