Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
“Harlow wasn’t even born until ten years later.” Raine prevented Harlow from having to answer. “I can find out those things, but it will take a little time.”
“I looked for her,” Harlow said. “I wanted to find her and my brother. Half brother, I guess, but to me he is family. I desperately wanted to have a family. When I was a child, I would lie awake thinking about him and how, if he were alive, we would find a place together, and I wouldn’t have to be with the senator and my mother ever again. It was childish, but it went on for years.”
“It wasn’t childish,” Zahra said, staunchly supporting her. “Having an older brother sounds wonderful when you need a little protection. Not all families are like ours. Some people have close siblings, and parents actually want them around just because they love them.”
Zahra rarely referred to her family. Her parents had refused to see or speak to her for years. They both had died without ever reaching out to their daughter. Her older sister and brother occasionally spoke to her on social media, but it was only after several years of silence. Both were in arranged marriages, and neither seemed happy. Her older sister seemed to resent the fact that Zahra lived on her own and could go where she wanted without permission and speak to anyone she wanted to have a conversation with. Her brother simply gave her lectures saying she needed a man and to come home so he could arrange it.
“Is this going to stir up the worst things in all our lives?” Harlow asked. “I don’t want that for anyone. I honestly don’t know if Guadalupe is the same woman, and chances are very slim that she is.”
“We’re stronger together,” Stella pointed out, her tone firm. “Whatever this is, we’ll figure it out.”
“Let’s really think about it,” Harlow persisted. “Shabina’s been through hell. You have. Vienna has. Even Raine.” She forced herself to meet Zahra’s eyes. “If this involves the senator, I’m not the only one who is going to have to relive some very unpleasant memories. I already have problems with nightmares, and I know you do too, Zahra.”
She looked around at her circle of friends. So loyal. So willing to do whatever it took to help her. “Zahra had the unfortunate experience of meeting the senator at his worst. She’s been kind enough never to tell anyone just how ugly and depraved he is, but she knows. She’s been such a good friend to me. It’s bad enough that I’m certain he’s going to show up here, despite me telling him I don’t want him anywhere near me, but the thought of her having to relive even one moment of that meeting makes me ill.”
Zahra waved a dismissing hand. “I’ve had far worse in my life, and you know it. I worry about you because I know he’s capable of hurting you in ways I can’t even conceive.”
“Not anymore,” Raine denied. “I have alerts everywhere. If he tries to go after her in any way, we’ll know and can counter.”
Harlow avoided looking up at any of the cameras Rainier had installed in his home. He had a state-of-the-art security system. He would have clear video and audio feed. That meant Wilder could hear every word. She found herself relaxing now that she had Raine back with her, but more importantly, just knowing Wilder was close made her feel safe. She wished she could do something to keep him that way, but she would have to trust his friends, Sam, Zale and Rainier, as well as a couple of the other men working for Rainier, including Rush.
“If Guadalupe was pregnant when she was dropped across the border, what happened to her child?” Stella asked, getting them back on track.
Harlow was grateful to her. She certainly didn’t want to think about her father, let alone talk about him. Better the focus was on Guadalupe and how they could best uncover information about her.
“By all accounts, the girl the senator got pregnant was quite beautiful,” Harlow said. “If the cartel really controlled that area where she was dumped, they would have taken advantage of her immediately. I don’t think being pregnant would have saved her from them, even though the pregnancy was advanced.”
“More than likely, they would have forced her to get rid of the baby,” Vienna said.
“That,” Raine said, “or they would have sold the baby to the highest bidder for adoption. That isn’t an uncommon practice.”
“We’re assuming this girl is Guadalupe for all intents and purposes right now,” Zahra said. “She’s dumped in the middle of a dangerous cartel’s territory, and she’s pregnant. They want her for their trafficking ring. What’s the one thing she has to bargain with?”
“The fact that her child is the senator’s son,” Harlow answered immediately. “It wouldn’t be difficult to prove it. Getting a DNA sample from the senator wouldn’t be hard because if he happens to be at a campaign office, he’s leaving tons of DNA behind. The cartel would be able to blackmail him for an eternity. And if he was running for president, they’d have someone in their pocket.”