"We had to drug her. It won't have any long-term effects. No one can see her face until you get on the next plane." She pulls the blanket down and repositions her in her arms.
Julieta's hand flies to her face. "She looks just like Penelope."
Emilia's eyes glisten. "Yes. She is very sweet."
"Is she scared?"
"She was at first. I showed her a picture of Penelope, and she cried and kept saying, 'I want my mummy.'" Emilia pulls another bag out of her oversized one. "Take this. The picture is in it."
"She won't need a picture. Axel and Penelope were at the airport when Ryker and I got abducted," Julieta insists.
My gut flips. "Penelope is back at the embassy in Panama."
Julieta's face crumples. "What? No."
"She is. It's why we can't save Ryker right now. Andre will know what to do to rescue Ryker. But tell Andre to message Kalim to back off," I tell her.
"Kalim? What do you mean?"
"Julieta, we can't get into anything. Just tell Andre," I say.
The car stops. A plane sits several feet in front of us.
"That's our ride," Gustave says.
Emilia hesitantly hands Millie to Julieta and wraps the blanket around her so only her pink shoes are displayed. She hugs Julieta. "Give Naomi a hug for me. Do not let her go against my wishes. Promise me."
Julieta nods. "I'll make sure. Will I see you soon?"
"We hope so," Emilia replies.
I kiss Julieta's forehead. "Stay safe. Don't forget to tell Andre everything I told you."
"I won't."
Gustave and Julieta get out. As soon as the door shuts, I pull ma belle into my arms. Tears are flowing down her cheeks.
"I'm happy she's going to be back with Penelope, really, I am. I'm just going to miss her."
"I know, ma belle. The end is near. I want nothing more than to take you to Bermuda and see everyone."
Emilia snuggles further into me. "I'm tired."
"You can sleep on the plane. Bernadette is already there waiting."
Emilia looks up. "Where are we going?"
"The embassy in Mexico. Gustave will meet us tomorrow night."
But he never does. Almost a month passes when I get a call from him.
"Louis is dead. So are Evandro and William. Ryker has been rescued."
I sigh in relief, but then my gut drops when he tells me the rest of the message. I hang up the phone.
Emilia comes out of the bathroom in towels wrapped on her head and body. She puts her arms around me. "What's wrong, my gorgeous husband?"
"We have to leave."
"Where to?"
I swallow hard. "To D.C. The President is gifting his son a woman tomorrow night."
Emilia's eyes widen. "We are going to spend the evening in the room?"
"Yes. There is no way around it."
31
Emilia
Malin kisses me. "Wake up, ma belle. We're here."
I open my eyes. Bernadette is waiting near the front of the plane. Malin has my bag over his shoulder.
D.C.
The room.
The President will be here.
I slowly sit up.
"Are you all right, ma belle?" Malin furrows his eyebrows.
I force a smile. "Just groggy."
"Do you want me to carry you?"
I softly laugh. "Think I can walk."
He winks and holds out his hand.
My husband is so hot.
I rise. "Hey, Malin."
"Yes?"
"Will we know when Millie and Julieta have arrived safely?"
Malin nods. "Gustave should be here tomorrow night. He will not leave until they are safe with the others."
I take a deep breath. "Okay." I didn't realize how attached I would get to Millie. It broke my heart every time she cried for Penelope. I don't know how Santiago could be so cruel as to take a child away from her mother.
He's no different from the President.
I shiver.
"Ma belle, are you cold?"
"No. I'll be okay."
We get off the plane and into the car. Within minutes, we are at the embassy. My gut flips.
Since Malin told me we were coming here, I can't get the President's eyes out of my mind. Or his stale breath and voice growling in my ear, "Your mouth will be on my cock soon."
Malin keeps his arm around my waist tightly, guiding me through the building.
It's the same apartment. And nothing has changed. I don't know why I go directly to the bedroom suite Bernadette trained me in, but I do. Then I stand in front of the wall with the eyes.
"Ma belle, what are you doing?" Malin asks. "We don't need to stay in this suite. There is another bedroom."
I drop my purse. "No. We are staying here."
He steps in front of me. "Why?"
"Because he will not break me this time."
Malin closes his eyes, inhales deeply, then opens