Page 42 of Risks of Temptation
Because they don't have them.
Mine are dirty.
I pull the T-shirt over my head and put the pair of shorts on.
This is freeing.
The other women aren't facing me, and I quickly shove my bra and panties under the air mattress. I put on the socks and am tying my shoes when Penelope sits down, holding her stomach and appearing distraught.
"Are you okay?" I slide over and put my hand on hers.
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
"Penelope?" I quietly ask again.
She slowly turns.
"Your face is white as a ghost."
"I don't know what I'm doing," she whispers.
"About what?"
"My daughter... Axel..." She puts her hands over her face.
I scoot closer and put my arm around her. "What about Axel?"
"He...we...oh God," she whispers.
"You like him?"
She nods. "But I shouldn't. Millie is..." She closes her eyes, and tears drip down her cheeks.
She feels guilty.
Maybe it's the lifetime of guilt I deal with daily, but it pains me to see Penelope hurting. "One thing doesn't have anything to do with the other."
"What if being here puts Millie in more danger? I should go back to Santiago."
I hug her tighter. "What? No! Talk to Axel. I can speak to Malin, too. Maybe they can help you find her?"
"Axel knows. I told him. He said he would find her."
"That's good. I'm sure he will. If he says—"
"How do you know? We just met them and...she could be anywhere."
"They found us in the middle of the jungle."
"Because their boss at Interpol is part of the Global Leaders," she blurts out.
What is she talking about?
"Global Leaders? Who are they?"
"No one. Forget I said anything."
"Penelope—"
