| |
Vanessa had watched through the window as Mateo led Kelsey to the door.
The woman looked old and tired, scared and angry. Vanessa, on the other hand, was young and vibrant and beautiful and willing.
How could Carlos ever choose Kelsey over her?
She stood back and sighed. She'd done it. She'd helped Carlos find her biggest rival, but Mateo would be the one to get the glory. She'd been the one to discover the lake houses owned by the Messenger woman. But Mateo delivered her, and Mateo would be rewarded.
Vanessa had returned to her room when Eric escaped, afraid of what would happen if Carlos realized she'd disobeyed him. Nobody had checked on her, and she wasn't surprised. She wasn't a threat. She didn't matter.
One of Carlos's men was still in the woods trying to find Eric, but the fact that Carlos had called the other one back told her he didn't believe Kelsey's husband would be found.
She looked out the window again. The man who'd been with Mateo loaded the snowmobiles onto a trailer attached to a pickup truck, then came inside. She could hear their voices as they called commands to each other—wipe this down, remove that. Preparing to leave. Mateo would take charge of that activity, too, now that he was back. He'd always be Carlos's right hand man.
She chewed her cuticles and tried to think of a way to remind Carlos of her value. Would he ever see her as an equal, as a partner? Perhaps she'd be wiser to escape, to try to make her own way, try to raise her child alone. But with Carlos, she had access to everything she needed. Food, shelter, clothing. She'd seen what it was like to go without those things. Better to be a slave than to starve on the streets. On the other hand, with her looks, with her body, perhaps she could find someone else to take care of her.
Ah, what was the expression? The evil you know...
And anyway, she was carrying Carlos's baby. She'd seen how desperately he wanted Kelsey's child. When he knew about the baby Vanessa carried, would he be devoted to her? To their child?
The sound of a car door slamming had her glancing out the window.
There'd been three men besides Mateo and Carlos. Two of them were in the car. The engine roared to life, and they drove away.
Interesting. The evacuation had already begun. There was one car left. Mateo, Carlos, Kelsey, and Vanessa would have to share it. The man with the red parka, who knew what had become of him? But if he returned... Would the five of them fit in the small car? And what about Eric? If they found him, would he be leaving with them, or would they leave his body here?
She turned away from the window, angry at herself. What difference did it make which car was there, what people were left? She had to focus, find a way to help, to show Carlos he needed her. Because now that Kelsey was back, Vanessa feared she'd be the one riding in the trunk.
She rubbed her belly again. Her hands were trembling when she gripped the gun she'd taken from Eric. She would do something. Somehow, she would find a way to help, to prove her worth, to secure her place at Carlos's side.