Page 59 of Look for Me

He even said a prayer for Flavian’s salvation.

Chapter Twenty-Six

If there was one thing that Flavian had taught Corinne, it was to use guile to get her way. Flavian had thought that she might become an able confidant to him in his business and activities. Little did he know that she would become an FBI informer, leave him, and take his only child with her.

Lying there on her prison bed, awake just before dawn, Corinne stared at the small slit of a window where morning light was crawling in across the ceiling.

She longed for freedom.

“Set us free, Lord Jesus.” Her whispered prayer rose up to heaven. “I don’t want to live in fear like this the rest of my life. I want to be free to take Dahlia to school, to church, anywhere, without looking over my shoulders. Thank You, Lord, for the brief freedom in Key Largo. I pray that You’ll give us more of it—of sunshine, a yard to play in, beaches to walk on…”

Corinne touched her belly. Someone else’s baby was in there—

No, my baby.

“You’re mine now, little one. I’m your mommy.”

But neither Dahlia nor the unborn baby would have a father. Corinne shifted position on the bed, and a tear streamed down her eye.

Regardless of how many people Flavian had killed, Corinne would have to admit that he had been a good father to Dahlia the first two years of their daughter’s life.

Someday, if she ever saw Flavian again…

No.

How quickly have I forgotten all the people Flavian had killed to get to those diamonds?

Now, Nikos might kill her and Dahlia just to get to Flavian—if he hadn’t already. Unfortunately, whether Flavian was dead or alive, there was no way Nikos could get to half the diamonds.

Because I have given them to the FBI.

Corinne had no idea what time it was, but she knew that in the last three days, someone came to escort her to breakfast shortly after dawn. Nikos was either an early riser or he didn’t sleep at night.

She prayed for strength at what she was about to do. Before she could finish praying, she heard footsteps outside the door. Boots on cement or whatever the hallway floor was made of.

No doubt they had come to take her to breakfast. This time she told herself to be brave enough to ask for a shower and clean clothes.

She heard the key turn on the other side of the door.

She prayed again.

She half-expected that Miss Executioner would come for her, but this wasn’t her job. Usually a couple of guards would escort her out of here. They’d go up one flight of stairs, and walk down a wide hallway to an airy room overlooking the bay.

She didn’t remember seeing any boat docks outside, but if she could take Dahlia outside, she could try to find a boat to get off the island. Or wait until one arrived.

But first, she had to get out of her cell.

She sat up on her bed. That way, she wouldn’t arouse suspicions. Didn’t want the guards to think she was too eager about a potential plan or something.

As soon as the guard opened the door, Corinne spoke. “Is there anywhere I can take a shower?”

The guard stared at her.

“I also need clean clothes since I’ve worn this for four days.”

The guard said nothing, as if stunned by something.

“Please ask Nikos for me, will you?” Corinne realized then that if she had been in this position three years ago, she would have flashed a bare thigh or shoulder. Flavian’s men would bow immediately, especially Slam and Slime, so easily bought.

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