Page 45 of Stains of Desire

"She wanted lemons and honey, and I made a snarky comment about her entertaining us. She got upset."

Don't tell him too much.

He's your best friend...a brother.

You promised Penelope.

It won't compromise her or Millie's safety.

"What?" he asks.

"Penelope said Zoe had to sing every night for Santiago and his thugs. She never got a break. They made her sing naked a lot of nights, too."

Dirk's face turns into a pit bull ready to attack.

"She also told me that Zoe is worried her voice is going to go out one of these days. She thinks she won't get it back, either. Before Santiago, they worked her just as hard and were giving her vocal injections."

"Who?"

Careful you don't break your promise to Penelope.

You don't know enough about who they are yet.

"Penelope wouldn't get specific, but she claims Zoe had two performances most nights."

"With Santiago?"

"No. Before the cartel abducted her."

"Why would she agree to that?"

"She didn't."

Dirk's face reddens. "Someone forced her?"

I nod.

"Who?" he growls.

"Don't know. Penelope was giving me things in pieces. I was trying to keep her talking, but something is scaring her from telling me everything."

"Zoe won't fill me in, either."

"You were busy with the rats when Andre got back, but Interpol is sending Naomi to the U.S. and everyone else to their home countries."

His eyes turn to slits. "Why does that not sound like a good plan? Tell me why I'm getting a bad feeling right now."

"Penelope is petrified to go back to Britain or Panama. Did Zoe say anything about Mexico?"

"No. We hadn't discussed the drop-off, except for when she asked me during the rescue."

"Something isn't right. None of those women should be going back, according to Penelope."

"But she isn't saying why?"

You don't know the entire story, and she hasn't told you much about the others.

God, I hate not being one hundred percent transparent with Dirk.