Caleb was apparently less inclined to smile and I knew it had to do with Rafiq. Caleb continued to struggle with what he called a betrayal. I understood now why the situation was so difficult for him, but my need to survive, my need for both of us to escape, was far more important to me than Caleb’s need to make things right between him and Rafiq.
“I’m loyal, Caleb. I can’t make any promises as to the rest. You’ve said it yourself, Rafiq is dangerous. He’ll kill anyone standing in his way – that’s us. It’s us, or him, at this point, Caleb. It’s you who needs to decide where your loyalties lie.”
Caleb glared at me for several seconds before his expression softened. He sighed heavily and nodded, “I have to get you out of here, Kitten. I promised to keep you safe and I will, but, I’ve already told you…I can’t betray Rafiq any more than I already have. I have to talk to him, convince him there’s another way. Then I can come for you.”
I scrambled toward him and wrapped my arms around his neck, “I can’t leave without you, Caleb. What if you never come back? I’ll be out there on my own and anything could happen. What if…what if he kills you? How will I live with myself?” Tears ran down my face as I struggled to find the words to convince him to leave with me and forget about his debt to Rafiq.
“I’m capable of taking care of myself, Kitten. No matter what, I can’t leave this unfinished. If we run, he’ll never stop looking for us. What then? I have no plans to live my life in hiding. I have to finish things one way or the other,” Caleb said. He stroked my hair and tried to be reassuring, but his words left me cold and numb.
“I won’t go,” I whispered.
“Felipe is having another party tomorrow. There will be lots of people and I’m hoping, plenty of distractions. You’re leaving, Pet. It’s the only way I can keep you safe.” Caleb hugged me so tightly I didn’t have breath to cry.
One more night – it was all we could have. I was determined to make the most of it. I pulled back from Caleb. I wanted to see his face. I wanted to memorize every curve, every eyelash. I looked into his Caribbean-blue eyes and the things I saw, stirred my soul, but broke my heart.
“Tell me you love me, Caleb,” I whispered.
He kissed me, refusing. “I wish I could, Kitten.”
***
I heard pounding, loud and frantic pounding. My eyes flashed open and the dark surrounding me only helped to exacerbate my panic. Caleb was already out of bed.
“Get down on the ground and don’t move,” he said in an urgent whisper. He went to the closet and flung it open.
I reached for the bedside lamp and turned it on. “What’s happening?” I asked. I threw the covers back and scrambled to the ground. Caleb threw something at me and it collided with my chest. He’d given me clothes.
“Put those on, now!” Caleb said. He was climbing into a pair of pants, buttoning them urgently. He fumbled with a box before he got it open. He removed his gun and cocked it.
Adrenaline pounded in my veins. Something bad was about to happen.
“Abra la puerta!” Celia shouted from the other side of the door. She was in a panic of her own and I didn’t know what to make of it.
Caleb rushed toward me and slid onto the floor, I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close. His hands dug into my wrists as he pulled me away. Something cold and hard made its way into my hand. I looked down and saw Caleb’s gun.
“Get dressed, stay here. I’ll knock two times before I come in. If anyone else comes into this room, you fucking shoot to kill. Do you understand?” he said.
My panic made me deaf and blind. I didn’t understand. I had no idea what Caleb was trying to tell me. He stood and tried to walk away. I grabbed on to his leg, “Caleb! Don’t go, don’t leave.”
“Do what I tell you!” he shouted and pulled free with so much force I was afraid my arm had come out of its socket again. Caleb was at the door before I could catch him again. He held a big knife at his side and stood to one side of the door. He unlocked it slowly.
Celia burst into the room, but she didn’t have a chance to say anything before Caleb grabbed her around the neck with his arm and put the knife to her throat. She struggled, but Caleb subdued her quickly and held her still.
“What’s going on?” he snarled.
“I came to warn you,” she said, “Rafiq and his men are here. They’re downstairs with Felipe. They want to see you.” Celia’s hands held tightly to Caleb’s forearm around her throat. “Por favor,” she sobbed.
“Caleb, let her go,” I sobbed. “She came to warn us.”
Caleb squeezed Celia’s throat until even her sobs couldn’t escape, “We don’t know, Kitten. She could be here to separate us.”
“You’re going to kill her!” I urged. I didn’t believe Celia would sell me out, but I had no reason to believe she wouldn’t. I raised the gun in my hands, “Let her go, Caleb. I’ll keep her here.”
Caleb stared at me. His eyes weren’t his own and reminded me more of an animal than a man.
“Please, Caleb. Let her go,” I begged.