don't have months. My daughter needs to be rescued," Penelope frets.
Axel cups her cheeks. "We'll find her."
"Tinker, you've gotta know someone else who can get us passports faster," Dirk says.
"Give me a minute. I need to make a phone call." He leaves the room.
"I can't go months. Who knows what they're doing to her," Penelope whispers as tears fall down her cheeks.
My heart breaks, and Dirk stands behind me and places his arm around my waist. I glance up at him, and he clenches his jaw. His heart beats hard in his chest.
"I promise you. We will find her," Axel reiterates then pulls her into his body while she cries.
The rest of us wait in silence. Tinker finally comes back into the room. "I have good news and bad news."
Dirk's body stiffens. "Lay it on us."
"My guy in Nicaragua has three passports. His supplies were coming from Honduras, so he thinks it will take a long time to get any more materials. But it's only a few hours away."
"There's four of us," I mutter.
"I have another option, but I don't think you'll like it."
"What is it?" Axel asks.
"My other guy in Valladolid, Mexico, has enough for all of you."
"Zoe isn't going back to Mexico. It's too dangerous."
"Mexico will take days, if not weeks depending on borders," Axel says.
Penelope puts her hands over her face.
“I have guys at the borders. It shouldn’t take longer than a few days.”
"Dirk and I will go to Mexico. You go to Nicaragua."
"Zoe! Did you not hear me say it's dangerous?"
"Penelope's daughter is missing. We can't wait around here for months, and I'm not going to make her wait to get resources she may need to find her daughter."
"I'm not saying that she should. I'm just..." Dirk blows out air and closes his eyes.
"Can you still get the contacts and hair dye?" I ask Tinker.
"Yes, ma'am. It's in the bag," he points to the table.
I pick it up and grab Penelope's hand. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"You're going to dye my hair before you leave. I'm not going to let Dirk near me with hair dye."
"Zoe—"
I let go of her hand. "Excuse me for being rude," I say then change to Spanish. "It's her daughter. We're adults."
Dirk speaks back in Spanish. "I want her daughter rescued as much as you do. But I won't allow you to put yourself in danger."
"You won't allow me?" I huff.
"Yeah."
I scoff. "You don't get to make all the choices."
"When it comes to your safety, I do."
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do."
Everyone stays quiet, watching Dirk and me.
He places his hand on my biceps. "Let's go outside."
"Fine. But you're going to apologize."
"I'm not apologizing."
"You will."
"Nope."
We get outside, and he shuts the door. We continue speaking in Spanish.
"What do you think you're doing, Zoe? You're recognized everywhere and especially Mexico. We need to get you out of Latin America right away."
"It's her daughter."
"I know. It's shitty, but she doesn't even know where she is."
"It's a five-year-old child who is probably petrified. Look what they did to me. What do you think they could be doing to her!"
He snaps his mouth shut and stares at me.
I hold his face. "I know you're trying to protect me, but that little girl needs her mother. If I have to take a risk for her to be rescued one-second sooner, then I will."
Dirk's face hardens, and he stares at the sky.
I lower my voice. "It's a tough situation, but I know what kind of man you are. When you take a step back, there isn't a choice. You already know what needs to happen here."
He continues to avoid me.
"Look at me."
He obeys.
I lower my voice. "What would you do if Millie were our child?"
He sighs. "I would scour the ends of the Earth until I found her then kill whatever bastard was involved."
"Penelope hasn't even had the chance to search for her. It's been over a year. She's missed her entire fourth year of life. This isn't even a choice for us."
"You told me you couldn't go to Mexico."
"No. I said not to turn me over to the Mexican government."
"That isn't what you said. You said, 'Don't let them send me back to Mexico.'"
I smile. "It's what I meant. But I'm glad you pay attention when I speak."