“Ethan,” she said abruptly, like the thought just occurred to her, “does Laurel even remember what happened to her? You said she had amnesia.”
“It was temporary. She’s never told me, and I suspect not Jason either, but she remembers.”
There had been terror in Laurel’s eyes that she’d quickly hidden when she saw me for the first time outside of Croatia.
“Why wouldn’t she—?” Her face saddened. “She doesn’t want Jason to know what she went through.”
I had a darker theory. I’d had to threaten the marshal’s life when he came between me and my asset. That tense moment, with guns drawn, had to have been scary for her.
“I think she’s afraid,” I said, “that if she tells Jason, he’ll come after me.”
Thinking about that night, even briefly, made my headache worse. Everything after Croatia, all the pain it brought on the Dunn and Hayward families, was squarely the Agency’s fault. If only someone had fucking listened when I’d told them how slippery and manipulative Juric was. That asshole had been a better liar than I was.
I was fucking glad Juric had gotten a bullet to the head.
Then I shelved the thoughts, not wanting to waste time.
“What happens now?” she asked.
Her question probably had a deeper meaning to it, but I glanced at my phone. “We should probably head to the airport.”
I liked seeing Olivia back in her element. She looked at home beside the large aircraft and the other crew members in the hangar. I scanned the environment, assessing it for threats and escape potential, habit I’d drilled into myself over the years. It was unnecessary. Security had been tight getting intothe private airfield.
There wasn’t much to look at either. The hangar doors were wide open, and other than an ancient-looking stair car off to the side, and the plane in the center, the space was empty.
A car drove through the open doors, and the sound of tires gripping pavement stole my focus. A charcoal gray Audi sedan prowled forward, the same make and model as Shawn’s car had been six months ago, although this one appeared to be brand new.
He was seated behind the wheel, Kara in the passenger seat. A dark blue BMW SUV trailed behind the Audi, but I couldn’t see the driver through the tinted windows. Both cars swung to the left and parked by the wall.
The driver of the BMW was Jason, who stepped out wearing jeans and a sweater, looking more relaxed than he’d been in the tux last night. On the far side of the car, a door slammed shut, and then Laurel appeared from around the side. At the same time, their siblings emerged from the Audi, looking like they were ready to go into the office and not spend the next few hours traveling.
“So you’re saying,” Laurel gave a pointed look to her husband, “if William wants to try ballet, you’re going to say no?”
“No, of course not.” Jason made a face. “I’m just telling you that Dunns don’t dance.”
Now it was Shawn’s turn to make a face. “I can dance.”
He shot a dubious look to his older brother. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure you proved last night that you can’t.”
Kara laughed lightly. “You really didn’t need to see us off, but I won’t mind getting to see my nephew again.”
When she reached for the backseat door, Jason gave her a regretful look. “Uh... my mom’s watching him for us.”
“Oh.”
She was momentarily disappointed until a chime came from Shawn’s pocket, interrupting the discussion. Sheglanced at her new husband with a look that saidseriously? He ignored it and produced his phone, examining the screen. She watched him scroll through the message, and her look morphed into one of annoyance.
He sensed it without even looking up and typed out a quick reply. “I suppose yours is off already?”
Kara prepared to say something, only for her purse to begin ringing. She sighed. “Is that you calling me?”
“Perhaps.”
“You’ve made your point,Ehemann.”Husband, she’d called him.
While Shawn flashed a smile, Olivia hovered awkwardly beside me, and I understood in an instant. This was her employer, and it was time for her to get to work. I wasn’t sure if kissing her goodbye was appropriate, or if she’d even allow it, but I was going to try anyway.
I dropped my head down to hers and leaned in, taking her mouth without permission.
