Laughing Eyes: Bittersweet Familia (3) by Melissa Jane Read Free Book Online Page A

the trees. My heart pounded painfully against my ribs and only when I saw the opening to the clearing did I feel a sense of hope. Making it back through safely, I continued running until I reached the cabin. I spun around hoping to catch sight of my pursuer, the moonlight illuminating the grounds around me.
    Nothing
    No one.
    Had I imagined the sounds, the smell?
    Had the fear been all in my head?
    Doing my best to secure the broken door, I stole a glance at Luiza who was still sound asleep. I should never have left her alone.
    Kicking my shoes off, I climbed back into bed bringing the cover up to my chin. My body was still shaking from fright, my mind more alert than ever. In the darkness, I closed my eyes willing sleep to take me.
    Eventually a pseudo haze held me at ransom, the faint smell of men’s cologne lingering in my dreams.
     
    ***
     
    The next morning as the men loaded up the truck, I found Alec under the shelter stocktaking the medical box. His gaze barely met mine as he counted a half empty box of syringes.
    “What is it?” he asked, mid count.
    “Were you or the others out last night?”
    “Out where?”
    “By the beach. Did anyone go for a late walk?”
    Alec stopped counting and placed the syringes back in the box before his curious expression met mine. “No, we all went to bed straight after dinner. Why? What’s going on?”
    I shook my head confused by this revelation. I hadn’t been imagining it. The cologne was distinct, obvious!
    “I just, ah… I thought someone was out there that’s all, but I must be mistaken.”
    “You went to the beach? On your own?” Alec reprimanded. I knew I wasn’t allowed to. We were under such strict rules here that doing something reckless like that would endanger the whole group.
    “Yes, I’m sorry. I couldn’t sleep.” I was sorry. I should have known better.
    He sighed heavily, his annoyance and concern a confusing mix. “Anna, with Eduardo missing we can’t tempt fate any more than we are by being here. So please be sensible. I can’t stay awake all night looking out for everyone.”
    I nodded, feeling the fool.
    As I walked back to my cabin to collect my bag, I stared ahead at the thicket of trees. In the daylight there was nothing ominous about them. But I knew better. Something or someone had been in there last night, watching us, waiting for the slightest taste of vulnerability.

Danny
     
    Aiden and I waited fifty yards apart in the tree line, perfectly still, sniper rifles at the ready. We had been like this since pre-dawn, our eyes glued to the happenings of a small building stuck in the middle of nowhere. We knew we were at a target site. The larger than life symbol in black on the west wing wall that matched the engraving on the bullet shells found at site, told us so. This was a hub for El Leon workers. We also knew that it was too small to be the main factory.
    “What are you thinking?” Aiden’s voice came through the ear piece as we watched a man walk from the building, yawning and stretching before lighting a cigarette. He was large with a gut that hung from beneath his shirt, his underwear sitting higher than his slacks.
    “We play your favourite game, brother. It’s called watch and wait.”
    Taking action on this place wasn’t ideal. If El Leon knew we were on his tail, we could kiss goodbye any leads.
    By mid-morning there was movement all around, trucks running an endless route back and forth, dropping off boxes on arrival and disappearing with empty trays. We counted at least seven on route.
    “We follow them, it will take us straight to our hot spot,” I said, shifting weight off my dead arm.
    “We need in on one of those trucks,” Aiden replied, his way of thinking matching my own.
    “Pack it up, bro. We have a ride to catch.”
    “Wait!”
    Caught off guard by my friend’s tone, I fell flat again, my rifle ready. “Fuck me, is that who I think it is?”
    The last truck to arrive pulled to a stop, its driver