Page 94 of Emerald

Anna ushers us back toward the pink velvet sofas like the perfect host and takes a seat. “Now tell me how the hell you ended up in Mexico.”

So, for the next hour I explain to Anna about everything that I’ve been through, about The Bratva, about Dmitri, Zoe and Grace, my brother and her father. That I am on a quest to find the jewels that had been scattered around the world. And that one of them led me here. Anna was horrified and demanded I let her know who it was and that she would help me rescue her. I asked her about the women downstairs and she said they are hired prostitutes, they are not trafficked women, they get to go home at night with their wallets full. She doesn’t like it, but it is the cartel’s way and as a woman she has no say in the men’s matters. I then explain to her about what Manuel does and she seems surprised.

“This is the first I’m hearing of this. I will investigate it for you,” she assures me.

I ask her questions about her life and she explains everything. That her job was to become Pedro’s wife and to make herself his right-hand man in essence so she could find out the inner workings of the cartel for the agency.

“How can you sleep with your husband?” I shiver.

Anna bursts out laughing. “Thankfully, he doesn’t bother me too much because he is always being entertained by the women downstairs which leaves me to my own devices. Plus, his son is hot and satisfies me.”

“You’re sleeping with his son? Anna, that is dangerous. If he finds out he will kill you.”

She grins. “He knows. Pedro can’t have any more kids since surviving testicular cancer last year. When he was going for treatment for the cancer, he wrote in his will that Domingo is his rightful heir and the future leader of the cartel if he died. He would inherit everything and that would include his wife.” I’m shocked. “He suggested that his son should try to impregnate me while he was away getting treatment incase anything should happen. It would show anyone who thought Pedro’s legacy was weak due to him being sick. What my husband didn’t know was that Domingo and I have been having an affair since the moment I arrived. Before anything happened with his father.”

“You love Domingo?”

“You can’t love anyone in this job, but he makes the ruse easier.” She shrugs.

“And Pedro is okay with sharing you with Domingo?”

“Once a month he allows it when I am ovulating.” She smirks over the rim of her champagne glass.

“Is he not suspicious that you’re not pregnant yet? You’re not pregnant, are you?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “Of course not. I have an implant, there is no way I am getting knocked up especially not to this family. I never want kids. I’ve witnessed too much human depravity to want to bring kids into the world. Wouldn’t you agree?” she asks me.

“Hadn’t thought about it.”

“You would want to bring kids into all this?” Anna asks.

“No,” I answer sternly as my mind wanders to Nash. Does he want kids?Where the hell did that come from?I like Nash. I want to keep spending time with him but marriage and babies? The thought sends a cold shiver down my spine. I’m too broken to be responsible for creating a new life, I’d only mess it up if I did. “There are too many monsters in this world.”

“Agreed. It would take us two lifetimes to rid the world of them all,” she states, taking a sip of her champagne. “So, what’s the plan now that you’ve found me again?”

“Ideally, you would come back to Ibiza with me and with as many girls as we can rescue. Your father would be so happy to see you again,” I tell her.

“I miss him so much,” she says, staring down at her champagne. “I don’t know if I can go with you, though. Pedro will hunt me down, he’s a cruel man. I would be putting you and everyone in danger. Plus, I am still on an active mission.”

“Can you tell them you’ve been compromised? They can extract you,” I explain to her.

Anna nods. “It’s a lot. I never thought I would be able to go back to my normal life until now,” she says, giving me a smile. I reach out and squeeze her hand.

“Now that I’ve found you again, I never want to let you go.”

“Me either,” she says, “I might need some time, but I’ll come up with a plan.”

“Everything is going down at the gala next week, I’m going to be taking the girls that night. I have a helicopter ready on standby now in Tulum and a jet waiting for us in Cancun.”

“I’ll make sure Pearl is there, somehow,” Anna asks.

“Not sure if it makes a difference, but Pearl was given to Domingo as a twenty-first birthday present.”

Anna stills. “I didn’t know that.”

“She was at the sex party Manuel took me to last week, and she will be at the after-party of the gala,” I explain.

Anna nods. “Leave it to me, I will know how to find her.” I relax, Pearl is going to be safe. “Do you have a number while you’re here?” she asks.

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