If the lawyers and a former judge were afraid to stand up to the cartel, what hope did Noel have?
The men looked at me with sympathy. Then one of the lawyers took my hand. “Don’t lose hope. You’re not alone.”
I had no choice but to enter the inner part of the jail by myself and hope that these men and whoever Archer was working with would be able to free Noel. I wasn’t sure if the legal system was corrupt. But I didn’t want to think of that now.
I went through the door and down the long hall to another door. Taking a deep breath, I opened it and walked into a dark area. The only light came from the hall illuminating a row of cells.
"Noel?" I found the light switch, flipping it on.
"Harper?" The voice was weak, but it was Noel's.
I rushed to his cell. He struggled to sit up and when he was finally upright his eyes were closed, his head tilted against the wall. He'd been beaten severely. His eyes were blackened and his lip was split. He shifted, wincing. He pressed to his side, making me think he had a broken rib.
"Oh God, what did they do to you?" I couldn’t bear to look at him. He had to be in excruciating pain. When I left him, I’d demand that he see a doctor.
"What are you doing here?"
"I had to see you. We’re working on getting you out. Everyone knows those charges aren't true."
"You have no idea what you're dealing with. You need to get out of here. Go home. Let others take care of this." His voice was dismissive. It was the same way he spoke to me last night. Like I was an idiot.
Anger brewed that he would push me away, but I reminded myself he had to be in pain. He was also probably trying to protect me.
But I was made of stronger stuff. "I can help."
The door to the cell area opened and a stunning woman with long dark hair wearing a skirt and jacket that was the epitome of a power suit walked through. She was beautiful except for the angry expression on her face.
She pushed past me heading straight to Noel. She gripped the bars of the jail cell. "You promised me you wouldn't abandon your son."
Noel could hardly open his eyes, but he tilted his head to the side and studied her. "He hasn't been abandoned. Neither is he my son."
My eyes widened that revelation. Putting two and two together, I realized this woman must be Lupe.
I looked at her. I wasn't sure what I expected her response to be, but the Cheshire cat smile wasn't it.
"I wondered how long it would be before you figured that out. Actually, I'm surprised it took you so long, Noel. Your skills have deteriorated. Did you really think you were his father?” She laughed. “God, don't tell me you've taken to fatherhood? You?" She cackled and I wanted to punch her in the throat. I remembered she was part of the cartel and punching probably wasn't smart.
When I checked on Noel, he only glared at her.
Lupe shook her head. "It appears you like fatherhood so much that you knocked up your next conquest."
He shook his head. "What are you talking about?"
She slanted a glance at me, and only then did I realize she was referring to the child I was carrying. “The two of you looked so nice playing house together with little Guillermo. I guess you wanted a real child."
Her words sent a shiver through me. Had they been watching? But of course, they had. How else would the pirate man have known to talk to me at the restaurant?
“Mo is real.” I gathered my wits and glared at her.
She scoffed. “He’s an orphan. Unwanted. Abandoned.”
“He’s not unwanted.” I flexed my fingers to keep from fisting them and punching the smug expression from her face.
“And this child.” She pointed to my belly. “Is it wanted?”
Noel’s brows furrowed in confusion as he looked from me to Lupe and back again.
“Good God, did Bastion’s men beat the IQ out of you too? She’s having your baby. How else do you think she was allowed to come in here and talk to you.” She pouted. “What does that mean for poor little Guillermo?"