“So, in effect, you were already one of them.”
He drops his head in shame.
I grab his hand over the table. “Why don’t you just leave? Make a new start.” I smile. “You could do it. I know you could.”
He fakes a smile. “You don’t just leave.”
I frown.
“The only way out is death. I’ve seen man after man get killed.”
My blood runs cold. “What do you mean?”
“They pay you so much that you get used to a certain lifestyle and you can have holidays and time off when ever you want.” He sips his drink. “It’s a perfect job on paper.”
“But you can’t leave?” I murmur.
He shakes his head. “They always find you.”
I put my head into my hands on the table. “God, Stace, bloody hell. What a mess.”
He smiles. “I’m no angel. I got what I deserved. I knew they were no good, and yet I was seduced by the forbidden fruit.”
His phone dances across the table. He frowns and turns it over, the word Mom lighting up the screen. He turns it back over and ignores it.
“Answer it.” I push it over to him.
“It’s okay. I will call her back tomorrow.”
“I insist, answer it now.” I pick the phone up and pass it to him.
He answers. “Hey, Mom.” His face breaks into a breathtaking smile. I feel myself flutter a little and my face mirrors his.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice is gentle and caring.
“I’m so glad to hear your voice,” she replies. I can hear her through the speaker across the table.
“Me, too, Mom.” He smiles.
“Where are you?”
“I’m in Bogota. Columbia.”
“Oh my God, Stace, are you safe? Are you with your friends from the ship?”
He smiles broadly and his eyes flicker to me. “Actually, Mom, I’m on a date.”
“A date?” she shrieks and he holds the phone out from his ear.
I giggle into my champagne glass.
“Who is she?” She laughs in excitement.
“Just this really cool chick I met.”
I hold my glass up to him in a cheers symbol, he grabs his glass and clinks it with mine as he throws me a sexy wink.
“What’s she like, Stace?”