Rick's eyes narrowed, hands lowering in mock fear. "He'll kill us."
She defiantly held his gaze. "We're white. He's gonna do that anyway."
There was a lot of truth to the statement, and she leaned against him, sensing growing weakness. "It'll be great. Just the two of us and you'll never be alone."
His eyes darkened, and his words surprised her even though it was what she wanted to hear. "It'll have to be fast and while they're drinking. Be ready."
4
"She went for it already?"
Rick told him everything word for word, as he always did, trying not to let the Slaver's rank odors blow over his scruffy face as they stood just out of sight of the tent Samantha was in.
"She is smart. Talk to her only a little. Sneak out on one of the twins' horses." Cesar fingered the handle of the knife in his belt as the light, cool wind blew by them. "You will contact me in two weeks. If you do not…"
The Mexican let his words trail off, and Rick gave in with no fight, shame not even in the picture anymore. "You'll have what you want, just like in Trinidad and Boulder. This plan always works."
Cesar met his eye with a cruel sneer. "And what reward do you ask, White man, for betraying your people? Again."
Rick didn't deny or even flinch, didn't feel anything at the jab. They were not his people anymore. They hadn't been since the War. "The woman, until I'm tired of her."
Cesar's dark eyes narrowed. "There are no white unions here!"
"Not a union. My slave."
Scowling, Cesar slammed his deformed hand on top of his dirty sombrero to keep a gust of wind from stealing it. "If there were to be a child, it would be killed."
Rick's eyes were hard as he snorted. "I want her, not some screaming shit machine. If she comes up pregnant, I'll make it go away."
Cesar didn't doubt the tone. "Deal. Don't forget. Two weeks and you will deliver this Safe Haven to me."
5
"You two will follow. Make sure your Witch is with them. We'll be along," Cesar ordered quietly, watching Rick go back to the white woman.
The twins hovered in the shadows, eager to do as instructed, so they could be sure she was indeed what they'd said. The tracks from the school might have led them to her, but the twins had lost them in a sewer drain, and hadn't been able to find the tracks again, despite checking exits for hours.