Page 136 of Risks of Temptation

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Malin shakes his head. "I'm not sure. I wish I could prepare you better."

"I'll be next to you the entire time, correct?"

"Yes."

"Do the same rules apply? No one can touch me except you unless you permit them?"

"Yes. Always."

"Who will be there?"

"The man you met downstairs and—"

"How does he know Penelope?"

"She worked for him. They had a relationship."

I shudder. I can't imagine her with that man. "She was forced into it?"

"My guess would be yes."

My insides quiver. I stare out the window.

"Ma belle, what else is wrong?"

I promised Penelope I wouldn't tell anyone.

I also promised her I would help her find her daughter.

"I...ummm... I think I should tell you something."

"What?"

"Before we left the camp, Penelope told me Santiago didn't just kidnap her."

Malin's eyes darken. "What do you mean?"

"She has a daughter. She'd be five now. Santiago took her a few days after she got to his compound."

"Her daughter wasn't listed on the paperwork."

"Why wouldn't she be?" I ask.

"William only reported Penelope missing, or Louis intentionally removed her."

My heart hurts thinking about her little girl. "Her name is Millie. Penelope said Axel promised he would look for her."

Malin's face hardens. "I will talk to Gustave about this, and we will try to find out where she is."

"Do you think Santiago is hurting her?"

His voice lowers. "I hope not."

There's another knock.

"Come in," Malin says.

Bernadette steps in. "There are two carts of clothes. Should I wheel them in?"

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