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“So do I.”
“Your thoughts on the previous complaints?”
“All dismissed? And there’s more than one?”
“Yes.”
“Looks like a pattern.”
“I’ll reserve judgment until Mitzy gets us intel,” Brady says. “In the meantime, we’re in full lockdown. No one in or out, except for the team. I texted Rafe and Hayes. They’re on their way and pissed. Had to talk them down. Booker is with me at The Facility; we’re training the rescues from the raid on Carmen’s father’s place. Alec’s on liberty for the weekend. We’ll meet up when you get to HQ.”
“Copy that.” I don’t like that Brady triggered on the same thing I did. We end our call. My molars grind together and my muscles tense.
I brace for what’s coming.
Unfortunately, I’ve been at this game far too long. I won’t be the least bit surprised if Mitzy comes up empty in her search for whoever submitted formal complaints on our professor. Something tells me Scott is far too practiced at manipulation, torture, and potentially murder.
My molars grind as I think how close Kaye may have come to never coming home again, and I curse myself for not recognizing what was going on sooner. With my call complete, I return to Kaye.
I knock and wait for her to answer.
“Yes?”
“It’s me. May I come in?”
“Of course.”
I enter her room with newfound purpose. She looks at me with wide eyes filled with fear, but also a sense of hope. She looks miserable and pathetic.
Lost.
Somehow, she already knows I bring good news. I love her faith in me and aim to live up to every bit of it.
“What are we going to do?” She gives a slow blink and swallows thickly.
I like this—taking action—far better than watching the light go out in her eyes from a distance.
I approach her bed, where she sits. She looks up at me with puffy eyes rimmed in red. Her cheeks glisten from new tears.
I kneel on the floor to make myself less threatening and on the same level as her. My hands grip either side of the bedframe as I take a moment to compose what I want to say.
“I called Guardian HQ and spoke with the team. We think it would be best if you and the others come down to Guardian HQ until we can figure out how to put a stop to Scott and his threats.”
“What does that mean? Put a stop?”
“Neutralize the threat.”
“You’re not going to…” Her voice drops to a whisper, and she leans in. “Kill him?”
“No.” I take her hands in mine. “No one is killing anybody.” I’m totally going to watch Scott take his last breath. “Are you aware there have been complaints regarding misconduct filed on him before?”
“No.” She shakes her head.
“More than one, and each one was summarily dismissed. It may be nothing, but it’s concerning. The tech team is looking into it.” I speak in an increasingly urgent tone and can’t help but reveal how much concern there is for them all.
“I didn’t know.” She tucks her chin.
“I need your help.” I brush the back of my thumb against her outer thigh. It’s a test of how much physical contact she’ll allow after the trauma she endured. She doesn’t pull away.
