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53
CARTER
Mya and Sydney’s interruption stole Diana away before we could finish our conversation, which was probably for the best. Sydney was anxious to get a head start before the others joined in over the secure web call, so I’d gone ahead and walked Dallas alone.
After Dallas wrapped up his business, I found an old Land Rover Defender in a shed tucked away in the wooded area of the property. With Dallas exhausted, I opted to use the Defender instead of walking to do a perimeter check. On our drive, we also stumbled upon the owner’s helipad and Bell JetRanger helicopter. Easton was a pilot, so although the helo wasn’t exactly designed for special operations, it’d make do if we were in need of a quick flight anywhere.
Before heading back to the house, I found myself parking near the cliffs overlooking the water at the back of the property. “I need some fresh air. Staying in here or coming with me?”
Dallas barked and scrambled to stand in the passenger seat, letting me know he’d join me outside. I went around and opened the door to let him out, and we headed over to the edge of the cliff. He stood beside me as I took a knee, staring off in the distance at the water.
Barely a minute later, one of my two disposable phones vibrated in my jacket pocket. An unknown number from Bali. Camila? “Hey,” I answered, relieved to hear from her so soon. “I didn’t think I’d hear from you until tomorrow.”
“A gut feeling told me to check early.” Based on the background noise, she was in the city. It wasn’t quite morning yet if she was in Bali, though.
“Do you know what’s going on?” Was it possible she’d felt something? Seen it? Or was Bali safe from our current problem, so she’d be in the dark about what was happening?
“I don’t know anything. I’ve been off-grid. What’s happening? I’m on an untraceable line, so you’re clear to tell me.”
Where would I start? With Diana? With Rebecca? I scratched Dallas behind the ears, then began petting him, needing oxytocin myself to get through this. I decided to switch over to Portuguese. Talking in my father’s native language always made it easier for me to express myself.
After going over everything I knew, I switched back to English. “Are you still with me?”
“I’m processing. It’s a lot to take in. The fact I didn’t see any of this coming has me thrown. I have your back, you know that. Just tell me what you need me to do. Want me to try and get a read on what might happen?”
Did I want to know the future? What if Diana wasn’t in it? “Since you’re in Bali, maybe first meet up with Zoey in Beijing. I need to know if the Chinese government was successful in creating an effective EMP weapon. And if so, if they’re the ones planning to use it and where.”
“On it. I’ll reach out to Zoey now to coordinate. Based on what I find out, we’ll figure out next steps after that.”
“Thank you.” I set a hand over my chest, relief swelling there now that I knew she was joining in.
“And, Carter,” she whispered, “I don’t want to talk down about the dead, but . . . Rebecca didn’t deserve you, but you deserve Diana.”
The call went dead before I could respond. First Alyona. Then Griffin. And now Camila. All telling me what I already knew deep down. Diana was mine, and I’d go to the ends of the earth to fight for her to stay that way.
I swapped my phone for my wallet, knowing there was another hurdle in my way of truly moving forward. I retrieved that obstacle from where it was hidden between credit card slats.
Closing my hand around the wedding band, I let the wind whip my face as I shut my eyes. I couldn’t hang on anymore. It was time to let go, and there was only one way to do that. Even with unanswered questions still out there, I had to move on.
Opening my eyes and unfurling my hand, I rasped, “I forgive you.”
Intense emotions choked me up as I threw the ring over the ledge. A weight lifted from my chest as I added in a strained voice, “Goodbye, Rebecca.”
54
CARTER
I grabbed hold of the interior doorframe and stuck my head into the command center, checking to make sure everyone had eaten after I’d sent Mason out for food. In truth, I’d use any excuse I could get to put eyes on her. “You all eat?”
“If you call five slices of pizza eating and not overindulging.” Diana swiveled around in her desk chair to face me. “Guess I made up for the past week.”
“You deserved each and every piece,” Mya said with a chuckle, her back to me as she worked on something alongside Diana.
Gwen and the others weren’t currently on webcam, so I assumed they were taking a break, too. Dallas was resting as well. More like snoring under the desk by Diana. He hated being away from her as much as I did.
“Thank you for the dessert, too.” Diana removed her glasses, shooting me a bold, seductive look. Yeah, she was onto me.
Devil’s Food. My angel’s favorite. One day, I’d have a chance to learn more about her in the right way, but the little appreciative glance from her at my dessert choice meant my stalking had once again paid off.
