When The Water Burns

  Chapter Five: Tomas

  It was a long, miserable night for Tomas sitting on the cold cement bench outside the resort. The fog in his head had finally lifted, leaving his thoughts all too clear as he imagined what Veto might be doing to Kyla upstairs. It wasn’t just jealousy. Kyla had always made it clear she didn’t want to be more than friends.

  Despite her personal strength and character, she’d always had a certain naivete that brought out Tomas’ protective nature. Other women her age seemed to be fixated on fashion and social media. They were mercurial and eternally attached to phones or tablets, taking selfies everywhere to bring the world’s attention to their little lives.

  Kyla had an old soul. She didn’t own any electronics that Tomas had seen. Her conversations were often light, but never shallow or distracted. She always appeared to be exactly where she wanted to be, and Tomas was grateful it was so often with him. Except now he was afraid he might lose her forever.

  As soon as the sun lightened the sky, he rubbed his face and felt the rough growth of his beard. He needed coffee. Tomas decided to sneak into the resort’s hotel for a cup but before he could, Veto emerged from the automatic doors pulling a red rolling suitcase and carrying an aluminum attaché case. Tomas stepped behind a pillar to avoid being seen.

  Veto walked to a large black sedan and put his bags in the back seat. He appeared energized and happy as he walked back to the resort. Tomas watched him go through the sliding doors then sprinted to his car.

  Veto had locked the car doors, so Tomas moved to hide near the trunk. If Kyla didn’t appear before Veto tried to leave, Tomas intended to question him. If she were injured or dead, Tomas intended to make Veto pay, no matter the danger to himself.

  He waited for what seemed like forever. Ants crawled around his sandals. The ocean breeze swept his hair into a tangle. Eventually, rapid footsteps and an angry mutter announced Veto’s return. Tomas controlled his fear and stood to confront the man who had taken Kyla away.

  “You,” Veto growled and veered towards Tomas at the rear of the car.

  “Where is she?” they both said at the same moment. Then Veto smiled and Tomas felt his stomach roll over.

  “How did she escape a locked bathroom if you didn’t help her?” Veto slowed until he stood still.

  “I…” Tomas felt a thrill that interrupted his response. Kyla escaped! “I don’t know.”

  Veto squinted as he studied Tomas’ face. “Tell me what you know about her now or I will make you suffer.” He gripped Tomas by the shirt and dragged him to the rear car door.

  “I don’t know anything.” The blow to his jaw felt numb at first, but when his head knocked back against the car, pain exploded through his skull.

  “You must know something useful about her. Tell me and I’ll stop.”

  The second blow against his lips was hard enough to fill his mouth with blood. Tomas held his tongue. Then a third blow against his left eye knocked his head back hard enough to shatter the car’s side window.

  Tomas rocked back to give Veto a bloody smile despite his fear and pain. “I’ve known Kyla for five years,” he muttered through bruised lips. “And I hardly know anything about her at all. She loves nature. She plays guitar and sings in that old bar she lives above—” He stopped talking the second he saw Veto’s eyes light up in victory. Shit, shit, shit, Tomas thought.

  “Good enough,” Veto smiled and slammed Tomas’ forehead against the trunk of the car, and Tomas knew no more.