Page 102 of Sapphire

“It would not look good for my family, for my father’s political vision. It’s not his fault that I do not conform to what he believes is right - that a man and a woman should love each other. We hide our love because of other people not because we are ashamed.”

I’m so proud of him.

“So why do you think someone decided to release personal footage of you today?”

My heart is pounding. Now is the time, the truth as to why we are here.

“Because Tomas and I fell in love with a woman.”

Sophie lets our answer hang in the air, then says, “You both fell in love with her?”

“Yes, Tomas and I didn’t realize that we could love another while having the same amount of love for each other. I know that it is hard for people to wrap their minds around that, but we are in a loving relationship with this woman as a triad instead of as a couple.”

“A relationship?” Sophie prompts.

My words get stuck in my throat, and I’m unable to answer.

“Yes, but the woman we love has been kidnapped,” Tomas says for me.

Again, Sophie lets that answer hang as the information sinks into the viewer’s mind.

“Kidnapped?” she says eventually.

“Yes, this is why we are going public—we need to find her. Time is running out for her safety,” Tomas states.

“Can you tell us what has happened?”

“Zoe, her name is Zoe, and we treasure her so much. We just want her back, safe and sound. We believe she has been kidnapped by Nikolai Petrov, a known member of the Russian mafia, who is wanted for human trafficking crimes. Not only does he have our Zoe, but he has also kidnapped her sister Grace.”

I don’t know how Tomas is keeping his shit together telling our story, but he does.

“How do you know it is him?”

“We know this because we found Zoe moments from death on our doorstep months ago. Nikolai had tried to kill her when she escaped from him. We were able to bring her back from the brink; we fell in love with her while we nursed her back to health. He found out that she was alive and kidnapped her from our Ibiza home. Her sister was staying with us in case he came after her. But we couldn’t protect them …” Tomas’s confident expression begins to crack. “They killed all of our security, fifteen men gunned down, so they could take these women and push them into slavery.” Tomas looks angry now.

“We need to find her; we need information before it is too late,” I add.

“You believe that this Nikolai Petrov bugged your home, taped you together, then kidnapped Zoe and Grace.”

Tomas and I nod.

Enrique joins us, and Sophie starts peppering him with questions about the case. He explains Nikolai’s rap sheet, and pictures of him and his gang members pop up on the screen. Enrique asks the public for help and information regarding Nikolai Petrov and his gang. A phone number appears on the screen.

Then before we know it, the interview is over, and Sophie is signing off.

“That was so fucking awesome.” Sophie jumps up and hugs us both. “You two did brilliantly, thank you for answering my questions. I’m sorry I put you on the spot, but I needed the world to understand who you are, about your love for Zoe, and how you are two men in love and just want their girl back.”

“Apparently the tip line is running hot, there might be a million bogus tips, but we might find something to crack this case,” Enrique adds.

Sophie smiles, looking at her phone. “Social media has gone into meltdown.”

“I just want her found,” I say.

“Don’t worry, she will be, I can feel it in my bones.” Enrique smiles.

35

ZOE

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