Free Fat Louise by Jamie Begley

her bed. “Let’s go, then. You’re not leaving me a choice either way.”  
    Jane glared at her angrily before picking up a few of Bailey’s clothes, thrusting them into a small overnight bag. Then they went back through the kitchen.  
    “Wait,” Jane whispered, turning back to her sister.  
    “What?” Bailey asked.  
    “Do you have any candy bars?”  
    “Yes.”  
    “Get them and any other food you can.”  
    Bailey went to her cabinets. Several minutes later, she had placed a few items in a large cloth bag. She handed Jane the bag as they went out the door.  
    “You’re worried about a candy bar? I know you’re a food addict, but you’re freaking crazy.” Bailey threw her a scornful look which Jane ignored, holding the food items close to her chest.  
    “How are we going to get out of here?” Jane asked Cade, who was staring at both sisters contemptuously.  
    “I have a truck parked up ahead. I want to get as far away as we can before daylight.”  
    “You two go ahead. Show me the direction you’re headed, and I’ll catch up,” Jane told him.  
    “What? Where do you think you’re going?” Cade shifted his body closer to her.  
    “I’m going to release those women then catch up to you.”  
    “No, you’re not,” Cade informed her. “There’s no way you will be able to catch up to us.”  
    “I will.” Jane firmly took a step away from him. “I’m not leaving them behind. I’ll catch up.” She opened the palm of her hand, showing the key’s to Raul’s SUV that she had stolen from Bailey’s kitchen counter. She had seen the vehicle parked in the driveway.  
    “Look, I feel bad for them, too. But it’s either them or us.” Cade tried to sway her, but self-preservation had never been her strongest personality trait.  
    She took another step back. “I won’t leave them.”  
    “Dammit to hell. You’re going to get them and us killed.”  
    “I think they would prefer death to what they’re going through now,” Jane said sadly. “I’m sorry. You two go.”  
    “Fuck.” Cade pointed to a palm tree. “Bailey, go hide over there. We’ll be back in ten minutes.”  
    “Wait, you can’t leave me alone,” she wailed.  
    “Go!” Cade ordered.  
    Her sister fled at the cold hostility in his voice.  
    “Let’s do this.” He moved off into the darkness, and she followed, carefully trying to be as quiet as he was.  
    He stopped not far from where the guard was once again positioned in front of the small house. Another soldier had appeared since they had left, probably changing shifts.  
    “Stay here,” he ordered before stealthily moving closer to the men who weren’t paying attention as they talked to each other.  
    A sharp sound of something thrown had both men turning, leaving Cade the perfect opening to jump them from behind. He stabbed one in the back, bringing him down, before struggling with the other one for his rifle. Using the rifle strap, he strangled the soldier.  
    Jane bit back her scream of protest, reason telling her it was either the guards or the women. It was a no-brainer.  
    Jane ran forward when Cade motioned for her after looking through the window. He hid the soldiers at the side of the house while Jane slowly opened the door.  
    The large room held five women who started to scream when they saw her enter, but Jane spoke to them softly in Spanish to make them understand she was there to help them.  
    “Does anyone understand that I’m here to help?” Jane asked hopelessly when they remained on their beds. She saw she wasn’t getting through to them. They were too traumatized from their recent attack.  
    “I do.” A woman with her face bruised and bloodied stood. Jane knew instantly it was the woman Raul had drug back.  
    “Great. Tell them I’m going to help them escape, but we have to be very quiet. I … I can’t promise you we’ll make it, so if they aren’t sure, they should stay here.”  
    The woman