Page 64 of Unchained

Another shot rang out, but no one hit the ground. We all stood frozen, waiting for someone to fall. Suzanne looked at my chest, and I shook my head.

The guard took a step forward and then hit the ground facefirst. The hole in his back spilled blood onto his black uniform. The maid who had been carrying the towel stood in the doorway, her gun pointed at Veronica. She said something to Veronica in Portuguese. Veronica shook her head.

Veronica replied back but did not lower her gun from Suzanne’s head.

Suzanne stared directly into Veronica’s eyes. “I will take good care of her.”

The maid repeated her first statement, and Veronica replied the same as before. It didn’t take a language master to understand the maid had given Veronica an ultimatum.

Another shot rang out, splitting the night, and Veronica dropped dead to the ground.

The rest of us stood our ground, eyes darting between Veronica and the maid. The maid lowered the gun and motioned for us to leave.

“Go before the others get here,” the maid said.

We piled into the Landrover and took the back road out of the park, Suzanne next to me, holding Alana, Deek, in my lap. He leaned his head against my chest, and before we were out of the park, he was sleeping.

I put my arm around Suzanne and pulled her close, tears filling my eyes. I was going to be able to share my dreams, after all.