The Rules for Breaking (22 page)

“I’m here. I will do whatever I need to do to make this end. Can you do what you want to do with just me?” I hate the pleading sound in my voice.

Another long, tense silence.

“The reason there is a contract on you and Ethan is because you both could identity me. If I’m arrested, Vega is afraid I will flip on him, and over the years I’ve seen enough that I could completely sink his ship. Vega is in New Orleans at my request. I’ve invited him here so we can kiss and make up. Or so I made him think. You are my peace offering—a sign of my good faith so that we can forgive and forget what has happened.”

My stomach drops. “So you’re giving me to him.”

“He does not believe I am so good intentioned, but he will go along with the charade. And Mateo will be there with him, waiting to finish us off. He’s agreed to come because he knows that they will never find me on their own. He thinks this will be the perfect time to kill me. I needed you both to get me through the door so I can get close enough to kill him first. It might work with just you.”

Oh. Shit.

“So I would have to go there. Face him…and Mateo?” I ask.

“Yes, Anna. And now you have promised to walk in without complaint.”

Tyler stands quickly and says, “I didn’t know she would have to go near him. That wasn’t part of the plan.”

Thomas glares at him and he sits back down quickly. “Yes, that’s always been part of the plan. Mateo is cocky but he won’t know what hit him. And Vega won’t have a chance once Mateo is dead.”

Tyler steps between Thomas and me and says to him, “You made me a promise. She is not to be hurt. In any way. You swore on our mother’s grave.”

Thomas’s eyes flash to me before settling back on Tyler. “I will not break my word to you. Anna will walk out of there, with me, and it will be over.” He looks at me as he continues, “The journal has been destroyed along with any evidence there. Tyler and I will disappear and I assure you, no one will find a trace of us. You will be free to go back to your life. I made Ty a promise and I don’t take that lightly. But if you, your sister, or your boyfriend mention him or his relationship to me to anyone, I will gladly kill you.”

My knees go weak and I drop to a crouch. Tyler jumps up and moves toward me, but I hold up my hand for him to stop. I don’t want him to touch me.

I never thought I would literally be right in the middle of this. But there’s no way I can let Ethan be there, too. Or Teeny.

“I understand.”

“Tyler, go get the car ready.”

Tyler obviously doesn’t want to leave the room with me still here, but eventually he does.

The second he’s gone from the room, Thomas takes a step closer to me and squats down to where I’m hovering at the floor. “I don’t trust you. At all. And just so we’re on the same page, you will deliver Ethan and Elena to your friend and come right back. To the best of my abilities, I will see that they get out of town unharmed.” He pulls a phone from his pocket and taps on the screen. “And just so we’re clear with one another, please take a look at this.”

He holds the phone in front of my face and I drop the rest of the way to the floor. It’s a picture of my mother. She’s sitting in a chair outside, head thrown back, soaking up the sun.

She looks beautiful.

I run my finger over the screen, “When was this taken?”

“Today. At the facility in Baton Rouge where she’s recovering. If you try to run, I will not only retrieve you, Ethan, and Elena, I’ll make a stop and pick your mother up as well. And I will make Mateo seem tender.”

Ethan is out of the shower and finishing the rest of the po’boy when I get back to the room.

“Where have you been?” he says with a mouthful of sandwich.

“Working on a way to get us out of here. Tyler is sneaking us out; do you think you’re up for that?” I hope they can’t see the panic I’m feeling inside. I can’t get the picture of Mom out of my head. She looks so good. And healthy. I’m sickened to think Thomas has someone there, watching her.

Ethan’s immediately suspicious and I don’t blame him. “Just like that, he’s going to help us?”

I hand him some clothes I got from Tyler since Ethan’s clothes are ruined. He eyes the T-shirt and hoodie but doesn’t say anything about them or ask where they came from.

“This has gone further than he thought it would. He thinks we’re better off to stay here, but he agrees that it should be our decision. And he feels especially bad about Teeny—he didn’t know she would be involved. If we want to leave he’ll help us, but we only have a short amount of time to do it.”

It’s weak but I’m hoping that, in his half-concussion state, he goes with it.

