Page 52 of Stains of Desire
She hugs me. "What? No! Talk to Axel. I can speak to Malin, too. Maybe they can help you find her?"
"Axel knows. I told him. He said he would find her."
Emilia smiles. "That's good. I'm sure he will. If he says—"
"How do you know? We just met them and..." I swallow the lump in my throat. "She could be anywhere."
"They found us in the middle of the jungle."
"Because their boss at Interpol is part of the Global Leaders," I blurt out, not thinking about who I'm talking to. Emilia doesn't know anything. Naomi had dirt on politicians in Belize accepting funds from drug cartels. She doesn't know the real story.
Emilia's face scrunches. "Global Leaders? Who are they?"
"No one. Forget I said anything."
"Penelope—"
"I shouldn't have said anything. Please, drop it."
"Drop what?" Axel's voice rings in my ear.
I sit straighter and slowly turn. "Nothing."
He glances between Emilia and me.
"Are we leaving?" I ask.
"Where are you going?" Emilia asks.
"Ummm—"
"Emilia, I need to talk to you. Come with me." Naomi's eyes are glistening, and she looks distraught.
"Are you okay?" Emilia asks.
She forces a smile and holds out her hand. "Yes. Come talk."
They move to the corner of the tent, and Axel sits next to me. He puts his hand on my cheek. "What's wrong, Penelope?"
I'm a firefly, lighting up by his simple gesture, and I inhale sharply, feeling guilty again about my attraction toward him when Millie is missing. "I need to find Millie. I can't risk her being in more danger since I'm not with Santiago. I need to go back."
Darkness floods his eyes, and his face hardens. "Over my dead body will you return to Santiago."
"My daughter—"
"I will find her. You have my word."
"They might kill her, since I'm no longer there. I shouldn't have stayed here. I'm making bad choices."
His expression softens. "What bad choices are you referring to?"
I turn away, not able to look at him.
He turns my chin back toward him and lowers his voice. "Me?"
My insides shake. I'm too afraid to speak.
He leans closer. His voice is so quiet, I have to pay close attention to hear. "I told you I respond to no and stop. If I've done anything you aren't comfortable with, you need to tell me."
