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“I’m sorry about Sierra. That she betrayed you. That she’s dead,” he said between soft touches of our lips connecting.
“It’s not your fault. I’m just so sorry you were pulled into all of this because of me.” Well, I supposed Rebecca was somehow at the center of bringing us together in an odd way, when she’d also been the reason to keep us apart for so long.
“I know you lost your best friend, but I?—”
“I did,” I cut him off. “But I have you. Your team. Dallas. A new family.” Tears cascaded down my face.
“You have someone else, too.” He shifted to the side, putting eyes on the helicopter, so I followed his gaze.
Easton walked around to the side and offered a hand to?—
“Bahar?” I gasped, unsure if my mind was playing tricks on me.
“The coroner in Scotland was paid off. The bodies in the fire weren’t really your colleagues,” Carter explained as Easton helped Bahar out. “I guess Sierra really did want to keep the best minds in science alive to capitalize on you all later.”
Thank God for that.
“Diana,” Bahar called out to me, and Dallas went running her way. Animals always loved her, and now . . .
“Thank you,” I whispered through a mess of tears before helping him slowly rise to his feet, knowing he wouldn’t ask for the assist but needed it anyway.
He patted my ass and prompted, “Go hug her. I’ll be okay here.”
“Oh-okay,” I said as Mya and Oliver joined us.
“Sorry, he asked us to keep this a surprise,” Mya tossed out with a small smile.
The best possible surprise I could hope for in the face of all this hell. “Is, um, William okay?” I asked Carter, a bit hesitant, knowing he’d catch on to what I was really getting at.
Carter lifted a brow, then winced as if pained by the movement. “I may have taken a moment to have a word or two with him.” He lifted a shoulder, then scowled as if that movement hurt, too. “But I left him in one piece if that’s what you’re asking,” he said with a small, lopsided smile. “I promise.”
71
DIANA
“I’m so sorry about everything.” I gave Bahar one more tight hug, then pulled back and removed my glasses to brush away my tears.
“No more apologies. Not your fault,” Bahar said as Easton stood alongside her inside the lavish estate, a slightly smaller version of the one we’d spent a week at in Scotland.
I knew Bahar would try to brush it off, but knowing what she went through because of the people in my life would stick with me for a while.
“He’ll take good care of you.” Carter winced as he lightly rubbed a spot on his lower back. He’d never admit how much he was actually hurting, and I was anxious to get him upstairs, draw him a bath, and take care of him.
“I won’t let her out of my sight,” Easton commented, his tone steady, reassuring both me and Carter that he’d have my friend’s six.
Carter had ordered Easton to escort her back to Turkey so she could mourn her brother with her family. He’d also given him the directive to protect Bahar until we knew more. William and Bonnie were already in protective custody back in the U.S. Better to be paranoid and prepared until we knew more about The Collective.
Bahar fluffed the fur on Dallas’s head before offering her thanks to Sebastian and his wife, Holly.
“I’ll see you soon,” I told her, sniffling, while returning my glasses in place.
“Thank you for taking them to the airport on your way home.” Carter held out his hand to Sebastian next, and I turned to Holly, who pulled me in for a hug like we were old friends.
“If you need assistance down the road to go after these arseholes, let me know,” Sebastian offered. “We know a thing or two about going up against these types of groups.” He tipped his head, scrutinizing Carter for some reason as they unclasped palms. “You okay? I mean, uh, aside from the bloody obvious.”
Carter stepped away from him, gesturing for them to head out. “Fine,” he said a bit too gruffly for my liking. And why was he sweating?
Sebastian turned his attention to me, narrowing his eyes, implying Carter was anything but “fine.” Yeah, I knew what that word meant, and I subtly nodded back, letting him know I’d address the issue once we were alone.
