The Fires of Paradise by Brenda Joyce

Author:Brenda Joyce
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Avon
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

28

The door opened and hit the wall with a bang. Startled out of a sound sleep, Lucy practically bolted out of the bed. Bright morning sunlight was streaming through the windows. Realizing she wore nothing but her drawers because of the heat, Lucy clutched the sheet to her neck, expecting to see Shoz in a temper.

Carmen stood against the door. She wore a flaming red blouse and a black skirt with a another gold one underneath. There were pink combs in her hair. “Get up!”

Luck blinked. “Pardon me?”

“The sun is up. Who do you think you are? Everyone is already working. Get up!” She strode out.

Lucy debated defying Carmen; after all, who was she to tell her what to do? Then, as exhausted as she was, she decided it wasn’t worth fighting over, not with that volatile woman. Besides, judging from the sunlight pouring into her room, and the oppressive, wet heat, she had already overslept. She rose, washed, and dressed quickly.

In the kitchen, Carmen and the older woman were rolling tortillas. “Finally!” Carmen cried. She shoved a rolling pin at Lucy. “Linda will show you how to do it.”

Lucy found herself holding the pin and thinking that this was patently unfair. “I’m not doing this. I haven’t even had my breakfast yet!”

“The royal queen hasn’t even had her breakfast!” Carmen mimicked. She seemed ferociously angry. “Did you hear that, Linda? You are our prisoner,” she said to Lucy. “And you do as we say. As I say.”

Lucy had had enough. She put down the rolling pin. “I am not your prisoner. And I am going to eat breakfast.” Even if I have to make it myself, she added silently. This was in itself a major concession.

She had forgotten about last night, sleepy as she still was. Carmen grabbed her ear, shocking and hurting her. “You didn’t clean up last night, did you? Today you sleep until seven. Now you don’t want to work? Do you want me to give you to the men?”

Lucy wrenched free, her ear throbbing, her heart pounding, her eyes wide. “How dare you!” Her tone broke. The memory of Carmen almost cutting off her braid with a knife last night came rushing back to her. And now she had mauled her. That another person should touch her so, should willfully hurt her … She was speechless.

“Start work!”

Lucy just stared, stunned and shaken. This woman was mad, she decided. Mad and dangerous. God! She didn’t want to go to Shoz, but she knew she needed protection from this witch. “Where is Shoz?” She started for the door at a run, but Carmen’s answer brought her to a halt.

“He is not here.” There was pleasure in her tone.

Lucy whirled. “What do you mean? You make it sound as if he has already left!”

“He has! He has gone with most of the men.” Slyly she said, “But he left two. To guard you. His instructions were clear. You are his prisoner, puta, and you are to help me. If you disobey me, you answer to me.

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