Page 6 of Haze of Obedience

Jonas stands in front of us. He shakes his head and scowls. "Zoe, you need to get your shit together."

"I'm...I'm sorry."

He bends down and snorts a line then drags his finger over Julieta's breasts.

She shudders, but I'm too messed up to do anything. Not that I know how I could even stop him if I tried.

"Your day is coming," he threatens.

She shakes harder, and a sinister laugh echoes in the plane. He walks away and back to his thugs.

Julieta turns back to taking care of my nose. She puts the water to my mouth several times, and I take small sips. "That's good, Zoe." She removes the pressure from my nose, then gets a wet cloth and cleans the blood off my face. "There. You look beautiful as always."

I want to tell her thank you, but I can't form the words. I nod as more tears fall down my face.

Jonas snaps, "Do your job. We need more alcohol."

She jumps up. "Yes, Mr. Torres."

The rest of the ride, I try to drown out. Julieta layers extra blankets over my body and continues to check on me, but I'm in a horrible state. When the plane lands, we get off, but I don't remember it. I wake up several hours later, not sure what country or day it is.

I look at the hotel notepad.

I'm in Mexico?

How long has it been since I've been home?

You don't have a home anymore.

I wrack my brain, trying to remember if Jonas said anything, but the haze I've been in the last few weeks doesn't allow me to remember much.

Where is Jonas?

I search the hotel suite, but he's nowhere.

The embassy party. Oh God, he's going to kill me for missing it.

I rush to the bathroom, do my hair and makeup as best as possible, and put on a sequin dress and my stilettos.

I need a pick me up, or I won't get through this performance.

My toiletries bag has a small zippered compartment, and I pull out the emergency supply of coke I keep there.

To calm my nerves over what Jonas or another global leader might do to me for not arriving at the embassy on time, I take more than I usually would.

But then again, these days, my normal amount has grown.

I stumble out of the room and down the hall, through the lobby, and almost get outside.

"Ms. Diego! Can I help you?" A man from the front desk runs over to me.

"I need a ride to the embassy right away."

"Sure. Which one?"

A thick knot forms in my throat, and I try to swallow it. "I...I don't know. Oh, God!"

"Let me—"