78

LORENA

“Your parents loved you,” Zia’s voice was soft.

“I know.” I turned to lock eyes with her “Did you know my grandparents made you my guardian?”

She nodded.

“What did it cost you Zia” I asked

“It cost my my unborn children” she answered

I took her hand into mine and squeezed it. I couldn’t even imagine the pain she felt. You never get over something like that.

It was impossible to get over something like that. Her tone of voice was heart wrenching;

“I’m so sorry, Zia.”

“You have lost your parents. We all have lost something.”

I kept my hand over his. She was right, we all lost a lot.

“My father killed Ella’s parents too,” I muttered the admission. “Her father refused to work with him when he realized my father was using him to smuggle women. So he killed them both.”

“I know,” she replied. “Her father was a crooked politician but he had limits. Sometimes my husband worked with him, but after nearly losing me , he wanted nothing to do with the business.