Page 23 of Shadow Man

“Hey, are you okay?” Her voice drifts down into the chasm.

I slap a palm across my mouth as hot bile surges up from the pit of my stomach. I reach the basin just in time to vomit up the images, watching my untold horror mix and weaken with the running water.

Soft hands catch my stray hair as I go down for round two.

“Yes, I’ve played the game,” I whisper into the bowl.When there was never any chance of winning, and I lost so much more than I ever thought possible.The vicious heaves are subsiding. The same soft hands are gently braiding my blonde hair now.“Why do you ask?”

“Because that’s me today. I’m the dare.” She drops the braid.

“Someone forced you to carry the—?”

“Ah, it’s way more complicated than that.” I meet her steady gaze in the mirror. “What’s your name,parcera?”

“Anna,” I say, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “Yours?”

“Viviana. It means ‘life’, which is kinda funny. If I don't finish this dare, I won’t have much of one left.” I see the ghost behind her smile then. The one she thinks she’s hiding. This woman is smart and beautiful, but underneath the Tank Girl attitude she’s scared as hell. “Friends call me Vi.”

“Thanks for holding my hair back.”

“No problem. You feeling better?”Not by a long shot.“He really fucked you over, huh?” Her dark gaze flickers over my face for the truth.

They.

They fucked me over.

Heperpetuates the ache.

I nod, forcing a smile. “So, what do you need to do with the—?” I gesture to the coke in her purse, conscious again of the security camera.

“Return it at my earliest convenience,” she finishes up with a scowl. “He thought it would be funny to fly me to Miami and back with his merchandise sewn inside my dress. He and his business associates took bets to see which country I’d get busted in first.”

“Are youserious?”

“Luckily, I made it home without the DEA or the airport cops taking an interest.”

“Why would whoever do that to you?”What does he have over you?

“He said I owed him. Which I don’t.” She reaches around and tries to zip up her dress herself.

“Are they at the airport now?” I lean over to help her.

“They’re in a car outside.” She checks her watch. “Hijueputa!Fuck! Because of this stupid dress, I only have five minutes to make the drop!”

“What happens if you don't make it in time?”

“I lose everything!” She reels away from me, her long black hair flying. “We’ve gotta go.” I stare at her stupidly. “You want my help, right? It’s what I owe you. I can't do shit if I’m dead. Come on!”

She grabs my hand, and I don't flinch this time. Her mess is fusing with mine and forcing us into this weird camaraderie together.

It’s impulsive and crazy. It’s everything I didn't want or need in my life, but I find myself trailing her out of the restroom, and then we’re breaking into a run.

10

Anna

The humidity outside is breath stealing. It’s filling my lungs with a hot, wet heat instead as I hustle to keep pace with her. She’s weaving in and out of the packed sidewalks, ignoring the shouts and catcalls, and kicking up dust from her cowboy boots.

“Slow down!” I yell, colliding with a couple of kids and their electric blue suitcases, firing apologies in my shitty Spanish at two angry-looking parents.

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