and stinks like sweat.
Their hands were on it.
The faces of Santiago and his men, holding me and groping me pop up, and I shudder.
I glance around, and none of the other women are wearing bras or panties.
Because they don't have them.
Mine are dirty.
I pull the T-shirt over my head and put the pair of shorts on.
This is freeing.
The other women aren't facing me, and I quickly shove my bra and panties under the air mattress. I put on the socks and am tying my shoes when Penelope sits down, holding her stomach and appearing distraught.
"Are you okay?" I slide over and put my hand on hers.
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
"Penelope?" I quietly ask again.
She slowly turns.
"Your face is white as a ghost."
"I don't know what I'm doing," she whispers.
"About what?"
"My daughter... Axel..." She puts her hands over her face.
I scoot closer and put my arm around her. "What about Axel?"
"He...we...oh God," she whispers.
"You like him?"
She nods. "But I shouldn't. Millie is..." She closes her eyes, and tears drip down her cheeks.
She feels guilty.
Maybe it's the lifetime of guilt I deal with daily, but it pains me to see Penelope hurting. "One thing doesn't have anything to do with the other."
"What if being here puts Millie in more danger? I should go back to Santiago."
I hug her tighter. "What? No! Talk to Axel. I can speak to Malin, too. Maybe they can help you find her?"
"Axel knows. I told him. He said he would find her."
"That's good. I'm sure he will. If he says—"
"How do you know? We just met them and...she could be anywhere."
"They found us in the middle of the jungle."
"Because their boss at Interpol is part of the Global Leaders," she blurts out.
What is she talking about?
"Global Leaders? Who are they?"
"No one. Forget I said anything."
"Penelope—"
"I shouldn't have said anything. Please, drop it."
"Drop what?" Axel's voice rings in my ear.
She sits straighter and slowly turns. "Nothing."
He glances between us.
She stares at Axel. "Are we leaving?"
"Where are you going?" I ask.
"Ummm—"
"Emilia, I need to talk to you. Come with me." Naomi's eyes are glistening, and she looks distraught.
Why does she look like she's been crying?
"Are you okay?" I ask.
Naomi holds out her hand. "Yes. Come talk."
I take her hand, and we go to the corner of the tent, away from the others.
"What's going on?"
"We need to split up."
"What?" My pulse increases.
"Interpol wants Andre to deliver me to the U.S."
The hairs on my arms stand. "Why?"
She shakes her head. "I don't know. But they want everyone else to go to their home countries, and you can't stay in Belize."
Chills move through my spine. "Why not?"
She puts her hands on my shoulders. "I need you to trust me right now. I can't get into this. Malin is going to take you to safety. Andre will take me. We will meet up in a few days."
"What? Naomi, tell me what is going on. Enough of the secrets. You're scaring me."
She pulls me into her. "When we get to safety, I will tell you everything. I promise. I don't want to split up, but Andre said it's too dangerous to go in groups. Are you okay if you go with Malin?"
Tears form in my eyes. "You're making me think I'll never see you again."
She cups my cheeks. "We will. It's only a few days. I need to know if you're okay to go with Malin. You seem to be getting along, but..." Worry and the pity I see way too often fills her eyes.
I push my chin out. "I'm not a child. I'll be fine with Malin."
Surprise replaces her expression.
She thinks I'm going to freak out having to be with a man on my own.
Normally I would.
She nods. "Okay. That's great. I'll see you in a few days."
Tears fall from our eyes, and we hug tightly. "Please stay safe," I whisper.
"I will. You, too."
She rubs my back then freezes. She murmurs in my ear, "Are you not wearing a bra?"
"It's dirty and smells like sweat."
She pulls back and glances down at my chest.
"What? Don't get all judgy."
Her lips twitch. "I'm not."
"Did you want me to wear my stinky panties, too?"
She holds her hands in the air. "I'm not judging."
Andre and Malin come over. Andre puts his hand on Naomi's shoulder. "It's time to go."
We hug again, and she turns to Malin. "Please take care of her."
I groan inside. I'm not a child.
"I will," he adamantly states.
We embrace again and wipe our faces.
"I'll see you in a few days," I