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” Teeny says, then moves toward the door. “But where are we going? That man is still out there.”

“He’s going to drop us off near the club where hopefully Will is still hanging out. Then we’re getting out of town.”

“No, I don’t buy it.”

I sit beside him on the bed. “I’m playing him. He thinks I trust him. He’s trying to act like a hero for me.”

And there is some truth to that, but Ethan will probably never speak to me when he realizes I’m lying to him, again. At least he will be alive. And hopefully out of this mess.

I help Ethan get his arm inside the hoodie and I can tell it hurts him. A lot.

Once he’s ready, I stare at the potted plant. I need the gun.

I grab it quickly and try to shove it in the pocket of my jacket, but it’s too long and sticks out.

“Unscrew the silencer,” Ethan says as he walks toward me. “If we need to fire this, we definitely want people to hear it.”

I do as he suggests and the gun fits perfectly in my pocket.

“You’ve come a long way with this. I’m really proud of you.”

I smile at him and pray he forgives me when this is all over.

We leave the room through the balcony doors and head down the outside steps.

“Where’s Thomas?” Ethan asks.

“He just left but won’t be gone long,” I answer. I’m sure he’s actually watching us from one of the windows on the other side of the courtyard.

The same car Tyler picked us up in is idling near the double wooden doors.

He gets out of the car and opens the backseat.

He and Ethan stare at each other for a long moment before Ethan finally slides into the car.

“You have to duck down like before. I’m willing to help you, but I can’t let you find this place again.”

Teeny and I follow behind him.

Once Ethan gets in a somewhat comfortable position, Tyler opens the wooden doors and we drive away from the house.

Rules for disappearing
by Witness Protection prisoner #18A7R04M:

Educate yourself on what you plan to lie about….

New rule by Anna Boyd:

Sometimes you just gotta wing it.

been driving for about five minutes, all twists and turns, before Tyler says, “You can sit up now.”

We’re at a stop sign near the busiest section of Bourbon Street. If memory serves me, the club where Will is waiting is a couple of blocks away.

Tyler doesn’t get out, just watches us exit from the rearview mirror.

Just before Ethan shuts the door, he knocks Tyler in the back of his head and says in a quiet voice, “If you come around Anna again, I will kill you.”

Tyler doesn’t say anything, just pulls away from the curb the second the back door slams shut.

“Let’s get moving,” Ethan says as we join the flow of traffic down the street.

It’s so much more crowded tonight than it was last night and I can’t help but wonder if there is someone out there taking pictures of us and sending them back to Thomas. I’m taking a huge risk that he won’t swoop in and take all of us, including Will, back to the house, but I try to remember—this is not about me. This is a power struggle between very ruthless people. He needs bait and I’m willing. Hopefully that will be enough.

“Do you think it’s the weekend?” Teeny asks. “I can’t believe how many people are walking around.”

“Who knows? I’m not sure what month it is anymore,” Ethan answers.

I can see the Barely Legal doorway up ahead and the girls are back outside. One by one, these girls are plucking men off the street and shoving them through the smoky doorway.

Ethan stops when we reach the door to the Blues Club.

“We’re not going to be able to walk in; we don’t have IDs,” Ethan says. “And they’re sure as hell not going to let Teeny inside.”

“How’s Will in there then?” Teeny asks.

“Last year, we had fake IDs, but Will’s eighteen now so he’s in there legally. Here, you only have to be eighteen to get in but you can’t drink until you’re twenty-one.”

All three of us look through the front door but all we see is a set of stairs going up to the second floor.

“Hold on, let me see if I can’t get in long enough to look around,” I say, then move Ethan and Teeny to an empty doorway next to the club. “Y’all need to get out of sight for a minute.”

Ethan backs Teeny into the corner then stands in front of her, blocking her from sight. “Just hurry. If he’s in there, y’all come out here.”

I jog up the steps to where a bouncer is guarding the entrance.

“Hey,” I say. “Where do I talk to someone about a job?” It’s going to take a miracle for this to work.

The guy looks me up and down and I know what he’s thinking. I’m dirty. My face is bruised and I probably stink.

“How old are you?” he asks.

