Culo

FLINT AND I ARE ON our knees inside of Migs’—I mean, ’s—bulletproof van. His men stand behind us, the muzzles of their guns pressing against the back of our heads. And seated in front of us is himself, who’s acting strangely twitchy for someone who holds all of the cards in his hand.

The van looks as if it's been given a makeover...for war. A built-in armory of guns and ammunition on one side, a rooftop window with a mounted turret just in case they want to gun anyone down, and even chains and cuffs bolted to the ceiling to torture their captives on the go.

A single overhead bulb casts sinister shadows across the space, but what makes me sick with dread is how it shines directly down on , and I finally see the monster underneath his cultivated image of a well-dressed man about town.

There's always been something off about him no matter how nice he always is. But I never could find the right words to describe it...until now.

It's the emptiness of his eyes. Brilliantly blue like the skies, but they're completely dead, and that...that terrifies me.

"Look at me."

The calmness of Flint's tone rescues me from my panic, but I find myself biting back a sob when I turn my gaze to his, and I see the blood trickling down the side of his face.

Oh, Flint.

His violet eyes capture mine. "It's alright. I won't let anything happen to you."

laughs at this, and so do the rest of his men.

But I don't care, and all I can think right now is how so, so silly it was for me to let my pain drive my actions.

Yes, it did hurt to hear Flint say in not so many words that I mean nothing to him.

But it doesn't mean I should let that be the final say about what we have. This may sound crazy, but I know now that I love him. And if we ever survive this, I'll tell him so.

If being the operative word.

“You just don’t give up, do you, Harding?"

How strange , I can’t help thinking again. I’ve never heard talk in such a high-pitched tone before. Flint and I are outnumbered and outgunned, so why is he acting like it’s the opposite way around?

"Would you, in my position?"

It’s easy to see that the calmness of Flint’s tone has the same effect on . He finds it maddening as heck, just like I did.

“Why would you even ask that? Yes, I will. Hell yes, I’d have fucking given up a long time ago.” shoots Flint an accusing glare. “And you know why that is?”*

“Should I give it a guess? Does it have anything to do with you not growing a pair—”

“Fuck you!”

My heart breaks at seeing ’s spit landing on Flint’s expressionless face. But at the same time, I can also feel my shock wearing off with the way keeps acting like a toddler throwing a tantrum.*

I know I still need to be careful. A false sense of security can still get me killed. But on the other hand, I’m finding it a lot easier to think more clearly, and I’m hoping and praying...

Please, God.

Is there anything I can do to help Flint and me survive this?

“I already offered you money,” rages at Flint. “And sure, I’ve been hearing stories about you having money yourself, but who doesn’t need more money? So why can’t you just fucking stop making trouble for me?”

“Because you killed my brother.”

“And that’s why you’re all alone, aren’t you? Because you knew if you went after me as Agent Flint Fucking Harding, your hands are tied, and you can’t fucking kill me. You gotta give me due process, and you know there’s still a chance I’d walk away free.”*

’s lips tighten as he looks at me. “See how he can’t say a word? Because it’s true. He wants to kill me. So this man and me, we’re no different, Beth. And that’s why...”

The next few seconds are a blur.

grabs my hair, yanking me toward him, and that’s all it takes for Flint to snap. He lunges forward with a roar, his movements so fast and fluid that even ’s men are caught off guard. Flint’s fist connects with ’s jaw, the sound of bone hitting bone echoing through the van. stumbles back, but before Flint can land another blow, two of ’s men are already dragging him back.

“Don’t you fucking touch her," Flint snarls, his voice raw with rage. He fights like a man possessed, his muscles straining against the men holding him back.

I can't remember feeling so helpless as I watch 's men shackle his wrists above his head.

And then starts punching him.

Again and again and again.

Each blow lands with a sickening thud, and I can’t stop myself from screaming.

“Please! Stop, please! Please!”

And actually does stop, but as soon as his eyes turn to me, I know I’ve only made it worse.

“You bitch .”

He charges towards me and slaps my face so hard that I can taste blood on my lips. “Do you know how disappointed I was to find out that you left Bucks with this asshole? Because I know you, Elizabeth. I know how pure and sweet you are. You’re my fucking angel, and that’s why I fucking know...you would never have gone with him if you didn’t trust him. And I can see it now, you bitch. You trust him in the way you never trusted me. And that’s why...”

His thumb presses against the corner of my lip, and I swallow back the urge to throw up as I watch him lick the blood off his skin.

“I need you to tell me the truth. Are you still a virgin?”

I nod...because I don’t see any reason to lie.

“Good girl. Now, one more question...and you need to think very clearly because your answer will have consequences.”

Tears have already started rolling down my cheeks, but I don't even know why I'm crying.

“Between Harding and me, who would you choose to fuck?”

has clearly lost his mind. It’s as if what matters to him more now is Flint being his competition for my heart, and he no longer cares about Flint being the reason he’s forced to flee to Mexico.

“The clock is ticking, sweet Beth.”

Lie , my brain pleads with me.

If I want Flint and me to live another day—-

Lie.

It's all I have to do.

Lie .

But there’s another voice I hear.

And it’s a voice that I never heard before.

God, oh God.

Why would you ask me to do something that doesn’t make sense?

You asked for my help, child.

I just need to understand—-

No, child. What you need is to trust me.

You must trust in My love for you.

And believe that I am in control.

Do you trust Me?

"Don't keep me waiting."

Yes, I do.

And more than that, I realize now that I trust Him the most, and so I look at my captor straight in the eyes.

“C-—”

Everything happens all at the same time again. I see Flint wincing, ’s men suddenly coughing, and their master’s face slowly turning red as a tomato.

Did I...do something wrong again?