Desert Angel Read Online Free

looked away to find the right words. Gave up. Tapped the table for emphasis. “No police here.”
    “¿Piensas que él lo sepa?” the grandmother asked Angel.
    “I don’t understand.”
    “You think he knows?” Matteo translated impatiently. “Knows what? ¿Que? ”
    “That I’m here?” Angel didn’t need to think. She nodded, not meeting anyone’s eyes. “I know he does.” In the following silence she wasn’t sure they believed her. “He’s a hunter.” She spoke slowly and looked at Abuela, hoping to be understood.
    “Un cazador,” Tío translated.
    Abuela closed her eyes and crossed herself.
    *   *   *
     
    M ATTEO PULLED A STOOL OUT OF THE MUDROOM and joined them at the table. Time to make a plan. The family waited, everyone looking down at the place where the plate would be if this were a meal. It was on Angel to speak first.
    What could she say? She wasn’t used to talking. At all. To anyone. Her mother had told her a hundred times. Don’t say nothing. What we do is nobody’s business. So maybe she could keep them out of it.
    “Do you have a phone?”
    Matteo snorted. Tío shook his head.
    Okay. There was really no choice. Scotty was out there. Watching. If she left, he’d take her. But if she stayed … he could torch this place. Or sneak in and— Angel stopped herself, couldn’t stand to imagine what Scotty might do to this family.
    “I have to go.” Angel kept her voice steady, but her eyes were busy searching the kitchen counters for a weapon. Would they give her a knife?
    “I’ll walk her to Ramón’s,” Matteo said. “He can drop her at the police on his way to work.”
    “Walk her…?” Tío was frowning at the idea.
    “Okay, I’ll wait till Celina comes home and drive her to Ramón’s.”
    “Celina?” Angel asked.
    “My sister,” Matteo said, sounding irritated at having to explain. “Works in town.”
    “The man watches?” Tío asked.
    “This house?” Angel nodded.
    “¿Él hizo esto?” Abuela asked. “Man, did? All?” She was pointing at Angel’s wounds.
    “Yes,” Angel said. A surge of shame rushed through her. Her fault. She should have seen this coming. Should have done something. Made her mom leave. Killed Scotty in his sleep. Run—
    Tío interrupted her thoughts. “He will hurt everyone?” he asked, moving his eyes to include Matteo and Abuela.
    “Yes,” Angel said, swallowing back tears.
    Tío stood and left the room. Came back with a small rifle and put it on the floor next to him as he sat.
    Angel pitied him. Next to Scotty’s high-powered rifles with scopes, Tío’s gun was a toy.
    Matteo’s eyes had widened. “So I’ll get her out of here,” he said, pushing up from the table. “Out the back. Off the road. Be at Ramón’s in fifteen minutes.”
    “And if Ramón’s not home?” Tío was shaking his head. “If this man sees you and does something?… Sit.”
    “La iglesia,” Abuela said. “Church. All.”
    Matteo snorted again. Angel grimaced. It was too late for church years ago. Tío narrowed his eyes at Abuela, as if that would help him see what she was thinking.
    “Church,” Abuela repeated. “Tan pronto a que vuelve Celina.”
    Angel looked to Tío.
    “Soon Celina come, we all go to church,” he said, picking up the rifle and standing.

8
     
    When the elderly Ford sedan rattled into the drive, Abuela hobbled out the front door followed by Tío, then Angel, then Matteo. Tío carried the rifle inconspicuously at his side. The young woman driving looked surprised and started to open her door, but Abuela shook her head, made her way to the passenger side, and climbed in front. Tío opened the rear door and crawled in first. Angel and Matteo followed.
    “Church,” Tío said. “A la iglesia, ahorita.”
    “What … who—”
    “ ¡Ándale, Celina! Now!”
    While the car rolled back onto Dillon Road, the passengers scanned both directions looking for the camo pickup. The two-lane and the surrounding desert flats