“Eighteen,” I say with a fake confidence I hope he believes.

The bouncer rolls his eyes and crooks his finger for me to follow him. “Come on, boss man is over here. You look like you been in a helluva mess. Hope you hit his ass right back.”

I let out a nervous laugh and pray I find Will before boss man finds me.

I almost pass out the second we enter the smoky, blues-filled room. Not only is Will sitting at a back table but so is Catherine.

I push past the bouncer and throw myself at her.

“Oh my God! Anna! It’s you. You’re here!” Catherine screams over the music.

Will throws his arms around both of us and I can barely take it all in. The bouncer pulls me away from them and starts dragging me toward the stairs. “Girl, don’t think I’m gonna let you stay up in here after you tried to play me.”

Will tries to push him away but I say, “Stop. It’s fine. We need to get out of here. Ethan and Teeny are outside.”

Will throws some money on the table and they follow me down the stairs. The bouncer all but tosses me out of the front door.

Ethan and Teeny, hearing all the noise, pop out from around the corner. Before he can brace himself, Will slams into him.

“Man, you had me scared out of my mind!”

Ethan falls back, holding his arm. I rush to him, catching him before he hits the ground. The concussion already has him a bit unsteady and I’m sure the staggering pain doesn’t help.

“What’s wrong?” Will says to him then turns to me. “What’s wrong with him?”

We’re causing a huge scene, which is not good. I scan the crowd, terrified I’ll see that string of cross tattoos.

“We need to get off the street.” I point to a walk-in pizza place on the next block. Will steps in front of us and Catherine gets behind. We get inside and I help Ethan into one of the few booths in the back.

His face is pale and he’s got a faint sheen of sweat over his top lip.

“Will, can you get him some water?” I ask.

I sit next to him and Catherine and Teeny slide into the booth across. Will heads to the counter for water.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

He nods but doesn’t speak.

“What happened to him?” Will asks when he returns with a full glass.

“He got shot yesterday. In the arm. Also got kicked in the head and we think he has a concussion.”

He’s woozy. As much as I want him to get better, it will help if he’s a little out of it right now.

Catherine’s jaw drops and her eyes fill with water. Will takes a step away and kicks the booth in front of us. “That son of a bitch,” he yells out and the guy behind the pizza counter hollers for him to shut up.

“Shouldn’t he be in a hospital?” Catherine asks.

“Probably.” I answer.

Ethan finally seems to catch his breath and asks Will, “Did you talk to Fred? Tell him about my family and Anna’s dad?”

“Yeah. Ben was at Pearl’s when I got there. He was hounding her about where Emma was. He was really torn up. Knew something was wrong but no one knew anything. He wouldn’t leave until I told him what I knew. He left with Fred and they were headed to Arkansas just as Catherine and I were headed here. I told them someone may be there, watching them. They are gonna tell y’all’s folks that we’re picking you up.”

I nod, biting my lip so I won’t cry and say a silent prayer that nothing bad happens to any of them. “I’m so sorry to put everyone in so much danger. If it wasn’t for me, you all would be safe and sound back home.”

Catherine reaches across the table and squeezes my hands. “You didn’t ask for this, either. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

I squeeze her hands back and say, “We can’t stay here. Ethan needs to be checked out by a doctor, but we need to get out of New Orleans first. He can explain everything in the car.”

Ethan looks like he’s about to pass out. This was too soon to move him.

Once we’re out of the booth, he leans on me more than he probably realizes.

Will holds him up on his other side. “We’re parked around the corner. Luckily, we got here before the crowd.”

“Yeah, what’s with all the people? Is it a weekend?” Teeny asks.

Will answers, “It’s Friday night. Dude in the club told us it’s the St. Joseph’s Day Parade tomorrow afternoon. They’ll throw a damn parade for anything down here.”

I spot Will’s Explorer up ahead as I scan the street for Mateo. The crowd works for us because it’s easy to blend right in with the different groups of people meandering through the Quarter. After half a block, Will is almost entirely holding Ethan up. Seeing him like this, I know I’m making the right decision.

It takes forever to get Ethan in the third row of the vehicle but somehow Will and I manage it.

