A
chill walked Amara’s spine and broke her concentration on the movements of the
exercise. As she hit the wall to propel herself into the air, she slipped and
landed in a heap on the matted gym floor of the church run community center.
She peered toward the door. The local drug lord and his nephew paused in the
doorway. Probably headed to the priest’s office for a weekly visit. Her hands
coiled into fists.
Ramos
moved away but Miguel remained. His hooded gaze stripped her naked. She rose
and completed the final exercise of today’s martial arts training session. A
quick glance at the door showed he was gone. She should have felt relief but
the hands shook and the sour smell of rear remained.
“Ready
for a match?” another of the students asked.
Amara
shook her head. “I have to leave.”
The
teenager stepped closer. “Wonder what Ramos wants?”
“Father
Joe will know but I don’t intend to ask him.” With shaking hands she pulled on her
jeans and tee shirt and tied her sneakers. In a half-run, she hurried to the
door and left the community center.
Outside,
aromas reached her. Cooking food, exhaust from cars and busses. Her own fear
laced sweat. Noises penetrated. Music, horns, people’s voices. Her glance
darted from side to side. Was anyone watching her?
What
could she do? The last time she’s encountered Ramos’s nephew he’d frightened
her. “Gonna plow you good, babe. You’ll sing for me real sweet.” She had no one
to guard her back. Hadn’t had anyone since her father’s death. She sighed.
She’s almost had a friend once. An undercover cop had saved her. Then Ramos had
discovered the man’s identity. Seth had vanished. Was he dead?
As
she scurried toward the apartment building where she lived with her uncle and
his family, she fought to control the fear rocketing through her thoughts. Her
breathing came in quick gasps. After her father’s death and her mother’s
suicide her uncle had reluctantly given her a home. Social Security benefits
had been the reason but she would soon age out.
When
she reached the building instead of stopping on the fourth floor she continued
up the stairs toward the room. She wasn’t ready to hear her uncle’s demands she
quit school and find a job. She rubbed her arms. There was no one to help her.
The
sound of feet on the stairs from below reached her. She crouched and peered
through the railing. She sucked in a breath. Would her pounding heart shatter
her ribs? Why was Ramos here? One of his bodyguards pounded on her uncle’s
door.
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