Page 49 of Guarding Zuri
“Thank you,” Daemon and Zuri said in unison.
Daemon slapped the driver on the back of the shoulder and thanked him for giving them a private tour. The man said it wasn’t a problem at all; he was already at the park doing inventory and jumped at the chance to drive around.
The jeep started forward. Rows of trees creating a shadowy canopy lined the entrance to the park. The jeep followed the signs next to the gravel trail that would bring them to areas where animals roamed.
“Are there any preserves in Bendola?” Daemon asked.
“No,” Zuri said flatly. “President Gohi doesn’t have any environmental policies aimed at the preservation of our land, nor the animals.”
“Bendola has some gorgeous views. It’s a shame land isn’t preserved.”
“Before Gohi, my father told me, Bendola had nature preserves where cheetahs and elephants were protected from game hunters. He said older people can tell stories of herd movements. Then Gohi stole the presidency. He sold the animals to foreign dignitaries—people with a lot of money who could afford to hunt elephants. When Gohi is out of office, I hope the new government will make land preservation a priority.”
“And protect your animals. Allow the herds to regrow and populate the land you have.” His elbow brushed against her side. “That’ll be up to you.”
She gave him a slanted look. “Me?”
“Yes, you. You’ll be running the country.”
“I don’t think so. We haven’t won the fight. Gohi is still president and—”
“And Gohi’s days are numbered. Then you will be Bendola’s next president.”
Zuri shook her head. She switched on her fan and turned away. She wasn’t prepared for that reality. Her father was supposed to be president. He was the logical choice. But Gohi killed him.Shot him down like an animal.
Zuri blinked away the tears that burned at the back of her eyes. She couldn’t afford to grieve yet. Because when she did, she expected to break down. The grief process took time; time she didn’t have now.
“You don’t think you’ll be president?”
“I want to be part of the government, that I know. But president?” She looked at him as though he had lost his mind. “People barely see me as the resistance leader. They may even believe they’re exchanging one dictator for another. How can I lead a whole country?”
“Stop. You’re still the resistance leader and you know it. People are behind you. Don’t let fear talk you out of destiny. You mentioned purpose earlier. Every time I watch you talk about Bendola, I canfeelit in your spirit that your purpose—your destiny—is to lead that country. Purpose energizes you, like it did my mother. Like it does my father.”
“We’ve discussed my destiny. What about yours?”
“Oh, no. We’re not talking about me.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re far more interesting.”
“Do you find energy in flying around in private jets or sailing high-tech yachts?”
Daemon grinned. “It’s thrilling, yes.”
“What about protecting people?”
Daemon grew quiet, his gaze looking across the grassy expanse. “If I were honest with myself, protecting people leaves me disappointed. Like I’m trying to prove something that no one will believe.”
“You can’t bring them back,” Zuri whispered and squeezed his upper arm.
“You can’t.”
“What about being the heir to a wealthy industrial business?”
“That’s a destiny I’m not sure I want.”
“But you can do so much good with it.”
