Page 32 of Risks of Temptation

5

Emilia

After breakfast,Naomi pulls me into the tent. "Are you doing okay? I haven't gotten to talk to you a lot since we got here."

"I think that's because you've been too infatuated with Andre."

Her eyes widen. "What are you talking about?"

I smirk. "From what I can see, it's mutual, so..."

"Nothing is going on between us."

I may not be full of experience, but Andre looks at Naomi like she's a piece of meat he wants to eat for dinner. And she seems more than happy to be on his plate.

I glare. "Could you be honest with me for just once in our lives?"

"Since when do I lie to you?"

I sigh. "Okay, let me rephrase. Can you not treat me like a child and admit I'm right?"

Naomi shuffles on her feet, glances behind her to make sure we're still alone, and lowers her voice. "Fine. I'm attracted to him. But it's not going any further than that. He's a nice guy and helping us. That's it."

I snort. "Sure. And pigs fly."

She lightly backhands my shoulder. "Stop."

"Fine. Tell me why Santiago kidnapped us."

Her face falls, and she looks away.

"Naomi!" I snap.

She exhales deeply. "Emilia, I know you think you need to know, but you don't. And I want you to trust me that it's in your best interest not to."

Anger explodes in my bones. "Are you kidding me right now?"

"Emil—"

"No! We were both kidnapped. Santiago made you do something when he sent me to the pit. Then he and his thugs used me as their toy to torment. You owe me the truth," I scold.

Naomi shuts her eyes. When she opens them, they are glistening. "I'm so sorry. I'll never forgive myself for what they put you through."

"Then tell me."

She steps forward and holds my cheeks. "This isn't about trust. I can't tell anyone what I know. The danger isn't gone just because of our rescue. I don't want you to worry about it, but—"

I move my head out of her grasp. "I'm so tired of this song and dance you do around me."

She gapes. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm not a child. I'm not going to break anytime there is something that isn't sunshine and rainbows."

"I didn't say you would."

"You don't have to. It's constant. I'm not ten anymore," I cry out.

Silence fills the tent. Naomi's face fills with pity and guilt, which only makes me angrier. She's always blamed herself for what Zaka did to me. She was fifteen. I was ten. But there is no way she could have known or stopped it. And our mother only found out because Naomi walked in on Zaka and me, so I'm grateful to her for ending my nightmare.