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Slipping his hand into mine, he threads our fingers together, and we continue down the path.
After a few more minutes, we come to a small clearing in the woods. The thin path we’re on opens to a much larger, thicker one that’s paved with smooth gray cement. It leads to the steps of a huge treehouse nestled in the branches of the thickest trees. Fairy lights hang in the windows, emitting warm light. From where I’m standing, I can see various green plants hanging from the ceiling and sitting in the windows.
“What is this?”
Vic stands behind me. He places his hands on my waist and pulls me closer to him. His breath tickles the shell of my ear when he whispers, “my sanctuary.”
I shiver. I can feel his lips curl into a smirk against my ear. His body is warm and inviting, and even though I know I should step away, I can’t help myself from leaning further into his hold.
“Want to take a look inside?” he asks quietly. I nod, and he leads me up the stairs in the direction of the treehouse. The inside is small and warm, heated by the morning sun beaming directly inside. Two large beanbags sit against the far wall right when you walk in, and a desk and chair are underneath the windows. Sitting on the desk is a computer with the biggest, shiniest screen I’ve ever seen. A simple gray rug lays in the middle of the floor. Immediately, I take my shoes and socks off and sink my toes into the soft material.
“This place is incredible,” I tell him as I look around. An ajar door leads to a small bathroom with a shower. “You have plumbing?”
He nods and grins. “And I have a mini fridge over there.” He points to the side of the desk where the fridge is, and a microwave sits on top. “I have everything I need in here.”
“So, this is where you are all day,” I realize.
He nods. “Pretty much. I have to stay hidden as much as possible.”
“Why?”
He leans against the edge of the desk and crosses his arms over his chest. “There is still a lot you don’t know about me, Maya. I can’t possibly tell you everything all at once, but I will tell you this one thing as long as you promise to stay here.”
“Here? In the treehouse?” I try to joke, but I know what he means.
Stay here in the mansion. With all of them.
Forever.
He’d told me as much a while ago, but it’s not like I have much of a choice, anyway.
I take a breath and nod, understanding what I’m committing to.
Vic chews on his bottom lip before he speaks. “After my papá died last month, Ezra hired me to handle his estate. I’ve always been great with numbers, and he saw me as an asset to his empire. I needed a place to stay, a place to hide from the feds. I’m wanted in Mexico and Colombia for my crimes. If you look up the FBI’s Most Wanted List, my face is number one.”
I swallow and take a step back, but there’s nowhere for me to go.
“I wasn’t expecting you to saythat,” I admit, my heart racing.
Vic stands and walks over to me, running his palms up and down my arms to soothe my nerves. “Please do not fear me, mi amor. I would never do anything to hurt you.”
“But you’ve hurt people, yes?”
He nods. “Of course. You should have expected that.”
“Right, but you must have done something major to get on that list,” I point out. “Ezra’s not even on that list.”
Now he steps back and looks at me, then down at his feet.
“Tell me, Vic,” I demand. “We’ve already gotten this far.”
“Will you think of me differently when I tell you? Will you look at me differently? I can’t handle that, Maya.”
“I won’t,” I assure him. “I promise.”
He holds my gaze for a few moments before saying, “I murdered the presidents of Mexico and Colombia.”
“That wasyou?” I blurt.
