Page 183 of Risks of Temptation

34

Malin

How did they get Julieta?

Do they have Millie?

Gustave is a dead man walking.

How could he risk Emilia's safety?

Why does Julieta act like she's never seen us? Why is she only speaking Spanish?

I jerk my head toward him. He doesn't look surprised it's Julieta. Bernadette stands next to him, giving no indication she knows anything. It's the same look of sympathy all the bought women give the others. But she nervously glances between Julieta and Emilia.

Does Bernadette know it's Julieta?

Gustave said he saw her go into the house with Millie.

I glance at Gustave. Chills dig into all my bones. Have I been trusting my brother all this time when I shouldn't have been?

Gustave's poker face never changes. He gives me no indication of anything. His face stays neutral, watching the scene, not saying anything.

I step in front of Emilia, intentionally keeping my body in front of hers.

Julieta's tears don't stop flowing down her face. Her heart-shaped lips quiver harder. She gasps in tiny breaths for air, and her body trembles so much, I think she might be having a panic attack.

Roger takes her hand and shoves it in his pants.

Julieta looks away, closing her eyes.

"Look at me," he screams in her face, and ma belle jumps behind me. Bernadette's hand trembles at her side.

I glance at Gustave again, but there's no reaction. We lock eyes, but there is nothing in his expression.

Who have I been putting my trust in?

My stomach twists, and I swallow down bile.

The President steps behind Julieta so she's sandwiched between him and Roger. He puts his hand around her chin and yanks her face up so he's staring down at it.

She wails.

The President smiles. In Spanish, he says, "You will kneel. You will submit fully. If you do not, the child dies."

She cries harder.

Emilia gasps behind me and grabs my arm to steady herself.

They have Millie?

My heart drops, and my chest tightens. I look at Gustave again, but his expression never changes.

Did we trust him to take Millie to safety, but he only brought her back into the Global Leaders' hands?

I reach around my body and put my hand on ma belle's back.

I have to get her out of here. Did Gustave set us up?