Chapter 11 Dangerous People

THIRD PERSON POV “What’s going on?” Francois asked again, moving closer, and Margot gulped, fear on her face. "It's this entire situation, honey. I know we are supposed to stay strong for her, but with every lead that turns into nothing…it just gets harder," she stammered in a single breath numbly but was instantly relieved when Francois' eyes softened. "I know," he said, stepping closer and hugging her. "We are going to find her," he reassured, but his tone betrayed him; it was filled with gut-wrenching fear, and just then, a message buzzed on Margot's phone, causing them to separate. Francois looked at her expectantly, but her fingers acted on their own, sending the screen to sleep in panic. “What is it?” he asked, concerned by her reaction. Laurent had sent her the message, so she could not show it to Francois. But what could she say to him to make him back down? Her mind was still racing when Logan hurried back in and diverted their focus, saving her. Margot's relief, however, was short-lived. Logan's announcement that he might have a lead made Margot's heart stop. "My guy found a woman who gave her a ride last night and dropped her off by the docks. She told her that she was going there to wait for someone. I’ve got my guys going door-to-door to all those places around that area. I am also waiting for camera footage from the casino." “Thank you, Logan. "That is the first real lead we have had since," Francois said, taking out his phone and walking away. "Who are you calling?" Margot asked, following him. "Laurent. I want to know what the hell he’s been doing all night. Logan just found out and already has a lead, but he has not found anything?" "Shit," Margot muttered under her breath as Francois walked away, phone in his ear. "Logan? Can I get you anything... to drink?” She asked, turning to face the infuriating man who threatened to derail her plans. "No, thank you," he said, walking out to the terrace, and Margot exchanged a glance with Alain before entering the kitchen, him close behind. Once inside, she took out her phone and opened Laurent's message. “Shit!” “What? What is it?” Alain asked, circling the island while Margot frowned at the screen. She showed him a photograph of four men, one carrying a young woman. They could not see their faces clearly, but they recognized Vera. "Who are these men? Is she dead?” “I don’t know. Stand by the door and tell me when Francois is coming. I have to call Laurent." Alain quickly did what she asked while she tried to dial. "Damn it!" she cursed, frustrated, as Laurent's line repeatedly put her on hold. "He is probably still talking with Francois. Give it a minute.” “I don’t have a minute. If Logan obtains the footage, it's all over. He will find those men and bring that girl back here! You have to do something about him, Alain. Logan needs to be stopped. This is your empire now. All of this will be yours if that girl does not return, and Logan threatens to ruin it all!" she growled, agitated to the point of boiling over. “Fuck. I’ll try, Mom. But he’s so damn determined for some reason.” “Why? Why is he so determined?” “I don’t know. I wish I had not told him," Alain murmured, massaging his temples, and Margot's eyes widened as a realization hit her like a truck. Vera became pregnant following her party after flirting with Logan all night. Vera claimed after learning of her pregnancy that she did not know who the father of her child was, but could she have known? Margot wondered if she was the only one who was in the dark, as she had suspected for months that Francois and Vera were withholding information from her. But why would Francois not tell her? And could it be that he wanted Vera to give up the baby because Logan was the father? Francois was not particularly fond of the Greys. He, like others, judged them for their alleged involvement in the mafia, so Margot knew it was not out of the question for him to force Vera to give up the baby so she would not have ties to the family. "Alain," Margot called softly, turning to face her son. “What if he’s the father?” “Of what? Vera’s baby? No way. Logan does not even like her; she is not his type." "Perhaps not to date. What if he slept with her that night? They were extremely flirtatious the night of her party. What if he is the father, Alain? Do not ignore this. I am doing everything I can; you should do the same. Talk to him to find out. Stick to him like glue and ask him to tell you everything he discovers before acting on it." Margot said, picking up her phone to call Laurent once more. ••• CAMILO “What's wrong?" my sister asked, sitting next to the woman as I reentered the room, interrupting whatever they were discussing, and I informed her that I had just received word that people were looking for the woman. “At first, it was the cops; they got footage of Pedro and the guys taking you to the car last night. Then, people who were not cops came to the casino looking for the same footage." She looked up at me with teary eyes as I continued. “I don’t know what you’re into or who you are, but I know only dangerous people have men like that working for them.” I looked up at my sister. “Pack your belongings; we are leaving now." "But—" “No but! We’re leaving, Camila. Pack your things.” I glanced at the girl and saw tears now rolling down her cheeks before I turned and walked out of the room. She was not our problem. But I only took two steps before Camila ran after me. "What is wrong with you?!" she yelled, causing me to stop and turn to face her. "No… what is wrong with you? She is not our problem, Camila," I said, turning away from her again and pulling out my phone to notify my pilot that we were leaving but she grabbed it just as I began to speak. “She has no one. Her stepfather is an evil man who hurts her and wants to take her baby away. We have to help her.” “We don’t have to do shit!” “What’s gotten into you?! You wouldn't just walk away like that from someone in trouble,” she said, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears and I sighed, my heart clenching at the hurt in her expression. But whatever she was trying to get me involved in, I wanted no part of it. We had done what we came for and it was time for us to head back to New York and leave that girl, whoever she was, to figure out her mess. "Look," I said softly, taking her hands in mine. "I will pay for the hotel. She can stay here as long as she wants until she decides what to do. But, Camila, it is clear that this girl is involved with some dangerous people. We—" "—You are not concerned with how dangerous these people are, Camilo! We both know who the dangerous one is here; don’t do that! "Do not act as if you are not helping her because you are afraid," she snapped, interrupting me. “Fine, I’m not afraid. But that doesn’t mean I have to go around involving myself in things I shouldn’t. I feel sorry for her and can see how much helping her means to you. But someone has to make the difficult decisions, and that person is me. Besides, how could we possibly help her?" "We could take her with us!" "What? No!" I let go of her hand. "That is definitely not happening." Was she out of her mind? "Please, brother," she begged, grabbing my arms, "do it for me, for my sanity." “I’ll do anything for you, and you know that, but I won’t do this,” I said, removing her hands from my arms, and she pouted, crossing her arms. “Fine, then I’ll stay with her.” “That’s not happening. We’re leaving. I will carry you to the jet myself if necessary." "Then I will keep returning to look for her. Don’t you see? There was a reason for my sudden desire to come here. There was a reason we found her. You stated that the people pursuing her are dangerous, which means that only we can help her. I will never rest until I know what happened or where she ended up, Camilo," she said, taking my hands again, tears threatening to fall. She was not playing fair; she knew I could not stand watching her cry. “I’ll get her a place to stay. I will make sure they are taken care of until she can get back on her feet, but we can not bring her with us. She's a person, not a pet. We cannot just take her. Besides, you know our family; our lives are not without danger either." “But we have each other. We watch out for each other. She’s alone. We will be on the other side of the world. What if the dangerous people find them? Plea—" My sister was still trying to persuade me when she abruptly paused mid-sentence, her gaze drawn to the door, prompting me to follow her gaze and see the woman standing there. “Please don’t leave me,” she said, stepping toward us with her baby held tightly to her chest. “She’s right; they’ll find me. There isn’t a place they can’t reach here. Please, I know it’s not easy just helping a stranger. But please, I’m begging you... please help us.”