Page 38 of Rogue Voice

“Go back to your room, Bea.” She shook her head. “Please. It’s the only chance, for both of us,” he said. “If they find out I’ve been lying to them …” He let that thought percolate in her mind, that things could get worse for him. “Go and be ready for when Slate gets here.”

Finally, she nodded, giving in. Rogue sighed in relief. She made her way slowly to the door, then turned around at the last second. “Slate said to hold strong. Please hold strong, Rogue. For me.”

Every cell in his body rebelled as he watched her move away, but Rogue clamped his jaw together to stop himself from asking her to come back.

You can’t protect her right now.This is the safest thing for her.

And then she was gone, and though the small, yellow light bulb was still in the same position, it was as if she’d taken the sun with her.

Please be safe.

17

Rogue

The next time Rogue woke up, he was no longer in the cell. He was somewhere between the main house and the driveway, his arms stretched out against the sides of a square wooden frame that hadn’t been there before.

His heartbeat kicked up a notch as he realized this time they’d tied his wrists with ropes, rather than chains. Here, finally, was something he could turn to his advantage. He rubbed his raw wrists against the rope, gritting his teeth against the pain, and looked around him.

The sun was high again. He wasn’t sure what day it was, or how much time had gone by since Bea had come to see him. Her visit was the last thing he remembered—though at times he wondered if he’d made it up.

Eventually, he’d faded into a kind of dreamless sleep, one plagued by nightmarish fears—that Cruz would come back and inject him with more drugs or, even worse, that Bea would be discovered and locked inside with him. That she would be tortured in front of him.

Rogue moved his head from side to side, trying to see through his blind spot, since his left eye was still swollen shut.

“Ah, you’re awake. Just in time.” Oscar Aguilar was dressed in black, as usual, but he’d changed into what looked like a new suit.

Not a good sign.

Rogue didn’t bother replying. He followed with his head as Aguilar turned to look at the door of the main house, just in time to see Cruz step outside, pulling Bea along with him. She was stuck wearing a white, puffy dress that looked like it’d been made with someone much larger in mind. It made her look even younger than she was. Fragile, even, though Rogue had seen her trek through the jungle and knew she was anything but.

Bea stepped on the hem of her too-long gown, almost losing her footing. Cruz pulled her upright again with a curse, propelling her ahead of him down the steps and onto the driveway. Her already pasty skin paled further as she caught sight of Rogue, until it was almost the color of the dress.

Wedding gown.It’s a wedding gown.

Rogue’s insides knotted.

The sound of a fast-approaching car had him looking back. His breath caught in his throat as he stared at a dusty dark sedan making its way down the long, winding driveway.

“The priest. Finally.” Aguilar smiled widely.

No.This couldn’t happen. If he let Aguilar take Bea away, he’d never see her again. Rogue rubbed his wrists against the ropes. He couldn’t let this farce of a wedding take place.

The car stopped, covering Rogue in a layer of dust. He coughed to get it out of his lungs. The driver, a stocky man with a black mustache, nodded to Aguilar and Cruz briefly before stepping to open the back door.

The priest unfolded himself out of the car, moving slowly, as if he didn’t fully trust his knees. He was an older, distinguished gentleman, with a full head of snow-white hair.

Though Rogue was closest to him, the priest was careful not to make eye contact with him as he headed straight for Cruz and Aguilar.

There’s a reason he’s reached a ripe old age, and it’s not by being stupid.

The priest opened his arms wide to encompass both Cruz and Aguilar.

“My children,” he began.

“Padre Amador.”

“Gracias por venir, Padre.”

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