Page 120 of Shadowing You

There was something so comforting about the rhythm of her husband’s voice. She sat back and let the sound wash over her the way she used to lie in bed as a child and listen to her parents talking through the wall, knowing all was well because they were there.

But then a name rose above the murmur.

Lu Feng.

The warmth in her chest cooled. She sat up and found the button to adjust her seat.

Ethan must have caught the movement from the corner of his eye. He stood and faced her. “Good morning.”

“Is it morning?”

He shrugged. “I have no idea. How’re you feeling?” His voice was gentle, his eyes concerned.

“Better.” The word came out scratchy, and she cleared her throat.

“Sounds painful. I’ll get you some water.”

After he walked past her to the back of the plane, she unbuckled her belt and stood, pausing until her legs steadied. She moved to the row ahead and sank into the empty seat beside Ethan’s.

Gavin smiled at her from across the aisle, and she remembered the manners she’d been too tired to manage the night before.

“Good morning.” Her voice was still rough. “I’m sorry I wasn’t more talkative when we met.”

“I was impressed you were standing, considering how sick you were. How do you feel?”

“Better.”

“You’ve got a good doctor.”

Her husband was a doctor now. She hadn’t fully processed that.

“I’m glad you got some sleep,” Gavin said.

“What time is it? How long have we been in the air?”

He checked his watch. “About seven hours, give or take.”

“Really?” No wonder she felt better. She had woken several times, but the cabin had been quiet and warm, and Ethan had been sleeping beside her. She’d drifted right off again. “The seats are very comfortable.”

Gavin’s mouth lifted at one corner. “We’re blessed to have a charter pilot in the family.”

She wasn’t sure what to do with that. She hadn’t even known this part of Ethan’s family existed until the week before, but if not for them… She didn’t want to think about what would have happened.

Gavin glanced at his phone.

“Good news?” Ethan slid in beside her, carrying a bottle of water, a protein bar, and a paper bag.

Gavin leaned forward to see Mei Lin. “Michael made a few calls and got you something called humanitarian parole.”

Mei Lin asked, “What’s that?”

“Michael?” Ethan asked at the same time. “Not you?”

Gavin answered her first. “It’s basically an emergency visa allowing people into the country for a short time. In your case, the justification is the evidence you’re bringing against Lu Feng. It should allow you to stay until your visa is ready.” He shifted to Ethan. “You’d be surprised at Michael’s connections. I know people in the intelligence community. He knows people in the White House.”

“Nice.” Ethan handed Mei Lin the water and the protein bar.

She glared at the little wrapped food. “Do you have an endless supply of those?”