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

to Megan. She lifted the girl’s face and could see a large bruise forming where she had hit her cheek on the floor. She pulled Megan to her and held her against her breast. Megan shook, sobbing, while Jessica rubbed her hand up and down the girl’s arm trying to calm her fear.
    A chair outside the room hit the floor. There were curses, cries and the sounds of shuffling feet and a series of crisp slaps. It was obvious Ashley hadn’t given up, but Jessica knew her struggle against the three men was useless and her heart ached for the doomed woman.
    Jessica spoke aloud, trying to block out the screams. “Stay strong. Stay strong,” she muttered over and over. She didn’t know if she was trying to convince Megan or herself, so kept repeating the words as she rocked.
    “You still think we should just sit and wait?” Jack growled at Gilbert as he walked over to him and kicked him with the toe of his boot. “If I had a real man here with me, we could have taken them. There was only one gun and two of the men were so drunk they could hardly stand. What’s wrong with you?”
    “I don’t know how to fight and I don’t believe in it. It’s unfortunate what’s happening to her, but she’s not my problem. I’m only worried about getting myself home to my family and the right amount of money will take me there.”
    Jack grabbed Gilbert by the shirt and dragged the bulky man to his feet. He was no longer concerned with being quiet since he doubted the men could hear anything over Ashley’s screams. He punched Gilbert in the gut as hard as he could and then let go of his shirt and watched the man gasp for air as he sunk to the floor.
    He walked back to the window and ran his fingers though his hair. As the hoots and laughter rose and Ashley’s screams turned to sobs, Jack pounded his fists into the wall. He cursed and shook the bars on the window.
    Jessica nudged Megan to the far corner of the room and they huddled together. She stroked Megan’s long blonde hair as she held her head close to her chest. Jessica hoped to muffle some of the noise, but knew there was little she could do to disguise what was happening to the girl’s friend.
    The sobbing and pleading mixed with laughter went on for what felt like an eternity. Jessica looked to Jack for comfort, but he avoided her gaze. She could see he was angry and frustrated and hoped he wouldn’t take it out on Gilbert again, since fighting was pointless. How she wished the noise would stop, but when it did she cringed. When she could no longer hear Ashley’s cries, she knew the worst had happened.
    The house went silent. They heard a door open and two sets of footsteps left the building. The van started up and drove away and soon one person returned. They heard the clank of pans and could smell the smoke from the cook stove. Soon the aroma of frying food wafted under the door and the smell made Jessica nauseous.
    She looked over at Jack and watched as his back slid down the wall toward the floor until he was sitting on his heels. He buried his face in his hands and didn’t look up. She wanted to go to him, but at the moment Megan needed her more.

Chapter Eight
     
    Ashley didn’t return. They all knew she was dead, but no one spoke about what had happened. When food and water were brought in, no one looked up, and after the men were gone, no one moved.
    Megan remained so silent and withdrawn throughout the night that Jessica worried more than she would have if Megan had broken down and cried. Jessica wished she knew how to comfort Megan, but nothing could ease the horror so fresh in all of their minds.
    Jack moved to the corner and knelt down in front of Jessica and Megan. He waited until Megan looked up at him.
    “I know you probably don’t feel like it right now, but we all need to eat and drink something. We need to keep our strength up if we hope to get out of here. We’ll watch them closely tonight and if they go out drinking again, that’s when we’ll make