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“If I go out there, then I might see your team.”
“Yes, you will see them. We’re having a meeting.”
“But I’m not part of the team, so I’m not really needed at a team meeting, am I?” she asked.
“Not technically, you’re not. But you’re part of this family. Isn’t that what you called them the other night?”
Yeah, it was.
But she wasn’t really, was she?
She was here because Zander wanted her. Not because the others wanted her here.
“They don’t want me at the meeting, Zander. It’s better I stay here.”
“No. You’re coming. Because I want you there. Besides, we’re going to talk about how to search for your sister. So it’s better that you’re there.”
Drat.
He knew just how to get her to do what he wanted, didn’t he?
Standing, he held out his hand to her, helping her up.
She stood, then looked down at what she had on. Today, she was wearing blue shorts and a pink shirt. It wasn’t something she would have chosen for herself, but she actually thought she looked pretty cute.
And there wasn’t any real need to change.
“Come on. Aren’t you curious about the compound?”
Yeah, she was. He’d told her about the place he’d built into the side of a hill and down below the ground. It sounded like an impenetrable bunker. Something a doomsday prepper might have built. But Zander had done it, not because he thought the end of the world was coming, but because he wanted to keep the people closest to him safe.
So she put on the sandals he handed to her. Then she slid her small hand into his and he led her out of the room. They walked along a passage that had more of those screens with scenes of . . . of outer space? That was odd.
“Miles has been fiddling with the screens again,” Zander muttered. “He likes the idea of going into outer space.”
“Yeah, well, he can like it all he likes. It’s not happening,” someone grumbled from behind them.
She jumped and half-turned to see Eli walking up the passage. Zander didn’t even startle. Had he heard him coming? They reached an elevator, and Zander hit a button.
“Way too dangerous,” Zander agreed with Eli.
Eli just grunted. He eyed her with interest for a moment, then looked away. She didn’t know if he approved of her or found her wanting.
She was guessing it was the second.
She took a deep breath and let it out.
It doesn’t matter what he thinks of you, what any of them do. Zander wants you here.
They all stepped into the elevator, which took them quickly down.
“How many levels are there again?” she asked as they stepped out.
“Why do you want to know?” Eli asked suspiciously.
“There are four levels,” Zander told her. “One level is the garage. Two are living quarters and then there is the basement. And she can know as much as she wants, Eli. This is her home now too.”
“It is?” another voice asked, and she glanced over to find Honey sitting on a worn couch in the corner of the room.
