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What if Sierra was the real reason I’d been spared? Mya had told me Sierra mentioned keeping me alive because my mind would be useful one day, but she’d had a feeling Sierra may have grown attached to me a bit, too, and couldn’t go through with murdering me.
There were far too many questions without answers, and if I thought about it all right now, I’d lose myself to panic.
“So, you said the rest of Falcon is heading back to the U.S., but what about the other teams? And Camila?” I swallowed, pushing my hands even deeper into my pockets as nerves continued fighting to take control.
Two people I opted not to ask about were Zoey and Alyona. I was thankful they’d both had Carter’s back, and Alyona hadn’t stabbed him in it, but I wasn’t eager to invite them to family dinners in the future anytime soon.
“We have to assume the worst, that The Collective will go forward with an attack, blaming terrorists. They’re probably confident taking out the Novaks kept their identities safe,” Mya began. “So, all of our people in the D.C. area are taking their families outside the city and staying with them until after the election.”
“Surprised neither Camila nor Elaina saw any of this coming,” Oliver said. Elaina? Catching my eyes, reading my confusion, he explained, “One of the guys on Bravo, well, his daughter has visions like Camila. What Elaina can do is far more shocking than even Camila.”
“Camila and Elaina both live in D.C., and they have a unique connection,” Mya continued. “Camila’s sticking with Elaina for now. She knows we’ve got Carter’s back here.”
“What if that means our countermeasure will work?” I asked, hopeful. “If they’re not seeing chaos and destruction in the future, maybe it’s because we stop it?”
“I like the way you think. That’s a great point.” Mya smiled, and I’d take that optimistic look, even if it’d been a bit forced. “I know we still have a ton of unanswered questions, but try not to let it pull you apart. We’ll dismantle this group and keep you safe.”
“Gwen’s already heading back to the U.S. with her father and his team, busy working new cyber angles, too,” Oliver noted. “She’ll also make finding those hackers her own personal crusade.”
“Yeah, sure her father loves that,” Mya grumbled with a light shake of her head.
I stood at the sight of the helicopter finally about to land. It was far enough in the distance we didn’t feel the wind whip us. Mya and Oliver were on their feet now, too, and Mya hooked her arm behind my back as if worried I’d run over too soon and have an unfortunate accident with a blade still whirling.
“You think Gwen can find out who else was supposed to be at that Christmas get-together, which was probably The Collective’s secret meeting back in 2008 before they killed the Barclays?” I asked as I anxiously awaited the blades to stop so I could see my guy and run to him.
“That was a dead end. Only the Novaks could be tied to being anywhere near where the Barclays planned to vacation that Christmas,” Oliver informed me. Poor guy seemed to hate being the bearer of bad news. “But don’t worry, we’ll draw up a list of assholes who’d profit off an attack who could pull this off, and go from there.”
Mya let go of me, and I realized why. The blades had stopped and the side door was open. My heart was about to break free from my chest with anticipation.
“It’s just Easton and Carter, right?” Apparently, Easton had been in the Air Force and could fly almost anything.
“Um,” Mya said, shooting me a small smile.
I faced the helicopter again, catching a flash of fur. Oh, I had to assume she meant Dallas was there, too. Had he been part of the op? He had been when saving me from the human traffickers, and he’d held his own at the safe house in Poland.
Dallas hopped out, and at the sight of me, he eagerly began flying across the grassy field. I started in his direction, preparing to meet him halfway, then my legs buckled as Carter exited next.
Brown pants covered his long legs, a blue sweater jacket hid his broad shoulders, a beanie-type hat concealed his black locks, and a bag over his shoulder fell to the ground the moment our eyes locked.
At that, I turned my jog into a sprint. Dallas had already joined my side, and he switched directions to run alongside me back to his dad.
“Carter!” I cried, tears flying, hitting my face as the wind kicked back my hair.
He was moving too slowly, holding his leg while limping to get to me, so I picked up my pace even more.
And, oh God, the closer I got . . . I saw the damage to his face.
“Diana,” he rasped, throwing his arms around me.
We fell to our knees on the grass together, Dallas hopping with excitement around us as we held each other, and I sobbed into his chest.
“You’re okay.” I knew he was because I’d basically had the same briefing as the President, but seeing him, feeling him, made it real.
“Sierra’s daughter’s safe in protective custody, too. She’ll be given a new life. A fresh start,” he said with a raspy, strained voice, offering me more hopeful news I could hold on to to help me get through this.
“You’re hurt.” I pulled back to take him in fully.
There was a Steri-Strip beneath a black eye, and more purple and black on his face than there was unharmed skin. Despite his lip being swollen and cut, he tried to set his mouth to mine, which sent me into another round of tears. He was risking pain to kiss me. I tried to kiss him back as gently as possible as he cupped my cheeks.
