Chapter 15

POV: Karol Kensington

Mateo’s voice was low in the quiet room. We had hidden in a safe house since the car chase.

"We have ten minutes. The sun is coming up, and the reporters will be awake soon. We need to leave now."

I didn't get enough sleep last night; I was thinking about a lot of things. I stood up and wore a plain black sweater and jeans that Ciro provided for me. I opened the door.

"I am ready," I said. My voice sounded flat.

Mateo checked the hallway and told me to follow him.

We walked down the back stairs and out into the cool morning air. The rain had stopped. The armored SUV was waiting in an alley. The engine was already running.

I got into the back seat. This time, I was alone. Ciro had left earlier, according to Mateo, to handle somethings.

Mateo hit the gas. We drove onto the empty highway.

I rested my head against the window. I watched the sun come up over Medellín. The sky turned a pretty blue behind the dark green mountains. It was the most beautiful city in the world. It was my home.

And my own family was kicking me out of it.

I thought about my mother faking my signature to save her money. I thought about my sister Valeria packing my boxes with an evil smile. They were going to wake up today and pretend they didn't give me up.

I had nothing left. I had no family name. I belonged to Ciro Restrepo for the next six months or more

"Do not cry for them, Señorita," Mateo said quietly from the front seat. He watched me in the mirror. "Tears are a waste of water on people who want to see you thirsty."

I quickly wiped my eyes. I sat up straight. "I am not crying for them, Mateo. I am crying because I have been stupid for the sake of my family for a long time."

Twenty minutes later, we drove through the tall iron gates of a private airport.

The runway was empty, except for a dark gray private jet. The loud engines were already running, ready to fly. A wall of guards in black suits stood at the bottom of the plane's stairs.

Ciro stood right in the middle of them.

He used a black staff for his bad leg, but he still looked like a king. He wore a dark coat that made his shoulders look huge. The cold wind blew his dark hair. When his bronze eyes locked onto me, I stopped breathing.

Even though I was trapped, I could not fight the hot pull I felt for him. Just looking at him made my heart beat faster.

Mateo stopped the car and opened my door. The roar of the jet was so loud.

I walked across to them. The wind whipped my hair around my face. When I reached Ciro, he did not say hello. He just reached out, grabbed my arm, and pulled me hard against his chest.

"You took too long," Ciro said in my ear.

"I am here," I answered. I looked up at him. I could feel his body heat keeping me warm in the cold wind.

"Good," Ciro said softly. His eyes dropped to my lips. For a crazy second, I thought he was going to kiss me. Instead, his hand slid up my arm. He rested his thumb firmly on the back of my neck. He held me like he owned me. "Get on the plane, princess. It is time to go."

He let me go and turned to talk to a guard.

I took a deep breath and started walking up the metal stairs. The wind was so strong I had to hold the rail tightly.

When I reached the top step, right outside the door of the plane, I stopped. I turned around to look at my city one last time. I wanted to see the mountains before I was locked away.

But I did not look at the mountains.

Through the morning fog, near the fence at the edge of the runway, I saw a man.

He was standing perfectly still, just watching the plane. He was almost a giant. He was taller and bigger than all of Ciro's guards. He had a bald head, a thick beard, and cold gray eyes.

My blood turned cold.

I knew him.

A week ago, right before Ciro's big game, that same man had walked into our clinic. He had asked for Valeria's office. I remembered him because he was scary and never smiled.

I looked down at Ciro's guards. They all wore matching black suits.

The giant man by the fence wore a dirty leather jacket. He did not work for Ciro.

He worked for my sister.

Panic erupted inside me. Valeria’s hired machinary was here. He had followed us. That meant Valeria knew exactly where I was going.

"Ciro!" I screamed over the loud engines. I turned back toward the stairs.

But before I could say another word, the giant man by the fence raised a heavy, black rifle and pointed it right at us.