Okay, it's not far-fetched. Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions.
I breathe through my nose, trying to remain calm, but my chest tightens. "I don't know. I didn't think to ask."
His silence adds to my anxiety.
"Why is this important?" I ask him.
"I'm not sure it is yet."
"Malin, please tell me whatever you know."
His face turns more neutral. "I haven't claimed to know anything."
More lies.
Malin tucks my hair behind my ear. "You don't have any idea why Santiago took you?"
I close my eyes, wanting his touch but grappling with what's happening right now. I sit back on his thighs. "I know nothing. Naomi said it was too dangerous for me to know anything. But she promised she would tell me in a few days when we get wherever we are going."
He turns to stare at the water.
He knows something. What is he hiding?
"Malin, please. Tell me what you know," I repeat.
"Your sister has information on Belizean politicians who are accepting money from the drug cartels."
My gut flips. I don't know anything about politics. It's never interested me. But I'm not so naive not to know this is dangerous information.
"She told you?"
He shakes his head. "I saw the hostage tape Santiago sent over. He made her demand the Belizean government return Santiago's brother, Nicolas, to Colombia. If they didn't, he claimed Naomi would release her story."
That's what she was doing when they sent me into the pit when I first got there.
"You said drug cartels. Who else does Naomi have dirt on?"
"She didn't say."
"But you know?"
He clenches his jaw.
"Malin, why are you lying to me?"
"I'm telling you what I can."
My insides quiver. "What you can?"
"Let's move on to another question." His words are final, as if there's no ability to argue.
When I don't respond, he quietly says, "Ask me something else, ma belle."
At least he's telling me some information. It's more than Naomi did.
I release a breath. "Why did we have to sneak out of camp?"
"Our perimeter team thinks we're delivering you where Interpol directed us. Andre didn't want them to risk their careers when there isn't anything they can do to help."
"Why are you all going against Interpol's direction? What is so dangerous that you're all willing to throw everything you've worked for away?"
"You're my target. It's my responsibility to get you to safety."
A knife stabs at my heart. I'm just a target to him.
God, I'm so naive.
Why did I expect differently? He can have any woman he wants.
"But why couldn't I go where Interpol directed?"
"It's not safe for you or any of the other women to go back to your home countries."
"Why?"
His thigh twitches under my body. "Everyone has different circumstances."
Another half answer.
"Does this have something to do with the Global Leaders?"
The color drains from his face. His eyes widen, and his voice makes the hairs on my arms stand. "Ma belle, where did you hear that term?"
"Why?"
"I need to know."
"Penelope. Before we left, she said something about your boss at Interpol being part of the Global Leaders. She...she seemed scared by it."
He speaks slowly. "Ma belle, are you positive she said that?"
"Yes. Why do you look like you're going to get sick?"
"Did Penelope say anything else?"
"No. I asked her who the Global Leaders were, and she asked me to drop it."
"Stay here. I need to make a phone call."
"To whom?"
"Don't move. I'll be right back."
"Malin—"
He possessively cups my face. "I need you to trust me, ma belle. No matter what anyone has hidden from you, or what you think right now, I need you to know in your heart that I'm making decisions for us based on things I know."
Us.
There is no us. He won't give me full disclosure.
I desire nothing more than to put my full faith in him. But I'm tired of being left in the dark. "How can I do that if you aren't honest with me?"
"I've been answering your questions."
"You've lied to me. Not once, several times," I cry out.
He sighs deeply. "Emilia—"
"What? I'm not your ma belle now that something important has come up?" My insides shake as I defy him, but I can't continue living my life backing down whenever anyone tries to hide reality from me.
His face hardens. "Don't question my feelings for you."
"I may not be wise in the world of relationships, but I won't stoop so low to let someone in my life who can't be honest with me."
"I'm telling you the truth."
"Half-truths."
He shifts on the rock.
I rise and go to the fire. "I won't live in the dark