Page 184 of Risks of Temptation
How could I have been such a fool?
"Kneel," the President yells in Spanish, and Julieta obeys.
Roger's arrogance reappears. He turns to me. "I will break your wife tonight and every night after."
"You will never touch my wife."
"You're wrong. You'll see. Now move away from her."
I don't move.
Gustave barks, "Move away from Emilia."
Bernadette jumps and closes her eyes briefly.
I glare at him. "What is going on here?"
The President steps in front of me. "We had a deal. It's time to make good on your deal."
"Get out of my face," I seethe.
"Or what? I'm the most powerful man on the planet. You're in my room. These are my rules now. Move so she can kneel."
"Malin, step out of the way," Gustave repeats.
I scan the room. I have no gun. No knife. Nothing anywhere near me to use as a weapon. The only thing I have to protect Emilia with is my bare hands.
I push her several inches away from me. "If you come any closer to my wife, I will—"
"If anyone moves, your blood will be shed. Hands up, everyone," a man's voice snarls. His voice comes across distorted, like a voice synthesizer. Everyone puts their hands slowly in the air. I stand in front of ma belle, but I'm not sure where this man is.
Six men wearing black bodysuits, with their faces completely covered, step into the room. They all have Glocks with silencers on them. One of the men leads them and has a ring over his forehead. The front of it is a camera lens. A four-inch speaker hangs on his chest, like a necklace. None of the men speak.
"You will all follow my directions, or you will get shot. There will be no second chances," the distorted voice threatens.
"I'm the God damn President of the United States. Explain who you are right now," the President barks.
"If you don't shut up, my guy is going to put a bullet in your head. You get no other warning."
The President scowls. He always has his secret service at embassy events, but never in the embassy in D.C. Since he's on his turf, he leaves them at the door when he comes into the building, too arrogant to think anything could happen to him.
The voice continues to talk, and one of the men steps forward. "Take the women first."
The unidentified man grabs Julieta by the arm, and she begins to scream.
"Stop yelling," the voice demands.
Julieta only gets louder, as if she doesn't understand.
"She speaks Spanish," I yell. I'm not sure why Julieta isn't speaking English. My only assumption is maybe she's too traumatized.
The voice repeats, but in Spanish, and Julieta continues to shake but quiets.
"The other women. Now," the voice says, and two other men step forward. One grabs Bernadette's arm. Gustave does nothing to stop him.
Bernadette fearfully whispers, "Gustave," but he stares at her with the same neutral expression.
The other man moves toward Emilia, and I shield her again. "Do not touch her," I growl.
