Page 84 of Marks of Rebellion

Ryker argues with her.

The men stop five feet in front of us, and their shouts become more aggressive.

"Put your hands up," Julieta and Vanessa both yell at us again.

We put our Glocks on our laps and raise our hands slowly in the air.

Julieta rises, so her head is sticking out of the roof, and talks back loud and fast. They have an aggressive sounding conversation, and she slides down in the seat and reaches for the door.

"Julieta!" Ryker cries out and grabs her.

The men start screaming again.

"Keep your hands up," Vanessa orders and shakes next to me.

He throws them in the air again, and Julieta gets out and approaches the men.

The men frisk Julieta and reach into the pocket of her shorts.

"Don't do something stupid," I growl at Ryker.

They pull out a wad of cash and release her. She gets back in the vehicle and raises her arms again but points. "Drive on that track with one hand in the air and one on the wheel. Hunter and Vanessa, keep your hands up."

Ryker's face is red. He scowls but does what Julieta instructs. For several miles, the men follow us on the ATV. One drives and the other has his machine gun pointed at us.

We stay silent and my stomach flips. At the end of the dirt track is a gate, and the driver opens it while the other one keeps his weapon aimed at us. They continue scowling at us as we pass.

We get a few feet out of the gate. Julieta brings her arms down and tells us we can do the same.

Ryker drives a few kilometers and then stops. He barks, "What was that about, Julieta?"

Her lip quivers. "We had to pay."

"You promised me it was safe."

"They changed men. I didn't know."

I open my mouth to speak, but Vanessa puts her hand over it and shakes her head.

Ryker's eyes are slits. "Who were they?"

"Workers for the landowner."

"Who is that, Julieta?"

"Nobody important."

"Don't lie to me," he growls.

A tear drips down her cheek. "I'm... I'm not a liar. They make a lot of money by people crossing the border." She turns to us. "I'm sorry. I didn't know, I swear."

"It's okay," Vanessa says and leans up and embraces her while she cries harder.

Ryker scrubs his face then peers at me through the rearview mirror.

I put my gun in my backpack but keep it open in case I need it again.

Ryker gets out and goes to Julieta's door and opens it. Vanessa releases her. Ryker pulls Julieta into his arms, and she sobs. "I'm sorry."