Page 155 of Haze of Obedience
I hug her, and she shakes but pulls back while wiping her face.
"What did they do to you?"
"Please, go back to your seat, so I don't get in more trouble."
"Tell me what happened."
"Please. I'm begging you."
There's so much pain in her eyes. I stay frozen, trying to figure out how to help her.
"Please," she pleas.
The bell rings, and she straightens her skirt and takes a deep breath before going back to the men.
The entire flight, I try to figure out how to help her and wait for another opportunity to talk to her, but it never comes.
The flight is quick, and when I leave, Mateo is behind me, so I can't even hug her. She has on her professional expression and tells me to have a nice time in Belize.
When I step off the plane, there is a car waiting for us, and I'm whisked away to the embassy hotel.
I change into my pre-performance cocktail dress. It's red—the same color Jonas' blood turned as it pooled at his feet. I know. It haunts me in my dreams each night.
When Dirk told me that I would have new demons to face, I didn't believe him. Jonas was evil, the devil himself, but killing him still created an emotional rollercoaster for me.
I don't regret it. I would do it again and wish I would have done it to every man who ever touched me.
But it doesn't absolve me from my sin.
Tonight, the party is to celebrate the new Ambassador to Mexico stationed in Belize, Eduardo Macias. I shudder thinking about him and what he did to me the last time I saw him. But that's only an illusion for the public. The real party is to celebrate the Mexican drug cartel leader, Jorge Cano.
And while Jonas won't be here, I already know who will, including the U.S. President, and the U.K. Prime Minister.
There are so many men I haven't seen in over a year, whom I never wanted to see again. I'll have to face all of them tonight.
I just don't know who is going to try to claim me as theirs.
I shudder and double-check that the box cut razor is in my purse. I decided it was smaller and easier to hide and dispose of if needed. I take it everywhere. So far, I haven't had to use it.
The day after I killed Jonas, I ordered a new knife set and disposed of the murder weapon in the sewer several kilometers from my apartment.
When I step out of my hotel room, Mateo steps off the elevator with Eduardo Macias.
"Zoe, I was just coming to get you. You'll be entertaining Senor Macias tonight," Mateo says, his dark, cold eyes checking every inch of me out.
My insides cringe. I force a smile. "Nice to see you again."
Eduardo leans down and kisses my cheek. The musky odor of his cologne consumes all the air in my lungs, and I try not to gag.
Before he can suggest we go back into my hotel room, I step into the elevator and push the button.
"Little eager to get to the party?" he says.
"Dying for a drink. And to celebrate your new position," I chirp.
I don't care for a drink, but I'll hold the damn thing all night and act like I'm excited if it gets me in public instead of alone with you.
As soon as I step into the ballroom, I run into Penelope. A tall man I don't recall stands next to her. I open my mouth to speak, but she kisses me on the cheek. "It's so nice to meet you, Ms. Diego. I'm a huge fan."
