Page 47 of Cavern of Silence
She opens her eyes. So much agony fills them. "Zoe was sick."
"Zoe Diego?"
"Yes."
"She was with Jonas?"
"Not willingly." She puts her hands on her face and breathes deeply a few times. "I tried to help her, but she was unconscious when the flight landed. Jonas was high and crazy, like always. He blamed me when Zoe didn't wake up."
"Then what happened?"
"He dragged me into the Belizean embassy. I begged the security officers to help me, but they all looked the other way." Another tear falls down her cheek, and I swipe it away.
"The embassy didn't help you?"
"No. Everyone is under the Global Leaders' control."
I need to find out more about these Global Leaders, but I want to know the rest of what happened to her, so I don't ask.
"Jonas keeps a suitcase of torture tools with him. He yanked me into the kitchen, had the chef boil the metal plates in water, then ripped my shirt off. Several men held me down while he did it."
Anger and revenge like I've never felt swirl in my bones.
I will kill him.
She sobs. "He made me repeat that night, and any other night I've seen him since, that he owns me. And he does."
I hold her as close as I can. "No, baby. He doesn't own you."
"He does. He always will."
"Shh. No. I won't let him ever come near you again."
"You can't stop him. The Global Leaders... I shouldn't have allowed you to come with me. I've put you in danger now, too."
"No. Nothing is going to happen to you or me."
"But they are everywhere."
I cup her cheeks. "I will protect you, Julieta."
She quietly says, "I want to believe you can."
"I will," I promise and kiss her.
She runs her fingers through my hair. "How long were you and your wife married?"
"Twenty years."
She smiles. "You had a good marriage?"
"We had our challenges. Maureen was sick for fifteen years. But overall, yes."
"What kind of cancer did she have?"
I swallow the knot in my throat. "Breast and ovarian."
"How did you meet?"
