Page 113 of Ruthless Beast

I know he’s right. But this woman was there for Emily when I wasn’t, so I let them have their tearful farewell.

“She’s going to be fine,” I assure Emily once she returns to the car.

“I hope they don’t capture her again, Lucas.”

“I know, my love. I know. Come, we have to get going. I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to smuggle you out of Mexico. I’m apologizing in advance for hiding you in the trunk of our car.”

“I guess I’ll leave the country in the same way I entered.”

“I’m so sorry, my love.”

“We’re going to have to have a long talk when we get back home, Lucas.”

Emily’s words leave a pit in my stomach. Is she going to tell me that she never wants to see me again? Is this the end of the road for us? I can’t imagine my life without this woman. I love Emily with every fiber of my being. But there’s no time to think about that now, so I nod.

“Are you ready?” Andreas asks us.

“Yeah, let’s go home.”

“How are we going to manage this, Lucas?” Emily asks with a look of grave concern on her face.

“Well, I’m not going to lie. It’s not going to be easy or comfortable, but I have a plan.”

"O.k.a.y.," she says slowly.

“I know you have no reason to, taking into consideration that I've failed you so miserably, but please trust me one more time, Emily. I’ll get you out of here.”

“Okay.”

“Andreas, do you have that blanket handy?”

“Yeah. It’s in the trunk. I’ll get it.”

“My love, you have to be very quiet. It doesn’t matter what you hear; don’t make a sound.”

She nods.

Emily’s belly is starting to show. She instinctively rests her hands on her abdomen. I want to tell her that I know about our baby, but I’ll wait until we’re safely out of Mexico before I tell her. We have more than enough on our plate for the moment.

Andreas hands me a blanket.

“Take out the false bottom in the trunk. I’ll wrap Emily up in the blanket in the meantime,” I tell him.

Emily is trembling again. I wrap the blanket around her body and pull her in for a hug.

“You’re okay,” I whisper in her ear. “I’ve got you.”

I want to tell her how sorry I am and that I love her endlessly, but now is not the time, so I just hold her tightly instead.

“Ready, Boss,” Andreas says.

“Here we go. We’re about a ten minute drive from the border. I’m going to wrap you up and cover you with a board in the trunk.”

“I don't know if I can do this, Lucas.”

“Yes, you can. We’re so close to freedom, my love. So close.”

Emily is shaking violently now, but she nods.

---