“Yeah. Makes you wonder,” I added absently, sipping my coffee, a cold sweat building on my brow.
My father went on to talk about the fascinating process for deciding which viruses were picked to be the lucky winners each year or something like that. I stopped listening after the first ten words because my mind was preoccupied with something unimaginably horrific that I’d learned only three minutes prior to my parents’ arrival. Something that would devastate them like it had just devastated me.
Kidnapped…How am I going to tell my parents?
You’re not. This can’t be real.
Besides, who would want to take Justin? My baby brother was the nicest guy on the planet. Ever. He was the sort of person who’d pick up worms off the sidewalk after a good rain and put them somewhere safe.
Who would want to harm him? Justin, of all people?
It wasn’t like Justin and his team were digging up gold treasures down in Mexico; they were excavating ancient pots and plates—crap like that. I remembered how excited he was when he’d found a pre-Hispanic button. But were those worth his life?
He’s not dead, Mia. Not yet.
“Honey?” my mother asked. “Mia.” She snapped her fingers and then looked at my father. “I think that blonde hair has gotten to her head.”
I’d just had my wavy locks colored and then cut into a shoulder-length A-line bob the week before. It was practically the same shade I’d always had, just with a few highlights. The woman at the salon told me it would make my blue eyes pop. Not true. But I remember telling Justin about it. That was the last time we spoke.
Fuck. How? How can this be happening?
I blinked and lifted my head. “I’m going to Mexico to see Justin for a few weeks.”
“Oh.” My mom’s opportunistic eyes lit up. “That’s wonderful! You haven’t had a vacation in years. But I thought you were due in New York tomorrow.”
“Change of plans,” I explained. “Spur of the moment thing. Completely forgot to tell you.”
“Fantastic!” she said. “I’ll run home and bring you the care package I was about to mail off. I got him all of his favorite seaweed treats and those socks he loves. You have room in your luggage, right?”
I nodded and faked a smile. “Sure. Plenty of room.”
My father was silent for a few moments. “Mia, I know you’re a world traveler, one of those jet-setters…”
Jet-setter? Did people even use that term anymore? I didn’t know.
“But,” he continued, “you should be careful. That place is dangerous. All those bandidos kidnapping people. And do you have any idea how many murders there are every year?”
Over thirty-one thousand. At least, that’s what the internet said. In any case, was Justin now one of them? Or did he fall into that other category? The narcos kidnapped people all the time to supplement their incomes.
“Oh, honey,” my mother swatted my father’s arm, “don’t scare Mia. I’m sure she’ll be fine. Besides, she’ll be with Justin. Won’t you, honey?” Justin was twenty-five, a year younger than me, but he was a big guy, just like my dad.
“Sure. I’ll be with him the entire time,” I lied.
My father leaned back in the chair, disapproval flickering in his green eyes, the same color eyes as Justin’s. I wanted to scream. “Just be careful, Mia.”
I took a breath, barely able to hold my composure. “I’ll be fine, Dad. I promise.” But I wouldn’t be fine, and neither would they.
“Oh! I wish I could go with you! I’m dying to see Palenque.” My mother paused. “You’ll be back in time for my birthday, right? We’re having a crab feed right on the pier.”
I smiled and grabbed her hand. “Wouldn’t miss it, Mom.”
But that would become just another lie in a string of many to come, because our lives would never be the same.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a New York Times bestselling author who’s sold over one million books around the world. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dreams.
Mimi lives with her Latin lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and their three spunky dragons (really, just very tiny dogs with big attitudes) Snowy, Mini, and Mack, in the vampire-unfriendly state of Arizona.
She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.
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