Chapter Two

SARAH

Those red heels, like a pair of vibrant and deranged circus seals, wobble as Ruby walks past me.

It's 1 am, and I'm questioning every word coming out of her mouth.

"You killed him, Sarah. Sending Leonardo to meet his maker. Accidental, yeah. Defense, of course. But, girl, he’s still dead. Like, six feet under dead.”

I gulp.

I'm freaking out so badly, I feel as if I'm going to pass out.

Dead? But I only hit him with a bottle… how could he be dead?

"You sure about this, Ruby?” I prod, my voice light with anxiety.

"I'm so fucking sure, it's ridiculous. Leonardo’s kicked the bucket.”

“I-I-I swear, it was self-defense. I never wanted him dead, I was just defending myself. I had to. What do I do now?”

“Leave. Town. Now. If you let your ass get caught, you're gonna be knee-deep in a steaming pile of shit. You hear me? You’ve got to disappear.”

"Are you kidding me, Ruby? Leave town? I don't have a dime to my name, no place to crash, and you think I'm just gonna abandon Granny? No way!”

"Granny, Granny, Granny. I swear, Sarah, sometimes it's like you live for that woman. Just pack your shit and run!”

“Some people actually give a rat’s ass about their family. You should try it sometime.” I shoot back,

Ruby rolls her eyes. "Whatever, if you want to play martyr for your grandma and end up in prison, go ahead. But when I’m sitting on a beach in Cancun with a mojito in one hand and a hot cabana boy in the other, don't come crying to me. Cause I’ll be laughing my tits off at your stupidity.”

Stupidity. That’s the word that echoes through my head. I’m the brain trust that thought hitting a man with a wine bottle would teach him some manners, and now he’s… dead.

I'm on my feet, pacing back and forth, raking my fingers through my hair. “H-how could Leonardo have died? That man was breathing when I left his off_”

Ruby's dismissive snort abruptly cuts me off mid-sentence. "What? You want me to pull up his obituary photos on F******k and show them to you? Maybe then you’ll believe me when I say you killed him.”

I recoil, my mouth drying up like a prune left in the desert. “My God, Ruby.” I manage.

She plants herself on the bed and starts taking off her heels. “Already told you, Sarah. You're gonna have to leave town. Lay low for a bit. Maybe get a fake ID and start a new life as a goat farmer in Bolivia or something. Better still, come with me, and let's go work at the strip club together. They offer free accommodation. Maybe not entirely free, but really cheap. You can hide there for a while. Change your hair, your weight, your DNA, whatever. And, hey, you can even pick a new name. Something like 'Chastity,' or 'Innocence,' or 'Virginal Sarah.'"

I glare at her.

“Hey! Don't look at me like that. I'm only trying to help you, okay? And besides, it’s not like I’m asking you to rob a bank or sell drugs. Stripping's an honest living, right?”

My lips stretch to a tight smile. “I’ve got more self-respect than that.”

Ruby’s eyes flutter. A nervous swallow travels down her throat, giving way to a tremulous silence that fills the space between us.

I cross my arms defiantly across my chest, meeting her gaze with a steel-eyed stare.

She cocks her head to the side, regaining her composure. “Look, babe, it's not like you've got a plethora of choices here. You’re a wanted woman on the run from the law. It’s either Bolivia, pole dancing, or jail. Your call.”

My call?

Become Mr. Sam Santiago. Fake an ID. Disguise as a male. Drive a rich man's ass around.

It was madness.

But so was accidentally killing my boss and becoming a wanted woman.

My hands fidget with my fake beard, making sure it’s still in place. I adjust my hat, patting it down like I’m comforting a sad puppy.

And I sit up straighter, straight as a ruler, trying to make myself look like the epitome of masculinity. Shoulders back, chest out…

Why am I still so uncomfortable? The fact that I smell like a cocktail of anxiety, sweat, and cheap soap? I rub my thighs together, only to find a wet and slippery sensation that’s about as welcome as a cockroach in a salad.

Just then my phone buzzes with a notification. I glance down.

‘Hi, Sarah. Did your period start today?’

Shit… I nibble on my lips like I'm about to draw blood.

"Mr. Santiago, the boss will see you now.”

I jerk to attention, turning back to the secretary who's seated across from me. "Er, yes…yes, of course.”