Page 78 of Marks of Rebellion

They can't find us on their land.

Panic rises. "Julieta, we shouldn't—"

"The coast should be okay. Don't worry. It's only a few hours to get through."

"Do you own more land going into Honduras?" Hunter skeptically asks.

"No."

"Then how are we getting past the border?"

"I know a guy."

"You know a guy?"

"Yep."

"Who?"

She sighs. "I'm not trying to be secretive, but I can't get into it. But please trust me."

Hunter clenches his jaw.

"Let's drop it," Ryker calls out.

I swallow the lump forming in my throat and take deeper breaths.

"Flower, you okay?"

"Yeah," I lie. My anxiety is growing. I can feel it, and I want to stop it, but I'm not sure how.

If the guerrillas find me in Guatemala, I'm screwed. They would sell me back to Santiago. Or, depending on what has developed with Carlos since my abduction, use me as a tool to get what they want. I will end up back with Carlos. Or they could sell me to another communist leader. Any way I look at the situation, I'm leverage against Carlos.

From the little information I know about Julieta's situation, she's not safe in any communist country, either.

The Global Leaders have split into two sides, but the war doesn't stop there. Everyone is fighting for power. No one's loyalty can be trusted. Every man wants to control drug trafficking into their countries and others. That includes all the billions of dollars a year that goes into the War on Drugs campaigns.

These corrupt politicians line their pockets from both illegal and legal funding. What goes on behind closed doors is the opposite of what gets reported to the public.

Carlos's objective is to become the Prime Minister of Belize. The Global Leaders know this. They will support him when the time comes. While they would backstab him in a heartbeat once he's in power, they will do whatever they can to get him into that position. The more Global Leaders that are in full control of their country, the more stabilized the movement will become.

Once it's stabilized, the real war for power will begin.

And two of the biggest players in the movement are the U.S. President and Prime Minister of the U.K. No one would ever contemplate they would be a part of what Carlos is involved in.

I've dined and attended other events with every global leader and the heads of the most powerful drug cartels. In some instances, I've stayed in their homes or vacationed with them.

The events are how I met Penelope and Zoe before we were ever abducted. I didn't know Penelope had a daughter before my week in the pit.

And the parties I attended are how I know that the recently deceased daughter of the President of the United States didn't meet Nicolas Gómez in the way the President has portrayed it. They've known each other for years.

Ryker drives through the jungle and the terrain becomes bumpier. As my body gets jostled around, the pain in my chest becomes tighter. The more I think about the men I know and what they might do to me, or the possibility of being sent back to Carlos, the faster my heart thumps.

My vision blurs, and Hunter slides me onto his lap. "Flower."

Breathe. I need to stop these episodes.

Why is it so hard?