Page 54 of Healer’s Betrayal

“Yes,” he says confidently. “Bryce.”

“I’m here,” Bryce says.

“Sherese, Maverick, and I will be airborne in the next hour.”

“Good.” He takes the call off speakerphone and turns away.

The door to the conference room opens, and we all turn that way. Ransom walks inside, and hope bursts through my chest for one fleeting moment before it comes crashing down. He walks right to me, more solemn than I’ve ever seen him. His eyes meet mine. “We’ll find him.”

I don’t say anything; I can’t. He puts out a hand like maybe he’s going to drop it on my shoulder or something and then seems to think better of it before stepping over to talk to Jackson. Ava and Raechel walk over to me, and Ava puts her hand on my arm. “I have a brother too.” Her words take me by surprise. “He was taken from me a few years ago, so I get a little of what you’re going through.”

“You got him back?” I ask, desperation in my voice.

She nods. “We did.”

“How long?” I ask.

A shadow crosses her face, and my hope deflates. She doesn’t answer and says instead, “We’ll find him,” but there’s a heaviness to her voice I don’t like. “Do you need anything?”

“Besides getting out there to look for him?”

She puts a hand over her belly. “I know it’s hard, but Bryce’s team really is the best. They'll—”

“Find him?” I say shortly, interrupting her. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize. You’re right. Everybody says that, but it’s no help in the moment. I get it.” She glances at Raechel. “I’m sorry you’re stuck with the two of us; we’re the worst at comforting and all that.”

“Wow, thanks, Ava,” Rae says dryly. “But she’s right.” I take in her pale face.

“Are you feeling okay?” I ask her.

She looks at me in surprise. “Yeah.”

Ava frowns and looks at her friend. “Yeah, you didn’t eat your whole sandwich. You always eat. What’s wrong with you?”

Raechel rolls her eyes. “I’m fine.”

Ava doesn’t say anything else, but I can tell she’s not convinced. Jackson and Ransom finish whatever they were talking about, and Jackson walks over to me. “I’m going to take you back to your place to pack a bag—anything you need in case we end up being on the road for a few weeks.”

My heart drops to my toes. “A few weeks?”

“Just as a precaution,” he adds. “And pack some stuff for Noah too for when we find him.”

A few weeks!? I can’t even begin to process that.

“Hey,” Jackson says. “Talk to me.”

I shake my head, not wanting to; but the words tumble out, one over the other. “This can’t be happening. I was supposed to keep him safe. I promised him,” my voice cracks. “I promised him nothing would ever hurt him again.” A dark look crosses Jackson’s face. “I didn’t keep him safe.”

“Listen to me, Kayla.” His voice is deep and stern. “It’s no longer your job to keep you and your brother safe. That job falls on me now. We will find Noah, and I will keep the both of you safe.” I’m already shaking my head, but I don’t get to say anything before Bryce pulls Jackson aside. I turn back to find Ava on her phone and Raechel sitting in her chair at the table. If anything, she looks even more pale now.

I walk over to her. “Raechel?”

Her eyes meet mine, and she shakes her head. “Those onions are so strong. Who had onions on their sandwich? They smell like—” She swallows abruptly and then lurches to her feet. I stumble back as she runs past me, but I follow her out into the hallway when I see everybody else is occupied. She throws open a door to one of the bathrooms and rushes inside. Seconds later, I hear her throwing up. I head right back to the conference room to Ava.

“Raechel’s throwing up in the bathroom,” I tell her.

Her eyes widen, and she turns to Bryce. “Bryce.” He immediately stops talking and turns to her. “Can you call Max and get him back here? Rae’s sick.”