Page 17 of Snow Good to Lose
Amari
With my colossal tantrum averted for the time being, I watched the road. I peeked behind me every few minutes to make sure we weren’t being followed. My insides blazed with heat and frustration. I had to give up my life, twice. It wasn’t fair. Why didn’t they just leave us alone?
Despite the danger we were in, when the man you loved all your life expresses his undying devotion to you, it’s pretty lame to complain about stuff.
Caden reached for my hand. I pulled my hand away and crossed my arms over my chest. He grunted and placed his hand back on the steering wheel.We drove in silence for quite a while. It wasn’t until I saw the sign for Panama, I asked.
“Where are we going?” I turned in my seat to face him.
Big mistake.
His chiseled jaw and profile never fail to draw me in. I suppressed the urge to lean into him and run my lips over his flesh. My anger had kept me warm before. And like before, it melted along with my resolve where Caden was concerned.
None of this was his fault.
It was mine. I suggested we run. But he didn’t talk me out of it, which was on him.
I shifted back, facing forward, the anger reignited. My skin was hot to the touch. I wiped the sweat off of my forehead and rubbed it on my dress. The gun sat in my lap. I gripped it, reacquainted myself to the weight. The slick black weapon was a gift from Caden for Valentine’s Day.
Romantic, right?
He mumbled something.
“What was that?” I pierced my lips.
“I have a friend in Columbia who will put us up for a while.” He reached for my hand again and this time I let him take it.
“What friend?” I knew everyone he knew.
“Carlos Rodriguez.”
“He sounds like a cartel member.”
“That’s a little racist.” Caden chuckled. “Besides, not a member, the head of the Rodriguez cartel.”
I whipped my head around.
“Are you crazy?”
Caden peaked in my direction with a smirk.
“You’re putting your trust into the head of a cartel?” We worked so hard to get away from those people. Now we were asking them for help.
My father tried to marry me off to the cartel to gain access to their money and power, but even he didn’t trust them.
“In Columbia, the cartel may be the only people youcantrust.” Caden’s left hand flexed on the steering wheel. “Besides, he’s an old friend. When I was in the military.”
His logic made no sense. None of it made sense. I was too tired to argue.I tried to stay awake.
I took the passports out, memorized my new identity. Lana St. Charles from Seychelles. I got to keep my French accent. He thought of every contingency in order to keep me safe, but his flawless preparation had me unnerved.
How do we already have a place to go?
When we left Canada, Caden was firm, no outside contact. No phone calls, no social media. I gave up my friends and what little family I had left. He’d been in touch with old friends.He shared none of it with me.
The highway signs switched from Costa Rica to Panama. Did I miss the border crossing? We had entered illegally. It didn’t matter, we were passing through.
Caden seemed to know exactly where he was going. The road cut through the jungle.
