“Great. Go!”
He takes off at a run, clutching the C-4 in his left hand, and I hurry back to camp. I can see Indiana looking for me through the trees.
I’m three steps from the clearing when Óscar’s hand wraps around my arm, and I jump, startled.
“Look who I found,” he shouts as he hauls me back into camp. “Trying to escape.”
MADDIE
Óscar drags Genesis back into camp, and my pulse spikes so hard that for a moment, I’m afraid I’ll pass out for real.
My mind races. Is she still wearing the bomb? Did she find Luke? Have we lost our shot?
I stand, but Natalia pushes me back down on the folding chair and hands me a full-sugar soda, evidently the best they can do without juice or hard candy. “You said you needed sugar. So drink.”
“What did I say would happen if you tried to escape?” Silvana demands as Óscar hauls Genesis closer.
The can shakes in my hand, and this time I’m not faking.
“You can’t kill her.” Indiana steps between Silvana and Genesis. His voice sounds strained, but his words carry loud and clear. “You need her.”
“True.” Silvana frowns, mocking Genesis as she pretends to consider the situation.
Genesis tries to pull her arm free, but Óscar only tightens his grip. “Silvana—”
“¡Cállate!” Silvana snaps at her. “You and your cousin represent not one, butthreedifferent ransoms. Butyou...” She grabs Holden by one arm, and her words drip withgleeful malice. “You only represent yourself.”
She has no idea how right she is.
Silvana pulls Holden close and sneers in his face. “Yourmamiwill pay whether you are dead or alive.”
“No!” Penelope cries.
“Whoa!” Holden turns on Genesis, eyes wide with fear. “This isherfault! I didn’t do a damn thing!”
Silvana nods to Álvaro, and he unsnaps a huge knife from his belt. My soda can hits the ground. My throat feels thick and swollen.
Penelope chokes back a sob but Genesis clenches her jaw shut.
Silvana throws Holden to the ground. He falls to his knees in the dirt, and Álvaro is on him in a second, his knife at Holden’s throat.
“Please, don’t do this.” My cousin’s voice is unsteady. “He hasn’t broken any of your rules.”
I’ve despised Holden since I caught him making out with another girl at Genesis’squinceañera, but he doesn’t deserve to have his throat sliced open in the middle of the jungle.
“Yeah. This has nothing to do with me.” Holden’s voice shakes and his hands tremble.
Silvana shrugs. “Any last words?”
“Please,” Genesis begs, fighting Óscar’s grip, and her desperate plea makes my eyes water. “I’mthe one you want to punish.”
Silvana’s eyes practically sparkle. “That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
2 HOURS EARLIER
GENESIS
“¡Espérate!” Sebastián shouts, and relief washes over me. Setting off bombs a thousand miles away is one thing, but he can’t distance himself from the murder of someone his own age, right in front of his face.
