She nods, slips her hand in her pocket, and pulls out a familiar keychain.

I smile.

She puts it back in the pocket. “Can I use the bathroom real quick?”

I nod. “Over there.”

"BRB,” she says almost cheerily. She goes into the bathroom. I wonder what’s going on when a few minutes later, she returns and when she does, I notice instead of the bulky sweater and jeans she had on when she walked in here, she’s wearing a pair of black leggings and a Henley.

“I didn’t figure you’d want to leave in a hospital gown,” she says.

“You thought of everything.”

“It was Abel mostly. Shocking.”

“Is he outside?”

She shakes her head. “He dropped me off down the street just in case. You probably want to get going. Abel left an address to a safe house in the glove compartment. And there’s a cell phone in the car. Maybe you can call me when you get out of here?”

“A safe house?”

She nods. “I don’t know what’s going on, but you don’t look good, Ivy.”

“I’ll be okay,” I tell her. “The guard?”

“Go get changed. When you’re ready, I’ll cause some commotion. Pull a fire alarm maybe. I’ve always wanted to do that. When you get out, make a left out of the room. The stairs at the end of the hall are unlocked.” She studies me. “Do you think you can get there on your own?”

“I don’t look that bad, do I?”

“No, of course not,” she says, her voice a little too high. It’s a lie. I must look like hell. “But we should hurry probably.”

I get up, and while my sister stands guard, I enter the bathroom and change into the clothes she brought, thinking there’s no way this will work. And even if it does, Santiago will find me. Even if I get out of the hospital or manage to get to the safe house, he won’t just let me walk away. Especially not now. But maybe I have to trust my brother. Maybe he’ll come through, and finally, do the right thing for us. His family.

I think about Dad. Wonder where he is. How he is.

“Ivy?” My sister knocks.

“I’m ready,” I say, slipping my feet into the ballet slippers she brought.

“You look better already,” she says and hurries to the nightstand. “Don’t forget the Snickers.” I have to laugh when she shoves them into my pockets, then pulls me in for a hug. “Please call me as soon as you’re at the safe house, okay? Please don’t forget.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Give me a two-minute head start.”

“Okay.”