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“I knew you’d find me.” She places her palm against my chest. “I never gave up hope.” She curls against me and her breathing slows.
Finally, Kaye closes her eyes. I whisper a prayer of thanks, grateful we got to her in time.
Thankful, we got her out alive.
THIRTY-SIX
Kaye
After my rescue,Zeb takes me to a small church where the Guardians set up Command and Control.
“They’re going to ask you a ton of questions.” Zeb guides me inside, palm lightly pressed against the small of my back. All the pews inside the church are shoved to the center, separating the worship hall into two distinct spaces.
On the left, Mitzy and her technical team work around monitors. On the other side, men and women, wearing dark suits, look a little lost.
The moment I enter, there’s a pause in conversation as everyone looks up from what they’re doing. It makes me want to shrink in on myself. I don’t enjoy being the center of attention, especially with this many people I don’t know.
“Are you doing okay?” Zeb rubs his hand against the small of my back, providing what reassurance he can.
If he only knew how much it means to me that he’s by my side at all. I don’t think he understands how deep my feelings for him run.
“I’m okay. Why is everyone looking at me?”
“You represent the success of the mission, but there’s something you need to know.” The tone of his voice sends a lick of fear down my spine.
“What?” I rub my arms, feeling suddenly chilled.
“There’s a room where you’ll be debriefed. I’ll tell you there.”
There? Whatever it is, he doesn’t want to tell me in front of all of these people. I both love and hate that consideration, because now, all I want is to know what he needs to tell me.
Zeb steers me through the crowd, keeping people away. Mitzy looks up and moves with us toward the front of the worship hall. We head down a narrow hallway until Zeb stops in front of a nondescript door. He opens the door and ushers me into a small room with clean, white walls, bare except for a cross hung prominently on the wall. Inside, Sam and CJ stand once they see it’s me.
“How are you doing?” CJ approaches and takes my hands in his. He gives a light squeeze, a polite substitute for a hug. Sam follows suit.
“We’re glad you’re back with us.” Sam gestures to a chair. “If it’s okay, we have a few questions.”
“Sure?” I take a seat and place my hands on my knees, nervous beneath the scrutiny of the leaders of Guardian HRS.
Sam looks at Zeb. “Have you told her?”
“I didn’t want to in front of the others.” Zeb gives a sharp shake of his head.
“Tell me, what?” A swarm of butterflies takes flight in my stomach, making me feel anxious and nauseous at the same time.
Zeb sits next to me. He takes my hand. His gaze drops to the floor as he tugs in a deep breath. Then he lifts his gaze to meet mine. His jaw bunches, but he doesn’t make me wait for long.
“It’s about Barbi.” Flat, with no emotion, those three words take the bottom out of my world.
“What about Barbi?” My heart sinks like a stone while the room spins around me.
Zeb takes in a deep breath, then speaks slowly, carefully, picking his words with great care. “She’s missing.”
“Missing?”
“She and Alec went to Vegas.” Zeb keeps his voice level, with no emotion. “Then they disappeared.”
“But that can’t be.” My entire body shakes with fine tremors.
