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“Fine.” Until now, my whole life’s focus had been protecting my technology and bringing it to market. But I could no longer pretend to care about the patch. Now that Hannah was gone, I could see my priorities had been hollow. “I need you to help me get the sale prepared. Are you free for the next few weeks?”
“No, but I’ll clear my schedule. I’m all yours.” Bethany headed to the door. “Do what they say, Lauren. We need to get your sister back. I can’t picture Hannah going more than a week without a manicure, let alone wearing the same outfit two days in a row.”
“I know.” My voice came out thick.
“And make up with Gabe, okay?” Bethany kept her voice low. “He doesn’t want you to get killed. Seems pretty reasonable to me.” She stopped to wait for Kami Robards.
Gabe was talking to his lawyer in hushed tones. After Kami hugged him and left with Bethany, he shot a wounded look my way.
I melted a little. Damn him. I was still angry, but I knew he was trying to protect me. And I knew he was hurting too.
“Gabe.” He looked at me, but then my phone rang. “It’s her,” I announced to the room in general.
“Answer it and get over here,” Levi barked.
I answered the phone, making a beeline for Levi. “Yes, Li Na?”
“Are we in agreement about the details?” she asked, as though we’d never hung up. “You start the process of winding up Paragon and send regular updates to my counsel in San Francisco. She’ll be in touch. If you’re in compliance and things are mo
ving smoothly, we’ll arrange a trade.”
“I already talked to my attorney. We’ll start the process today.” I prayed my sister was okay and still close by. “Can we do this soon—the trade?”
“I’ll send you further instructions when I’m ready.” Her tone was curt.
Levi scribbled something quickly and held up a note. Proof of life, it read.
“I need to know that my sister’s okay before I agree to anything. I need…proof.” I looked at Levi helplessly, not knowing what specifically to ask for.
“She can call you.”
I swallowed hard. “I want to see her. Now.”
Li Na sighed. “She can Skype you. Get your computer set up. But Lauren, if you do anything with this video, like give it to the FBI, you’re going to regret it. Your sister will pay the price for your indiscretion. Do you understand?”
My heart hammered in my chest. “Yes.”
“Get set up for the video conference. We’ll be in touch soon.” Li Na hung up without further explanation.
I headed to my laptop and opened it with shaking hands. “Does this mean Li Na’s with my sister?”
“Not necessarily,” Levi said. He came over and maneuvered the keyboard out of my hands, deftly setting up the site. “Gabe, call your tech people. Tell them to get a line on this. I want it traced.”
Gabe got on his cell phone immediately, talking to Dave and Leo at Paragon.
“What can I say to Hannah?” I asked.
Levi shook his head, continuing his work on the laptop. “Not a lot. Don’t ask her too many questions—where she is, if they’ve hurt her, if they’ve said anything specific. That could get her into trouble. Just ask if she’s okay. I’ll review it afterward for anything I can find that’s useful.”
“But what about—”
“Lauren,” Levi interrupted me. “One step at a time. Now put on a brave face for your sister. She needs you. Ash and I will be over here.” He jerked his thumb to the back of the kitchen, where they would be out of sight.
“Where do you want me?” Gabe asked his brother.
I reached out and grabbed his hand, holding on for dear life. My anger receded all at once, my need for him winning out in a landslide. “Here. Right next to me, where you belong.”
His shoulders relaxed a little. He squeezed my hand and stood by me as the screen came to life, an image of Hannah appearing. My little sister looked like hell. She was pale beneath the traces of her tan, and her eyes were puffy from crying. What was left of her normally meticulous mascara was smudged beneath her eyes.