Ethan grabs Will by the sleeve just before he turns to get out of the car and says, “Man, you’re a good friend. I owe you.”

“You know I love getting your ass out of trouble. You’re gonna owe me for the rest of your life for this one.” Will lets out a loud cackle, then jumps out of the car.

There are some extra hunting coats in the very back and I use those as pillows, stuffing them around Ethan until he finds a spot he’s comfortable in.

I’m crouched on the floorboard beside him and I take his hand, bringing it to my mouth so I can kiss his bruised knuckles.

“Are you going to be okay to ride like this?” I ask.

He smiles and says, “It will be a helluva lot better than the ride down here.” His eyes start to droop. It will only be seconds before he’s out.

I lean in close and kiss him softly on the lips. He’s out before I pull away. My head stays bent toward him until my eyes feel dry. Now it’s time for the ugly part.

I hop out of the SUV. “Um, I gotta run to the bathroom before we get on the road,” I say to the group then turn to Will. “Can I talk to you first?”

“Sure.”

We step away from the SUV and he asks, “What’s wrong?”

“I have to do something and I can’t do it unless you agree to help me.”

His brow creases and I can tell he isn’t looking forward to what I’m about to say. “I’m not gonna like it am I?”

“No. But you have to agree.”

“What is it?”

I take a deep breath. This is the hardest thing I’ll ever do but it has to be done. “I’m staying here. To finish this.”

Will starts to interrupt me but I hold up my hand to stop him. Will is one of the few people who knows everything that happened to Ethan and me in Arizona. “Just listen. Ethan is hurt. He needs a doctor. And Teeny has no business being anywhere near this. This is the only way. It will be better if all of you are as far away from here as possible.”

“I’m not leaving you here. Not only are you my friend, but Ethan will hate me for the rest of my life.”

“Ethan almost got killed, Will. Dead. I want you to get him out of town, get him to a hospital or a doctor or something. Thomas has someone watching my mom. Call Fred and tell him to tell Dad she’s not safe. If I don’t go back, he’s going to hurt her. I had to make a deal so Ethan and Teeny could be safe.”

Will shoves his hands in his pockets and turns in small circles, muttering to himself.

“I can’t do it. I can’t leave you,” he finally says.

“This will never end if you don’t.” I don’t wait for him to answer, just hug him quick and whisper, “Tell Ethan I love him.”

Before I can pull away, he shoves his phone in my hand. “At least take this with you. This is insane, Anna.”

And then I turn and lose myself in the crowd. I can hear Teeny scream my name, but I don’t stop running.

Tears stream down my face and I don’t care what I must look like. I am a hazard to everyone I come in contact with and I can’t let them get hurt just because they are near me. There’s a real chance I won’t survive this, but at least it will only be me—not Ethan and Teeny, too. And at least this entire nightmare that started with me will end with me.

I go two blocks and I’m back to the spot where Tyler let us out not long ago. And there he is, waiting for my return.

I power Will’s cell phone off then shove it in my back pocket, readjust the gun in my jacket pocket before jumping into the backseat of the car. Tyler pulls away before I get my door shut. “I thought you changed your mind,” he says.

“I almost did. Do you really think I will walk away from this?”

“Yes. I do. And I will do everything in my power to make sure of it.”

It’s not comforting to know my life is in the hands of a lunatic stalker but it’s better than being on my own.

He makes me duck down on the way back, which means he really doesn’t fully trust that I won’t tell where the house is. But it also means he thinks I’ll live to tell the tale.

I feel guilty for not telling Ethan everything. Really guilty. And I’m sure he will never trust me again. But I truly believe I’ve made the right choice. If Ethan was well, I would have never tried this without him, but he’s not. I know Catherine will take care of Teeny, and Will will make sure Ethan gets medical treatment.

It takes no time to get back to the house with the courtyard. Apparently we drove around in circles earlier.

Thomas is waiting in front of the double doors when we get back.

“Tyler,” I say just before he gets out of the car. “I’m trusting you. Don’t let me down.”

He smiles. “Anna, I’m on your side. I swear.”

He gets out of the car and I follow, crawling out of the backseat. Thomas is standing in front of us, arms crossed in front of him.