Page 159 of Risks of Temptation
"It's so populated here," I comment.
Bernadette nods. "Yes. And very dangerous. I would never go anywhere without Gustave. He only left me to come on my own since Malin would be with me."
Time seems to morph together. Gustave doesn't arrive for weeks. Bernadette frets, but Malin is in constant communication with him and tries to ease her worry.
There is a scheduled event at the Belizean embassy. Malin informs Bernadette and me that Gustave will meet us there.
When we get to the Belizean embassy, we go directly to our apartment and eat lunch. I start to feel sick but get dressed to go.
"Ma belle, you look green," Malin says and puts his hand on my forehead. "You feel like you have a fever."
I run to the bathroom and get sick. Malin sends for the doctor who tells me I have food poisoning. Malin stays with me. Bernadette and Gustave go downstairs to the party.
A few hours in, I'm sitting on the couch with Malin. He has a cold washcloth on my forehead. Gustave and Bernadette rush through the door.
"There was a shooting. Zoe Diego was singing, and the lights went out. Jorge Cano and Eduardo Macias are dead."
"Is Zoe okay?" I cry out. I didn't even know she would be at the party.
"No one has seen her. It's like she disappeared," Bernadette replies.
Malin takes my hand. "And Dirk hasn't surfaced?"
"No."
"Then my money is on him."
Silence fills the air.
Malin finally says, "So Jonas Torres is the only drug lord left?"
Gustave's voice drops. "I'm not sure. There is something else."
"What?"
"Jonas has not been seen in weeks. He should have been at the event and was not. Jonas's brother, Evandro, seems to have taken over leadership of the cartel."
"But no announcement has been made?"
"No."
"What does Louis know?" Malin asks.
"He claims nothing."
Gustave and Bernadette fly to Colombia with Penelope and William. I want to go with them, but Malin says it's too dangerous for me to be with Penelope.
We wait in Belize, never leaving the apartment.
"I'm starting to feel like our life is meant to be spent in embassy apartments," I say to Malin one day.
"I'm sorry, ma belle. You deserve better than this."
I straddle him. "I'm not complaining. I was just making an observation."
He sighs. "But you should not have to deal with this."
I stroke his cheek. "I told you that wherever you are is where I want to be. While I prefer France, this is better than not being with you."
