Page 13 of The Forbidden Secret

But the night we had shared felt different.

I had been so consumed by the throws of lust and passion that I hadn’t bothered to look at the situation logically. And Zeke? He had no idea that he had left me with a pregnancy.

I didn’t doubt that leaving women like that was common for him, and those antics—the lack of responsibility or awareness of possible consequences—drove my decision.

I wouldnottell him about Beatrice.

But I still had to make sure she was okay.

A few minutes before Zeke planned to go out to check the perimeter, I moved toward the small kitchen beside the front door. I opened the fridge and the cupboards, finding them nearly empty. I grabbed a can of peaches and a fork, waiting for the telltale sign of his approach.

And when he finally did come, I moved.

I slammed my body into his chest, reaching for him as if to correct my balance. My fingers slipped into his pocket, and I intentionally dropped the peaches as I slid the phone free and tucked it into my own back pocket swiftly.

His expression showed no sign of noticing as he placed a hand at my waist, holding my wrist as if to keep me upright with his grip.

“Jesus, I’m so sorry,” I told him, mumbling something else about being clumsy before grabbing the can of peaches from the floor—unopened, thankGod—and rushing off into the back bedroom.

I didn’t allow him even a moment to reply, and as I pressed my ear to the door, I finally heard the distinct sound of him leaving the apartment. I peeked outside, glancing around to be sure, before I dialed the number I knew by heart.

It rang a handful of times before a familiar voice answered. “Hello?”

“Maggie,” I said with a deep exhale. “It’s me.”

She gasped. “Jesus, Evelina. Where have you been? I’ve been trying to call you for weeks. I thought you either died or fled the country, my God. What the hell? Are you okay?”

“I don’t have long, and I have a lot I need to tell you. How is she?”

“Beatrice is doing great. She laughs and coos constantly. Evelina, whereareyou?”

The sound of general frustration in her tone sent my heart racing. I couldn’t blame her. I hadn’t sent her any financial support or help, and I had all but disappeared off the face of the earth. I wondered what she thought about all of it.

“You didn’t call the police, did you?”

“I know your situation, Babe.”

I exhaled a long breath. She knew all about my father and his… occupation, and I had never felt so grateful to have told her the truth of it all. I didn’t doubt they would have come and taken my daughter if Maggie had called them.

“Good,” I said through an exhale. “Listen, Maggie. I’m in a bad situation. I need time to sort through it.”

I went on to tell her everything about my father and the human trafficking debacle. I told her about the women I had met there and the ones who had never returned. I didn’t mean to give her all the details, but they slipped out before I could stop them. I did not have anyone to confide in about the situation. I had Zeke, but he seemed more interested in keeping a distance than listening to what had happened.

But it lingered.

Their faces and everything I had seen in that place settled deep inside of me, and letting it out felt like a welcomed reprieve.

Maggie’s comforting presence on the other end of the line was all that held me together. She had always been that way. She had spotted my artwork before I dreamed of selling it or making a name for myself, and she had insisted on representing me as a talent specialist even before I believed in myself.

From there, she had become the best friend I could have ever asked for.

“Oh my God, Eve,” she whispered in disbelief. “I—I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”

“I just need you to keep Beatrice until I can get somewhere safe and away from this man who is hunting me. Is she safe there?”

The long pause had my spine straightening. “She is.”

But she didn’t sound confident.

---