Page 60 of Risks of Temptation
"I asked about when you first saw my folder and Louis," she confidently repeats.
She isn't going to let it go.
"Not right away until I found out about the drop-off location. The original plan had everyone going to Interpol's headquarters in France. If Naomi goes to the U.S. or any of you go back to your home countries, it will be a horrible experience for you before death."
"How do you know this information about the Global Leaders?"
My gut flips. I've never disclosed any of this to anyone, but I've been hiding it for decades. I hate my affiliation and all that I've had to be a part of, but it's necessary. "I am one."
The silence in the air is more stifling than the humidity. She gapes at me.
"I'm in an underworld, ma belle. Now you know what even those closest to me don't. It's not pretty. The time to stop everything that's in motion is running out. And I've done things I'm not proud of." As I say it out loud, I cringe.
She puts her hands on my cheeks. "Like what?"
The innocence in her eyes is back. I have to protect her. I hate myself for telling her about any ugliness.
"Malin, what did you do?"
"Everything is a test, ma belle. When you enter their world, you stand by and have to watch things go on instead of stopping them. I don't stomach it well. But I'm going to have to go deeper. Gustave is much better in the underworld than I am. It's why my father chose our roles."
"Your father?"
"Yes. He kept my mother, Gustave, and me in the French countryside. When he visited, he was a traveling salesman. But he was the secret head of Interpol."
"You aren't American?"
So many secrets. So many lies. So much past heartache. "No, I am. My mother was American. Both Gustave and I have dual citizenship. When I was twelve, my father sent me to a military prep boarding school in the States with my mother's maiden name. I never came back to France until I was an adult. It's as if he knew the day would come when Gustave and I would need to play our different roles."
I've had over thirty years to get over my childhood. But I still never fully forgave my father for ripping me away from my mother and Gustave. He stole my adolescence. I didn't understand why I had to leave France or not see my family. The military was the only option I was given. While I don't regret my time in it, I do regret not having a choice.
Maybe it's why I'm telling Emilia this. I can understand her desire to have choices.
She scoots her knees closer to the back of my body so her pert breasts graze my pecs. She caresses the side of my head. "You were only twelve. That's cruel."
I watch the fire flicker and avoid her pitiful expression.
She turns my head back. "Malin—"
I blurt out, "It was necessary. Gustave is five years older, and my father taught him everything about working as a spy. Someone needed to be on the military operations side. And it's nothing compared to the cruelty the Global Leaders enforce."
The Global Leaders should have been taken down years ago. The window was small, and things were in play. Then my father died. Louis took over Interpol.
All these years, Gustave and I have been trusting the wrong person.
But why did Louis hide Emilia from us?
Kalim knew about her. He had her folder. There has to be a reason he didn't give Gustave information about Emilia.
I can't get the question out of my mind. Now I know Louis is bad, it's nagging me even more.
"You've seen a lot," Emilia softly says.
I wrap my arms around her and palm her head. "Which is why I don't want you to know anything about it. It's dark. I only want you surrounded by light."
"I won't crumble."
"Stop telling me that. I haven't once claimed you would."
