Page 120 of Haze of Obedience

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"Zoe isn't going back to Mexico. It's too dangerous."

"Mexico will take days, if not weeks depending on borders," Axel says.

Penelope puts her hands over her face.

“I have guys at the borders. It shouldn’t take longer than a few days.”

"Dirk and I will go to Mexico. You go to Nicaragua."

"Zoe! Did you not hear me say it's dangerous?"

"Penelope's daughter is missing. We can't wait around here for months, and I'm not going to make her wait to get resources she may need to find her daughter."

"I'm not saying that she should. I'm just..." Dirk blows out air and closes his eyes.

"Can you still get the contacts and hair dye?" I ask Tinker.

"Yes, ma'am. It's in the bag," he points to the table.

I pick it up and grab Penelope's hand. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"You're going to dye my hair before you leave. I'm not going to let Dirk near me with hair dye."

"Zoe—"

I let go of her hand. "Excuse me for being rude," I say then change to Spanish. "It's her daughter. We're adults."

Dirk speaks back in Spanish. "I want her daughter rescued as much as you do. But I won't allow you to put yourself in danger."

"You won't allow me?" I huff.

"Yeah."

I scoff. "You don't get to make all the choices."

"When it comes to your safety, I do."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do."

Everyone stays quiet, watching Dirk and me.

He places his hand on my biceps. "Let's go outside."

"Fine. But you're going to apologize."

"I'm not apologizing."

"You will."

"Nope."

We get outside, and he shuts the door. We continue speaking in Spanish.

"What do you think you're doing, Zoe? You're recognized everywhere and especially Mexico. We need to get you out of Latin America right away."

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