There is no single answer. Even if the Registry was shut down, that would leave generations of uneducated women to deal with, let alone their angry husbands.
—Comment from the Global Reporter message board
Mia paced back and forth across the floor. The red dress was a bit too long, but she knew if she put the heels on the length would be perfect. Instead she held the shoes in her hands. She listened to movement outside her room and sat on the bed, waiting for the door to open.
Dalmy walked in, with Ricky right behind her. Mia stood up and gave a twirl.
“Your mood has changed,” Dalmy said.
“I feel beautiful again,” Mia said.
“Everyone’s downstairs waiting for your arrival,” Dalmy said. “Get your shoes on and I’ll escort you down.”
“I’m not good at walking in heels,” Mia said. “Especially down stairs.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Dalmy said. “The American I mentioned earlier, he was invited.”
“Why?” Mia said.
“If you don’t know him, his presence won’t be a problem,” Dalmy said.
Mia nodded her head. She couldn’t worry about the man downstairs being Grant. Andrew and Carter were her top priority. Dalmy gave Mia a smirk. The young woman was arrogant. Mia thought if it were Grant waiting downstairs, Dalmy might be his equal.
“Come on,” she said. “You can put your shoes on outside.”
Dalmy turned and walked out of the room. Ricky stayed put, likely to follow them down the steps. Mia started walking; right when she was in front of Ricky she let one of the shoes drop. Ricky’s attention diverted to the fallen shoe and with the split second Mia had she swung her other hand around and drove the heel deep into Ricky’s side as hard as she could.
He made a loud grunt and grabbed at his injury. Mia reached across his chest and pulled the gun out of its holster. Just as she’d seen Andrew do before, she unlocked the switch and pulled the top back, arming the gun. Her hand was shaky, but she had a weapon.
Dalmy’s eyes were wide. She turned to run down the stairs, but Mia reached out and grabbed her by the hair, yanking her closer. Mia wrapped her arm around Dalmy and held the gun to her head.
“You killed him,” Dalmy said.
Mia looked toward Ricky. His body was slumped on the floor. He let out another groan and forced himself up, his hand covering his side. Mia saw some blood on his shirt, but he was far from dead.
“You,” Mia said. “Walk or I’ll shoot her.”
“Shoot her,” Ricky said. “I don’t care.”
“Everyone knows that’s a lie,” she said. “Go.”
Ricky locked eyes with Dalmy and Mia dug the gun harder into Dalmy’s temple. The woman let out a small cry.
“Keep your hands up and walk,” Mia said.
“You’re a dead girl,” Dalmy said through gritted teeth.
“Shut up,” Mia said. “Walk.”
The three traveled down the steps. They were met with a breeze from the night sky. Through the front windows Mia saw the men mingling. They were drinking glasses of champagne. Mia felt an anger burn inside her at the idea that these people could think of buying a girl’s innocence as such a casual event. She couldn’t let those thoughts take over though. This was about Carter and Andrew.
“You,” Mia said. “Go inside and bring Joseph out alone. If anyone else comes with him I’ll kill her.”
Ricky nodded his head and walked into the house.
“The second my father gets out here your boyfriend is dead,” Dalmy said. “You stupid girl.”
“I wasn’t lying,” Mia said. “Whoever the American is, I’m not with him.”
The front door opened and Joseph walked out of the house. His face was filled with worry. He saw Dalmy and started to run toward them. Mia moved the gun off her hostage and pointed it at Joseph. He slowed down.
“Are you all right?” Joseph asked.
“Daddy,” Dalmy said. She was crying now.
“You have something I want,” Mia said.
“You’ll pay for this,” Joseph said.
“Two American boys,” Mia said. “Taken from the beach for your militia. I want them back.”
“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Joseph said.
“I think you do,” Mia said.
She lowered the gun and held it at Dalmy’s knee. The hostage let out a cry.
“I don’t, I swear,” Joseph said. “We have lots of recruits, I don’t get updated daily.”
“They’re not recruits,” Mia said. “They’re victims.”
