Page 39 of Rogue Voice

“I take it today is a day for celebration,” the priest said mildly. If he noticed the tightness of Cruz’s grip on Bea’s upper arm, or the pinched look in her face, he didn’t say anything.

“Get everything ready for the wedding,Padre,” Aguilar said brusquely.

“Father Nick,” the priest said. It was then Rogue noticed there was a second man in the car. His cassock was short, so as he set his feet on the ground Rogue could see most of his thick black boots. Thick black boots much like the ones that had been stolen from him.

Rogue blinked with his good eye. He forced himself to look up, straight into Slate’s bright blue stare. Rogue almost passed out, the relief at seeing the ex-Navy Seal was so strong.How the hell did Slate convince the priest to let him come?

Rogue pushed the irrelevant thought back. The only thing that mattered was, he was no longer alone. If Slate was here, therest of his team couldn’t be far behind. Whatever happened now, his team would get Bea out of here.

Slate stepped out of the car, his eyes looking right past Rogue, much as the priest had done. For a man who was pushing six-five, he sure was able to make himself smaller. He kept his huge shoulders hunched and rounded, his head down so the white Roman collar around his neck was barely visible.

Slate stopped a few feet away from the older priest, his body language deferential.

“Who is this?” Aguilar barked out.

“Father Nick is a young priest training with me,SeñorAguilar.”

“American?” Cruz’s lips curled in distaste.

“Not many young Colombians willing to do the job these days. I need all the help I can get.”

“Malditos americanos.” This time it came from Aguilar. The dumb, pleasant expression on Slate’s face didn’t change. “Let’s get on with it. I want to be married and out of here by noon,” Aguilar spat out.

“¿Aquí?” The priest’s eyes bulged as he looked around.

“You have a problem with that,Padre?”

The priest’s mouth opened and shut several times, like a fish out of water. He was clearly terrified of Aguilar. “No, no,hijo mío,” He said quickly. “In the eyes of the Lord, the location doesn’t matter. Only love matters.” Bea gave a small whimper of distress.

Rogue tugged harder on the rope holding his wrists fast. Blood dripped down his arm, and for that he was grateful, knowing it would make the rope slide easier.

Two of Cruz’s men carried an ornate wooden table from inside the house. Slate went back to the car, coming back with an altar cloth, a small crucifix, a pair of silver candles, a well-used Bible, and a chalice. Rogue was surprised Slate was not onlyfamiliar with the items but also seemed to know exactly how to place each of them on the improvised altar.

Cruz dragged Bea forward. Her chest heaved. She looked seconds away from a full-blown panic attack, but none of the men were paying any attention to her. None, that is, except Rogue. He couldn’t tear his eyes away. Then their eyes met.

Her voice trembled. “What ishedoing here?”

“Nothing for you to worry about,florecilla,” Cruz replied. “I will deal with him once you and Oscar are gone.”

“Tío Emiliano, no, por favor,” she begged.

“Quieta, florecilla.”Little flower.

Cruz tightened his thick fingers around her wrist and dragged her bodily forward in a macabre parody of a father escorting his daughter down the aisle.

Rogue’s stomach turned.

Soon, Cruz and Aguilar were standing on one side of the improvised altar, Bea trapped between them.

On the other side stood the old priest and, a couple steps behind him and to the side, Slate, his face cool and impassive. An instant later, as the priest began speaking, Slate’s eyes flickered towards Rogue. He blinked slowly—one, two, three times. Rogue’s muscles tensed against the ropes.

“Hijos míos,” the priest continued, raising his hands. “Hoy es un día especialmente…”

Bea

Married. Married—to Oscar Aguilar. Her worst nightmare was coming true.

A part of her wanted to retreat into her own mind. She’d been able to do that in the past—take herself places where real life couldn’t hurt her. But she couldn’t afford to do that now. She had to stay alert. She had to find a way out of here. For her and for Rogue, before Aguilar took her away.

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