Page 84 of Extraction

I saw that Jack had posted his number on the bottom of the screen with a message to call if anyone was able to help us. I signaled Jack a thank you by scratching the side of my neck. I knew he’d see it, and that if something happened to me, I would be thankful for everything he’d done for me. I often communicated with him in that way; it was our secret language that only Ben was in on.

“This baby is nothing but a pawn in their chess game of power. The child’s parents are dead, and it only has me for protection right now.” I made sure not to reveal Chase’s gender for his own safety. I rubbed his back as he let out a wet, congested cough. “The baby is also very sick, and I have no way of helping.” I gulped for air. “We’re surrounded at this very moment by multiple Cartel, the Perez family, the Canos family, and the Ruiz, to name a few.

“We’ve been beaten, chased, stalked. You name it, we’ve been through it. I’m begging anyone who can to help me get this little one to safety. If you do this, I’ll make it worth your trouble.” I felt defeated, and the weight of it all took its toll on my sanity. “I know what I’m asking is huge, and getting involved with the Cartel is a whole different level, but no baby should ever go through what this little one has.” I fought back my emotions. “Please,” I broke into a sob, “I’ve got no other moves here.”

Suddenly, a text popped up from Jack.

Jack: Someone told me to tell you to head to lane two and wait. I think it’s a credible source. I’d do it.

I spoke to whoever had connected with Jack. “Thank you, thank you.” I quickly ended the live feed and thought, even if it was a trap, it was our only chance. I tucked Chase back into the sling where he seemed the happiest and opened the door to see if the coast was clear.

“Oh, look at that face!” an older lady with a bun in her hair cried with delight, and I almost fainted. I took a breath then and saw the opportunity.

I waved for her and her friends to come over and see Chase, and as they cooed over him, I thought how Mark would have loved them. They were all dressed like a Florida retirement home.

“Hello there. I’m Lucy. We’ve been down here on vacation, and Elvira was just saying the one thing we were missing was a little baby to gush over.” She looked at my puffy cheeks, red eyes, the gash on my forehead, and the cut from Bruno’s latest hit and gave me a sad smile. “Everything all right, dear?”

“Not really.” I sniffed, as I hoped they’d be my ticket out of there. “We’re trying to get away from my ex.” I lied, but I didn’t care. “Would it be too much to ask if and you and your friends could walk me over there toward lane two? I’m meeting someone there.”

She and her friends stood straighter and linked arms like they were their own little army. “We’d be happy to. Come stand in the middle, and we’ll create a barrier.” For once in my life, I was pleased to be a little shorter than most as we were swallowed up in a sea of pastels.

Every step was terrifying, and I couldn’t help the near panic at the thought of who had called Jack. It might have been Cartel, but I had to try. I had to try for Chase.

As soon as we got close, a tall man with aviator sunglasses and a faded Green Bay Packers ball hat homed in on me. He was dressed in a black button-up shirt and a dusty pair of jeans with cowboy boots. If he’d worn a black cowboy hat, he’d be a perfect knockoff for Rip from Yellowstone. He gave me a small nod then tilted his head toward a parking lot of big rig trucks. I nodded to let him know I understood.

“There’s the person I need to go with.” I pointed at the stranger. “Thank you, ladies, from the bottom of my heart for your help.”

“This is what women do. We stick together and protect ourselves and our young.” Lucy placed a hand on my arm with a smile. “You take care of that little one, now.” She smiled down at Chase.

The man nodded at the ladies, and they gathered around us in their protective shield.

“Nicole Winter?” he said quietly to me.

“Yes.”

“Put this on.” He handed me an oversized coat. “Up over your head too.” I followed his instructions, as I knew it was my only option.

“Thank you so much, Lucy, all of you.” I beamed at the ladies to show I was okay.

“Only too happy to help, dear. Be safe, now.” Lucy smiled back. “Look after these two.” She gave the stranger a stern look, but he didn’t react.

“You ready?” He looked at me, and I nodded. “Good. Now, follow me and keep your head down.” I did but scanned the area like it was my next breath, maybe because it kind of was.

He took me around a corner away from the hustle of the car lanes. Then he stopped at a blue eighteen-wheeler. He opened the huge rolling door at the back and nodded. “I can get you across if you hide in here.”

“There?” I repeated and looked inside the long, dark box as I lowered the coat from my head.

“Yes.”

“Okay. Wait! Can I at least know your name since you know mine?”

Suddenly, something moved inside the box, and I locked eyes with… My heart dropped straight to the ground, and I turned back to him with my mouth open. What the hell?

“My name’s Chili.”

TWENTY-TWO

PAUL

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