Page 169 of Risks of Temptation
"She was at first. I showed her a picture of Penelope, and she cried and kept saying, 'I want my mummy.'" Emilia pulls another bag out of her oversized one. "Take this. The picture is in it."
"She won't need a picture. Axel and Penelope were at the airport when Ryker and I got abducted," Julieta insists.
My gut flips. "Penelope is back at the embassy in Panama."
Julieta's face crumples. "What? No."
"She is. It's why we can't save Ryker right now. Andre will know what to do to rescue Ryker. But tell Andre to message Kalim to back off," I tell her.
"Kalim? What do you mean?"
"Julieta, we can't get into anything. Just tell Andre," I say.
The car stops. A plane sits several feet in front of us.
"That's our ride," Gustave says.
Emilia hesitantly hands Millie to Julieta and wraps the blanket around her so only her pink shoes are displayed. She hugs Julieta. "Give Naomi a hug for me. Do not let her go against my wishes. Promise me."
Julieta nods. "I'll make sure. Will I see you soon?"
"We hope so," Emilia replies.
I kiss Julieta's forehead. "Stay safe. Don't forget to tell Andre everything I told you."
"I won't."
Gustave and Julieta get out. As soon as the door shuts, I pull ma belle into my arms. Tears are flowing down her cheeks.
"I'm happy she's going to be back with Penelope, really, I am. I'm just going to miss her."
"I know, ma belle. The end is near. I want nothing more than to take you to Bermuda and see everyone."
Emilia snuggles further into me. "I'm tired."
"You can sleep on the plane. Bernadette is already there waiting."
Emilia looks up. "Where are we going?"
"The embassy in Mexico. Gustave will meet us tomorrow night."
But he never does. Almost a month passes when I get a call from him.
"Louis is dead. So are Evandro and William. Ryker has been rescued."
I sigh in relief, but then my gut drops when he tells me the rest of the message. I hang up the phone.
Emilia comes out of the bathroom in towels wrapped on her head and body. She puts her arms around me. "What's wrong, my gorgeous husband?"
"We have to leave."
"Where to?"
I swallow hard. "To D.C. The President is gifting his son a woman tomorrow night."
Emilia's eyes widen. "We are going to spend the evening in the room?"
"Yes. There is no way around it."
