Marked in Mexico by Kim McMahill Read Free Book Online Page A

the other three with them. He didn’t care much about Gilbert’s fate, but Ashley and Megan didn’t deserve to suffer because of the man’s arrogance.
    Jessica grabbed Jack’s arm. Without saying a word, she pulled him toward her. He looked out the window and could see a lantern bobbing erratically in the distance. As it moved closer, they could make out the sound of voices and the figures began to come into focus. Two of their captors were swaying as they walked, laughing, stumbling and cursing. They were drunk.
    “This can’t be good,” she whispered.
    “Come on. Curl up like you’re sleeping and as far away from the door as possible. If they come in, don’t make a noise or look up. The less you’re noticed the better.”
    Jessica slouched in the furthest corner and pretended to be asleep. Jack sat down about six feet away, close enough to help if anyone came for her, but not close enough to look like he cared.
    “Get away from the door and pretend to be asleep,” Jack ordered to the three sitting across the room.
    “Why? What good will that do?” Gilbert asked.
    “Just do it,” Jack hissed as he rested his head against the wall and pretended to be asleep.
    The voices grew louder until they could hear the men right outside the door. Jessica squeezed her eyes shut and hoped they’d go away. A chair fell to the floor and the sound made her flinch. She fought to calm her nerves and get her breathing under control.
    Laughter boomed from the room outside. Glass shattered and she could only imagine the two men had brought their buddy back something to drink as well, but had been too drunk to pass the bottle. She heard what she assumed were curses and a body falling against the door, and again laughter shook the room.
    As the noise began to level off, Jessica thought maybe the intoxicated men would decide to sleep it off, but before her hopes could rise too high, the door flew open. Light spilled in from the outer room, silhouetting three figures in the doorway.
    Jessica sat rigid and still in the far shadows, willing herself to be invisible. With one eye slit just enough to see, she watched as the two men stumbled into the room, while the sober one remained in the doorway with his rifle over his shoulder.
    One man grabbed Ashley, who was sitting closest to the door, by the arm and jerked her to her feet. He started dragging her toward the door, but Megan grabbed her other arm and began tugging. The second man pulled Megan off and shoved her to the ground with such force that the solid thud of the young woman’s head hitting the floor echoed through the room. By now both women were sobbing.
    Jessica could see what was going on, but was frozen with fear. She doubted she could make her feet move even if she could help. She could see Jack and hoped he’d stay still, but she knew he wouldn’t.
    She held her breath as she watched Jack get to his feet and move toward Ashley. His movements were silent like a predator, but didn’t escape their captor’s attention. The man in the doorway stepped in and jammed the muzzle of the rifle into Ashley’s temple and yelled at Jack to get back or he would shoot.
    Jack stopped and studied the three men. One had moved to the side, one gripped the trembling, whimpering Ashley, and the third held a gun to her head, never taking his eyes off of Jack. His mind ran through his options as Ashley’s terrified eyes pleaded with him for help.
    He glanced over at Gilbert and could see the man would be of no use. Gilbert sat with his knees up and his arms wrapped tightly around them, slightly rocking, and purposely looking away. Megan still lay on the floor, stunned from the violent fall she’d taken. Jack knew if he tried to make a move the only one who would try to help would be Jessica and that would probably get her killed or worse. He put his hands up and took a step away as the three men backed out of the room dragging Ashley with them.
    As soon as the door locked, Jessica rushed