"Wow. The sand is pink! I always thought it was a myth."
"Nope."
"This is amazing. Blaise, how did you find this place?"
"I got lucky."
"And you'll be happy to know it meets all your ocean swimming requirements," Dirk teases.
I'm still going to cling to your hard body.
We sit.
"So, what did we interrupt?" I ask.
"We were discussing the newest developments in the U.S."
My gut flips. "What's that?"
"The U.S. President proposed a few days ago to inject another $50 billion into the War on Drugs campaign. From what Vanessa and Hunter told us, my initial report on the Belizean politicians only touched the surface of what is going on," Naomi states.
"Then you know about the Global Leaders and how they are using the War on Drugs and entertainment industry to gain total power?"
A line forms between Naomi's brows. "We know about the War on Drugs. How does the entertainment industry fit into this?"
"They control all the messaging in the media. The songs people listen to, the movies they watch...it's all decided by them. Pop culture is a very integral part of developing what people think. I only made it to the top because of their power."
"That's not true. You belong there and should have gotten there before you switched managers," Dirk insists.
"Maybe, but we'll never know, will we?"
He snorts. "I know."
"Well, your opinion is the only one that counts," I tease.
"Yep."
Naomi claps her hands. "Stay focused, you two."
Dirk smiles, but then it falls. "Wait. We know why the President is trying to increase the budget."
"We do?"
"Yes." His eyes darken, and my stomach flips. "We need to tell them."
"Tell us what?" Andre asks.
I swallow the thick knot in my throat.
"We can trust them."
I nod. "You do it."
Dirk holds my hand. "Santiago Gómez is dead."
"We know," Andre states. "I killed him."
"You did?" I shriek.
He pulls Naomi into him. "Yes. After what he did to Naomi, I wasn't going to let that bastard live."
"I killed Jonas Torres," I blurt out.
Silence.
Dirk clears his throat. "When I rescued Zoe, I shot Jorge Cano and the Mexican Ambassador Eduardo Macias."
"Why?" Blaise asks.
"They touched Zoe."
Andre holds out his fist, and Dirk bumps it. Blaise whistles.
"So the three largest drug cartel leaders are dead, and the only one they've publicized is Santiago," I add.
"What would be their reason for that?" Andre asks.
Dirk squeezes my hand. "Zoe and I believe it's to take control of the Mexican and Belizean drug cartels."
Silence is deafening.
"And if they increase the War on Drugs budget..." The color in Naomi's face drains, and I get goosebumps.
"Their power escalates even quicker. They now have complete control of supply and demand."
The waves lapping on the shore is the only sound.
Andre paces. "We know how Naomi, Vanessa, and Zoe fit into this. How do Penelope, Julieta, and Emilia fit into it?"
"What did Axel say when you saw him?"
"He said they are all connected, and that immigration was accusing Penelope of being a spy."
"Could she be? She's back at the British embassy in Panama," Dirk points out.
I come to her defense. "No. She's a good person, and if she were a spy for any reason, it would be against the Global Leaders. She is as much a victim as any of us women. And her daughter is missing. Anything she is doing would be to get her back."
"You're right," Dirk agrees.
"She knows something. They see her as an asset somehow, or she wouldn't be back in Panama," Blaise points out.
"What about Julieta? Why do they need her? She's a flight attendant. What is the point of beating her up? Why don't they just kill her if she knows what they are doing?"
"If she—"
The doorbell chimes. "Sloane must be early. I'll get it," Blaise volunteers, and we go inside.
But it's not Sloane.
Julieta comes flying through the door with a little girl. "This is Millie, Penelope's daughter. Emilia saved her." Tears fall. "Please, we have to rescue Ryker."
Ready for Ryker and Julieta? Keep reading:)
Self-Sacrificing Love Doesn’t Happen Twice...But Then I Rescued Her...
Our baggage should keep us apart. But when a match is struck against the box, there’s no stopping the igniting of the flame.
She awakens the man I thought died. But there’s an animal in me and it’s not just carnal. He’s a sinner who takes rage and turns it into ruthlessness. Not on her, but anyone who tries to hurt her.
And when I fail to get her to safety, my captor gives me an option. But there’s only one choice.