Page 3 of Risks of Temptation

1

Emilia

"Here's the key.If something happens to me, release the documents secretly. I have instructions on how to do it, in the envelope." My sister, Naomi, holds out a gold key.

A chill runs through my bones. I take it from her. "Naomi, what are you involved in?"

She shakes her head. "It's better if you don't know."

"Are you ever going to trust me?"

She tilts her head. "I do trust you."

"No, you don't. You think I can't handle anything."

"I wouldn't be giving you this key if I believed that."

"Then tell me what's in it."

She puts her hand on my arm and lowers her voice. "It's the most dangerous news story I've ever put together. No one can know what's in this. If I tell you, it could put your life at risk."

"How?"

"I can't tell you. Let's not talk about it anymore. Just make sure you follow the instructions if someone kills me or I'm missing."

"If someone kills you!" I cry out.

She takes my hand. "It won't happen. This is just a precaution."

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"No."

I point at her. "You wouldn't be talking to me about this if the risk for you to die wasn't high. So tell me what is going on."

"I can't."

I rise and put the key in my jewelry box. It's the only thing I have from childhood. Everything else I had, I tossed, not wanting any memories of the past. But this was my mother's, so I feel close to her whenever I open it and see the little ballerina spinning to the music. Before everything happened, I wanted to be a ballerina. I had a pink tutu and ballet shoes. My mother worked hard to support Naomi and me, and even though we were poor, she still found money to send me to class. But that dream died like other pieces of my soul. The box should make me feel bad. Ironically, I always have a sense of peace and hope when I see it, like how I felt before everything changed.

I turn back to my sister. "This is so typical of you."

"Emilia—"

"No. When do I get to stop being the feeble woman who can't handle anything?"

She steps toward me and puts her hands on my shoulders. "I've never said that."

I shrug out of her grasp. "You don't have to. It's true. You think you're the only strong one, and I'm a weakling who can't handle anything that isn't one hundred percent sunshine and rainbows."

She groans. "Now you're being dramatic."

"No, I'm not."

She raises her eyebrows and crosses her arms. "I'm trusting you with this. No one knows what I'm working on. It's not safe for anyone to have the information I have. The only reason I'm giving you access is in case something happens to me. If it does, the story needs to come out. If you can't see how much I trust you, then I'm not sure how to show you I do."

My insides vibrate with anger and fear. I'm tired of Naomi never telling me anything, but I'm also scared of what she's involved in. She's never done this before, or insinuated in any way she may end up missing or dead. I try to keep my voice calm, but it comes out shaky. "Tell me what you're involved in."

"If it wouldn't put you in danger, I would. I promise."