Page 158 of Stains of Desire

I nod and go into the bathroom and pray the impossible happens, and my thick, long hair miraculously dries.

Five minutes later, William flings the door open. I'm drying my hair, and my hand is shaking. It's still wet.

"Why aren't you ready?" he yells, his eyes blazing with rage through the mirror.

I turn the dryer off. "I promise I'm going as fast as possible."

"You—"

His phone rings, and he yanks it out of his pocket, then glances at it. "Gustave, what did you find out?" He slams the bathroom door, and I turn the dryer back on.

Please dry faster. Please.

When my hair is dry, my trembling hands put on my makeup, and I leave the bathroom and go to the closet. I put on my clothes then go into the bedroom.

William is still on the phone. His shoulders are tense, and he stands at the window with his back to me.

There's a knock on the door between Bernadette's and our suite, and I open it.

Bernadette pulls me into her room. "Come with me," she quietly demands.

"No."

"But—"

"Goodbye, Bernadette. Thank you for everything." I hug her, blinking hard, and pull away. I retreat, shut the door, then lock it so she can't come in.

William turns. His face is red and he scowls. "We need to leave now."

What is going on?

I nod, say nothing, and attempt to inhale more air into my constricted lungs.

He guides me out of the hotel, into the car, then pulls out his phone and makes more calls.

Nothing he says makes sense. But my gut flips when he says Santiago, Jonas, Jorge, and Goliath are dead. I don't know who Goliath is or how Santiago or Jonas died.

What about Millie? If Santiago is dead...

My mouth goes dry. I lean down to my knees, trying to breathe, but I struggle.

The car stops and the door opens.

"Out, now!" William barks.

I force myself to get out of the car, and he manhandles me into the plane.

I sit by the window, smelling sage, and swallowing down bile while gripping my hands. But I can't get my body to still or the twisting in my gut to stop.

He makes one phone call after another. It's a quick flight but feels longer. I break out in a sweat as the plane lands.

William hangs up and snarls, "Why are you red and sweating?"

"I-it's hot in here."

His expression turns into a bear, ready to claw apart its prey. "There are going to be consequences when we get home."

I will myself not to cry, but a tear slips out. I quickly wipe it.