Collateral (Collateral Damage 1)

Leaving the dining room, I walk to the rooms on the right of the front doors, but only see two closed doors. When I try them, I find they’re locked.

I wonder about the front doors and am surprised that when I try one, it opens.

But as soon as it does, two men in reflective sunglasses turn to me and I see why they don’t have guards inside.

Because they’re standing just outside.

Neither man smiles at me and when the one puts his hand in his pocket, the shiny butt of a gun in its holster peeks out from beneath his arm.

I go back inside and close the door. I walk out to the patio to sit on one of the chairs by the pool, bored.

At home, I barely have time to get bored. Although I don’t have any friends, not any real ones at least, I was home-schooled, and I do have some level of freedom. When I go out, though, John always takes me and even with something as innocuous as shopping at the mall, he’s never far.

One thing I do like to do is run. I’m not much into sports, but I love the high after a long run. I go up to my room and change into the running clothes I brought, leaving the T-shirt and just wearing the sports bra, shorts and running shoes.

I dig out my iPod Touch. Yes, I still use an iPod. I think I’m the last person on earth who still has one but when everyone else moved on to iPhones, I wasn’t allowed one. No cell phone for me. My father’s argument was that I didn’t have any friends to call anyway, which was true for the most part. But it was just another way he could control me.

I don’t think he realized that I’m able to send text messages via the iPod, though.

I open the app and check for new messages, but there aren’t any. It’s pretty much only Alex I text anyway and I’m sure he doesn’t want to talk to me right now.

I consider sending him another message. Another text to tell him I’m sorry. Ask how he is. He risked everything to help me and when we failed, he paid the price, not me. I won’t forget that.

But I look at my last half-dozen unanswered messages and decide against it. I’ll give him time.

Popping the earbuds into my ears, I find a Queen playlist and turn it up loud, hopping down the stairs and casually going out the front door.

I don’t really think I’ll get by them, but I’m still surprised by the strong grip on my arm when I try to leap past.

“Hey!”

The one who has me looks at his fellow idiot while I tug at my arm.

“I’m just going for a run,” I try.

The one shakes his head. “Inside.”

“Get off me. I’m going for a run. I’m not leaving the property, don’t worry. I don’t even know the way out.” I do, but it’s about two miles to the gates and even if I got there, there’s no way I’d get past those guards. This place is like a fortress. Armed men on one side, the ocean on the other.

“In,” he says again, and they walk me back inside just as Miss Millie comes around the corner.

“What’s going on here? Get your hands off her,” she says to the man.

I’m released instantly and she looks me over.

“What are you doing, dear?”

“I just want to go for a run. It’s what I do at home.”

“Why not swim?” she asks. “It’s too hot for a run, don’t you think?”

“I don’t swim, Miss Millie. I just want to run. Please.”

“All right. Let me see what I can do. Just a minute.”

She returns to the kitchen where, a few minutes later, the man from last night walks out. He’s chewing on something and looks me over as he swallows. I think I should have put a T-shirt on over my sports bra after all.

“Gabriela,” he says, extending his hand. “I’m Rafa Catalano, Stefan’s cousin.”

I look down at his outstretched hand, so surprised by the gesture that it takes me a full minute before I put my hand inside his and we shake.

“Nice to meet you,” I say.

He nods. “It’s a little hot for a run, don’t you think?”

“It’s fine. I need the exercise.”

“There’s a treadmill in the gym. I’ll show you.”

I shake my head. “I really want to be outside. Look, I’m not going anywhere. I’m just asking for this one thing.” I realize how desperate I suddenly am for this. Desperate to get away from all these people, from this place where I’m not wanted.

“Please,” I add on. “I’m going to go crazy in here.”

It takes him a minute, but he nods. “All right. Give me a few minutes to change. The exercise will do me good, too.”