Page 30 of No Sweeter Poison

Diego nods. “I left Oscar and Pedro to take care of it.”

Everyone keeps talking about Karina and me as if I’m not in the room with them. Have they forgotten that there is a kidnapped American woman in their home demanding to be let out?

I want to scream at them. To cry. I want to set this whole place on fire and run as far as my legs can carry me. But what will happen if I lash out? If I lose my head? If they wanted to hurt me, then they would’ve done so already. Instead, they’re behaving as if I’m a normal house guest and they’ve stopped by my room to see if I’m joining them for breakfast.

Right now, I don’t have any options except to sit here and listen to what they have to say. Provoking anyone into anger won’t do me any good and will instead expose me to danger. Contrary to Alejandro’s placating words, it’s clear to me that he and his family are a bunch of criminals. And they won’t hesitate to put me down if need be.

With as much steel as I can muster, I clench my fists and say, “I want to speak to Karina. Right. Now.”

All three of them go quiet. Alejandro considers me for a long moment, his eyes never leaving my face, as his uninjured hand slips into his pocket. Although one arm is in a sling, he still managed to dress formally in slacks and a white button down.

I recognize my phone the moment it appears in his palm but he doesn’t hand it to me yet.

“I’d tell you everything now but you already distrust us. I’d be wasting my breath trying to convince you. Call Karina, tell her you’re okay, make up whatever story you want. But make sure she knows that you aren’t going home,” he tells me. “Not until I say so.”

K arina answers on the third ring.

“Oh thank God,” she sighs. “What the hell took you so long?”

“Sorry,” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Crazy night.”

“How’s your ankle?”

The lie tastes bitter on my tongue. “Better. I put some ice on it and the swelling has gone down since last night. How are you?”

“I’m freaking out.” She must have her phone on a table somewhere because her voice is going in and out, like she’s walking around our hotel room. “Last night I was on the phone with Brent when Diego came to tell me what happened. He heard him and we got into a massive argument.”

A five-year-old could poke holes into the shitty story Diego constructed. Firstly, when I got off the phone with Karina last night, I told her that I was going back to the hotel. So when did I hurt my ankle and why didn’t I go to an emergency care center in Barcelona since I was already on my way back? Secondly, why would I have sent Diego of all people instead of calling her myself?

I can tell Karina is worked up because she hasn’t put any of this together herself.

“Brent was freaking out about the picture and I kept telling him nothing happened. Diego comes and I mute the call, lying and saying it’s room service. He tells me what happened and asks if I want to come back with him to see you. Like an idiot, I disconnect my AirPods and something must’ve happened because I unmuted myself without realizing and Brent hears Diego and me talking. Then he starts shouting, Diego picks up the phone and chews Brent’s ear off—”

“Diego and Brent argued?”

“Diego was defending me. Brent, he…” Her voice wavers and it’s the closest I’ve ever heard her to tears. “He said a few things Diego overheard and I think it rubbed him the wrong way.”

Outside the window, Lettie is sitting on a pool chair, face raised to the sun, as Alejandro talks to her. Diego is at the bar under the gazebo putting frozen fruit into a blender. While it mixes, his eyes scan the liquor bottles on the glass shelves behind him before he settles on the ones he wants.

“He’s threatening to call off the wedding and hasn’t answered any of my phone calls. I think he blocked me last night.” Karina takes a steadying breath. “I need to go home. Today. I already booked a flight.”

I raise a trembling hand to my lips. The urge to scream, to demand help, is all too tempting. But where would that get me? I don’t know where I am or how I got here. Besides, these are dangerous people. Karina has the chance to get out of here unharmed. How could I jeopardize her safety for my own?

“I know you never liked him; I get that. But I love him, Dee. He’s the man I want to spend the rest of my life with and I can’t…I can’t lose him.”

A sob breaks free from her and I immediately mute my mic because I can’t take it anymore. I sob with her, openly and without restraint, and for a few minutes I let all that fear and pain bubble to the surface. She cries and I let her, knowing that the silence on my end of the line is probably a comfort.

“Oh Dahlia…” She cries quietly. “This is such a mess. I don’t know why Brent is so upset. He keeps accusing me of cheating but nothing happened. Diego is so nice! He was a decent guy doing a decent thing when I got sick on the boat. And then he shows up and offers to drive me up to see you when he doesn’t have to at all. They’re good people and Brent’s being so ridiculous about the whole thing.”

I unmute myself and am astounded at how steady my voice sounds. “If he really loves you, Kay, he’ll believe you.”

After a few minutes she’s able to compose herself. The phone gets put down on the table again and I hear her pacing the length of the hotel room. “I can’t believe my drama is ruining this trip for you.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s true. Clearly, you’re having the time of your life with your hot European lover and I’m ruining everything.” Even without seeing her, I know she’s smiling. “Kind of jealous. Where are you now? Still in Vallvidrera?”

“No, actually. I’m…” What is this place? “At his villa. In the countryside.”