Breaking Creed

56

Amanda couldn’t believe how paranoid the woman was. She was driving her crazy. It was bad enough that she had to wear these stupid clothes, but she swore she’d scream if she had to spend another four hours in the car with her.

Granted, the woman had fed her well. And she had actually been pretty good to her. She had even brought her antibiotics that made her stomach and throat feel better. Plus, the woman hadn’t asked her to do anything weird or… Until today, she hadn’t asked Amanda to do anything.

Amanda pretty much figured she’d need to change her looks if she ever wanted to go out into the world again and didn’t want Zapata finding her. That woman had eyes everywhere. And she was a spiteful old woman. She’d be pissed as hell with Amanda. No telling what she would do. And suddenly Amanda felt like she was being watched. Silly, really. Hannah’s paranoia was probably wearing off on her. She’d seen how easily Lucía had been replaced. No way Zapata cared what happened to her.

Amanda crisscrossed the aisles to a hallway underneath the RESTROOM sign at the back of the store. No one paid much attention to her. Of course they didn’t. She looked like a total nerd in this outfit. She was used to men at least noticing her. The new haircut and color made her look older and more mature, but the wardrobe canceled out any of the haircut’s benefits.

As she made her way down the hall, she glanced back. Maybe there was some advantage to not being noticed, to being sort of invisible. Maybe she would be able to have a real life after all.

She found the door for the women’s restroom at the end of the hallway. Just as she put her hand up to push the door open, someone grabbed her from behind. An arm came around her waist as a hand came over her mouth. Before she realized what was happening, she was being pulled back into a dark closet.

She tried to struggle, tried to kick, but no one was even close by to see or hear her feet stomp against the now closed door. Then suddenly she could smell him — his greasy hair gel mixed with his sweat.

Leandro.

“I love your sexy new hair,” he whispered in her ear.

“How? How did you even find me?”

“You did not think I would forget about you, did you? Remember, I told you whenever you listen to your music, I would be there with you.”

He let her turn around to face him. Her eyes started to adjust in the dark. He still gripped her wrists and pulled her against him. He kissed her on the lips, slow and gentle like a lover.

And Amanda kissed him back.