Page 18 of Bronco

“We won’t.”

“You get Olive out,” she finishes. “All that matters is she is safe and away from here.”

I nod. “You know I’ll guard her with my life.”

She stares at me, her golden eyes sad as we make our preparations to get the fuck out of here. “Okay. I’m in.”

“For real?”

“Yes! For real.”

I pull her into a hug, barely able to contain my excitement. It’s a crazy plan, but I’ve talked to Carlo, the driver, a few times. He delivers the flour, eggs and milk when we run out of our ownsupplies; usually Christmas and Easter. Making our getaway has never looked so promising and I’m kicking myself that I haven’t thought of it before. If he catches us? I don’t know… I haven’t thought that far ahead.

I take a breath.It’s going to be okay. We’re going to survive this.I don’t really know if that’s true, but I have to stay strong for Erica. She’s with me but I feel as if this kind of convincing could only mean she’s not certain. Heck, I’m not certain of anything, just that we have to try.

“Tell me you mean that,” I stammer, my eyes glazing over. I’ve dreamed of this day for so long.

“I mean it! I swear, I mean it. I just don’t have the… I don’t know… killer instinct like you do. I would never attempt this by myself.”

I want to laugh in her face. I don’t have a killer instinct; all of it is bravado. A mask that I’ve perfected over the years to protect myself. I’ve become so used to this lie that I truly believe we will be okay. We have to be because I can’t live for one more second like this. I can’t. I won’t. I’d rather die than be Vince’s sex slave who can’t keep her mouth shut.

One day I’d love to come back with a baseball bat and hit him with it until he’s suffered like all his wives have. I may not like my sister wives, but I don’t hate them enough that I think it’s right what he does to all of us. Ruling with an iron fist is the way of the church. They don’t want the women getting too ahead of themselves, heaven forbid if they had a mind of their own. All this is, I’ve come to realize, is a ploy to lure people in and suck them dry. They take all the money, control everything and we have to just sit by and take whatever they dish out. It isn’t fair. I was a child. I didn’t sign up for this, but my own brother sold me like a slave on the black market.

“I will get us out of this,” I promise. Those are some big words, but Erica needs to hear that right now, and I can give itto her. “I’ll get us away from here and we can start living how we want, you just have to trust me.”

She nods. “I trust you.” The look in her eyes; deep devotion and respect, makes my heart lurch. She’s my best friend and the sister I should’ve had. Betraying her husband,my brother,isn’t anything I’ve taken lightly. It’s a big fucking deal.

I pull her into another hug. “Whatever happens,” I whisper, “we stick together. We have to stick together.”

“And if we get caugh?—”

“No, don’t think like that. We won’t get caught. The men will think we’re enjoying the festivities, the women won’t care what we’re doing because they’ll be too wrapped up in the celebrations.”

I know she’s nervous, but if we don’t leave now, we may never escape this place. “I’m in.”

I smile. “We ride at dawn.”

Well, dawn takes a little longer than expected, and I’m growing more nervous on the coming Friday when the delivery truck arrives early.Shit!I can’t pack a bag because someone will want to know where I’m going, and if I dump it and someone finds it, we’re doomed. I literally have to leave with the clothes on my back and the money I stole tucked into my underwear. I feel like I should take a weapon for when we get out, just in case, but I have nowhere to hide it.

I sprint across the village, all under the guise of prepping for the main event. We’re baking fresh bread ready for tonight’s supper, and I thought we had a few more hours up our sleeves.

I make it to Erica’s and to my dismay, I run into Jude. “What on earth?” She gives me a once over, disapproval written all over her face.

“I’m running late,” I say, panting from my sprint.

“I can see that, but it’s not very lady-like to be running around out of breath. Shouldn’t you be helping your sister wives?”

I want to punch this woman in the face. It’s literally killed me this past month to be super nice to everyone and extra co-operative. I owe her nothing but because she’s Steven’s first wife, she thinks she has some hierarchy over the rest of us. “I’ve been helping them all week. Sara, Erica and I have always worked together over Easter, it’s a tradition.”

She scowls at me and it takes all my might not to reach over and scratch her eyeballs out. Like I need her permission to do jack shit. “I disagree, traditions should stay within your own home.”

“Let’s keep in with the Easter tradition of giving,” I sing-song, pushing past her to go find Erica. I’ll do and say anything to get away from the witch and I’m losing precious time.

“You won’t find Erica here!” she hollers after me.

I stop in my tracks. “Where is she?”

“She went into the village.” Why she looks so smug I’ll never know.

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