Mia looked down at Dalmy’s knee, threatening to pull the trigger again.
“Names,” Joseph said. “Give me their names.”
“Andrew and Carter,” Mia said. “Get them here now, with a car.”
Joseph reached into his pocket. Mia lifted the gun back to Dalmy’s temple.
“I’m grabbing my phone,” Joseph said.
He pulled out a cell and hit a button. He spoke in Spanish. Mia needed this to work. She knew she wasn’t capable of killing Dalmy. If these men called her bluff she didn’t have what it took to follow through.
“They’re on their way,” Joseph said. “Let her go.”
“I’ll let her go when they get here,” Mia said.
She felt a sharp pain in her gut. Dalmy had slammed her elbow into Mia, knocking herself free. Mia pulled the trigger on the gun—she didn’t mean to, but it happened. Dalmy let out a loud cry and for a moment Mia thought everything was over. But Dalmy was still standing, frozen by the sound of the discharge. Mia reacted fast, reaching out and grabbing Dalmy’s hair, then pulling her back.
“The next shot won’t be a warning,” Mia said.
Joseph looked like he was alternating between anger and fear. The men from inside started pouring out, having heard the gun go off. A few of them were drawing their own weapons.
“Don’t,” Joseph said. “Everything’s fine, go back in the house.”
Mia scanned the crowd, expecting to see Grant’s face, but nobody looked familiar. Everyone froze.
“Get back in the house,” Joseph repeated. He turned his attention back toward Mia. “You’re making a mistake,” he said. “Let her go and we’ll forget this whole thing ever happened.”
“That you kidnapped my friends or that you tried to sell me?” Mia asked.
“You were more than willing earlier today,” Joseph said.
The sound of a car engine came in the distance. It was the same sound Mia had heard the day on the beach when Andrew and Carter were taken. The car came into view, but Mia was blinded by the headlights. The vehicle stopped next to Joseph. The engine shut off and the doors opened. There they were. Carter stayed seated in the backseat, but Andrew stepped out of the car. His face was blank.
“Andrew,” Mia said.
There he was, standing with his shoulders back. His lean body was accentuated in a tight black shirt. He stared at Mia; his warm brown eyes were filled with confusion and his mouth hung open. She watched as his breathing increased and a perfect smile crossed his face. Andrew moved toward her. She wanted to meet him, but that would mean dropping the gun.
“You’re alive,” he said.
Even though Mia was holding Dalmy firmly against her, Andrew lifted his hand and touched Mia’s shoulder. His hand felt so soft and sent tingles floating through Mia’s body. She nodded at him and her smile matched his.
Their reunion was cut short when Dalmy tried to pull away again. Mia’s attention refocused on Joseph.
“Andrew, get in the car,” Mia said.
Andrew started backing up. Mia glanced to her left and saw him climb in the backseat. Carter remained still, staring at whoever had driven him to this place.
“Get out of the vehicle and back away,” Mia said to the driver.
“Do what she says,” Joseph said.
The other men moved behind Joseph. Mia started dragging Dalmy to the car.
“You have what you want,” Joseph said. “Let my daughter go.”
“I’m taking her with me,” Mia said.
“That wasn’t part of the deal,” Joseph said.
“There was no deal,” Mia said. “Don’t follow me. Once I’m far enough out I’ll leave her for you.”
Mia slid through the driver’s-side door and over to the passenger seat, pulling Dalmy in behind her so that the woman was seated behind the wheel.
“Turn the car on and drive,” Mia said. “South.”
The engine turned over.
“Don’t worry, baby,” Joseph said. “She’ll pay for this.”
“Drive,” Mia said.
Dalmy’s face was tear stained as she put her foot on the gas. Mia kept the gun firmly against her temple until the lights from the city couldn’t be seen anymore. Then she backed off, still keeping the gun out. She turned to look at her friends. The wind was too loud for conversation, but one look at Andrew and tears started falling. It had worked; they were together again. Now all they needed was Riley and Mia’s company would be complete.