Page 95 of Forbidden Fate

It means Vega not finding us before then.

It means my past staying far enough behind me to keep her safe.

It means me figuring out what the hell I’m supposed to do once I betray the only person who’s had my back for years.

Mercedes turns to me next. “And you,” she says. “Don’t be stupid.”

I raise a brow. “That’s your blessing?”

Esmeralda nods. “A good one.”

“Very practical,” Robin says.

Mercedes yawns then, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. “We need sleep,” she says.

Señora Valentina stands. “Enough. Both of you. Let them talk.”

Mercedes and Esmeralda begin to clear cups and plates even though they just announced their exhaustion. Robin tries to help, but Mercedes waves her off.

“Go. We’ll be done in a minute.”

Señora Valentina lingers in the kitchen doorway and grabs my arm. “Use the back sitting room,” she says. “No one will disturb you there.”

“Gracias.”

She nods and then looks at Robin. “You are safe in this house.”

“Thank you,” Robin says quietly.

I lead Robin out of the kitchen and down the hall to the back sitting room.

It’s smaller than I remember, though everything from my childhood seems smaller now. The walls are painted a faded yellow. A worn velvet sofa sits beneath the window, and two mismatched chairs flank a low table scarred by rings from old cups and glasses.

She sits on the edge of the sofa, posture straight. The robe makes her look soft, but nothing about Robin is soft right now.

I take one of the chairs instead of sitting beside her. Distance is wise at this point.

“So,” she says. “What’s the plan?”

“We could lie low here for a few days.”

She widens her eyes. “A few days?”

“Yes.”

“Cruz—”

“But I know you want to move now.”

She gestures toward the main area of the brothel. “I want to not get these women killed.”

She’s not wrong. This will be number one on Adriana’s places to look. After all, it’s where she found me. I’m putting all of us in danger by staying here. But I had no choice last night. I had to get Robin to safety. By now, though, Vega is no doubt discovering Robin is missing.

“The safest place for you is the US Embassy.”

She opens her mouth to speak but I gesture her to keep listening.

“Vega will look here, so we have to move quickly.”