I stroke her back. "You weren't supposed to be here."
She freezes. "What do you mean?"
"Santiago had a reason for every woman in that pit."
Fear fills her face. "What do I have to do with this?"
"I don't know. Before I left France, I saw all the women's folders, except yours. Santiago wasn't supposed to kidnap you. Naomi's abduction occurred when I got on the plane."
Anger replaces her fear. "You knew about it?"
"Only a few hours before it happened. I didn't know about any of the women until then. When I got to Belize, Kalim gave me your folder. I should have had Julieta's. She was my target. Ryker wasn't supposed to be here and showed up after Andre arrived."
"What did the other guys say about there being six of us instead of five?"
My heart beats faster. "They didn't know anything until they got to Belize, including the fact I knew anything before them."
Goose bumps pop out on her skin.
I rub my hands over her arms. "Louis plays both sides of the Global Leaders. Santiago told him his plan to get his brother, Nicolas, back. Louis gave Gustave five folders for me, and the list of which of our team members would be present. Ryker wasn't on the list. Kalim arrived in Belize with six folders before I got here. Louis had to have known. The entire time I've been here, I've been trying to figure out how this mistake could happen, but nothing added up. The only conclusion I kept coming to involved Louis not being who I thought he was."
A group of bats' high-pitched shrieks fill the air and Emilia jumps. I rub her back reassuringly, wondering what's going through her mind. "The bats aren't close."
She releases a breath. "Why would Louis hide me? I don't understand. I know nothing. I'm boring."
I push my hand through her hair on the side of her head. "Stop saying you're boring."
"I am."
"No, you've just been sheltered. That doesn't equate to boring."
Her face hardens. "It does in my opinion."
"I'm the farthest thing from sheltered, and I disagree."
She looks away, not believing me. I lean into her ear and in French murmur, "If you want a worldly experience, little girl, I'll show you one."
Her face grows hotter, heating my cheek, but she turns and glares at me. "You called me a little girl again."
"I thought we already went over the fact I'm a dirty old man regarding you?"
Her blush deepens.
"What else do you understand when I speak to you in French?" I ask.
"Not a lot. I always wanted to learn it."
"Yeah?"
She nods.
In French, I say, "Do you understand all the dirty things I say about my cock?" I raise my eyebrows. "Hmm?"
"Am I supposed to answer? I can't translate whatever you just said besides the words 'you' and 'dirty'."
I'm not sure if I'm relieved or disappointed in that. Part of me wonders if she'd be into talking filthy.
Probably not. She's sweet and innocent.
I kiss her jaw then brush my lips against hers.
She slides her hand through my hair. "Malin, something is bugging me."
"What, ma belle?"
She scrunches her face. "Why did Santiago take me? If I wasn't on the list?"
"I'm trying to figure out why, but the only conclusion I can come to is that you were a weapon to be utilized against Naomi."
She stares at the fire for a few moments.
What's going through your head, ma belle?
She turns back. Anger blazes in her eyes.
"Did I upset you?"
"Even Santiago can see I have no value other than making my sister worry more."
My jaw twitches. "You shouldn't want Santiago to see anything about you. It's good if he doesn't see you as anything else."
She turns to the fire and, in tiny movements, shakes her head.
"Ma belle—"
"I'm so tired of my life not being valuable."
I cup her cheek and force her to focus on me. "Your life is valuable. Don't ever say that again."
"It's not. I've not done anything of significance. All the women in the pit had important careers. My sister was trying to stop corruption. You...you rescue people and are risking your life to stop a horrible reality from coming to fruition. What do I do? Nothing."
"You aren't being fair to yourself."
She jabs my chest with her index finger. "You say that, but you don't live my life."
"I live in a pit of sin. Trust me. You don't want it."
She glares, and every bone in my body freezes. "How do you know?"