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“In Omar’s defense,” Chelsea piped up, “it’s possible to be insightful and observant and to have one glaring blind spot. He’s a sharp guy. I think he just genuinely never considered the possibility that you and Ryan could develop feelings for each other.”
“I suppose,” Marielle pouted. “But that’s not theonlyarea where Omar is a giant, clueless lug.”
Leilah hid a smile and let Olivia handle this one. Olivia twisted in her seat. “Elle, you’re as big a fool as Leilah is.”
Leilah’s smile faded. “Hey.”
Olivia ignored her to focus on Marielle. “Omar digs you. But you’re freaking intimidating. That’s always been your problem with men. You’re too beautiful, brilliant, and brainy to approach.”
Elle sniffed, unappeased.
“My brother taught himself how to make French pastries for you,” Leilah reminded her. “He just has to work up the courage to actually ask you out.”
“Coward,” the data geek muttered.
“You could askhimout, you know.”
Marielle responded to Chelsea’s observation with a string of French curse words that left them all giggling.
Once she caught her breath, Leilah grew serious. “I may have blown our secret.”
“Project Athena?” Olivia asked.
“I think so. I’m sorry,” she fretted.
Olivia waved an airy hand. “I’m not worried about it. And I’m the one who provided most of the self-defense training. If Jake has a problem with it, I’ll take the fall.”
Chelsea pursed her lips. “I don’t think the guys are going to make such a big deal out of it. We hid it from Jake originally because he was trying to be my alpha male protector after my attack. But it turns out we were right. It’s not an indictment of their manliness. Ididhave to fight for myself when he was trapped in that cave. And Leilahdoesneed to know how to defend herself with creepers like Cyrus Ahmadi running around.”
At the mention of Ahmadi’s name, the vibe in the vehicle turned from lighthearted to grim.
Chelsea grimaced. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re right,” Leilah told her. “This isn’t over yet with Ahmadi.”
Saying the words drove home the truth, and a chill coursed through Leilah’s body at the thought of confronting him. She shivered.
Marielle cast a worried sidelong look her way. “Are you okay,cherie?”
“I’ll be fine,” Leilah said, ignoring the lump of ice lodged in her stomach.
14
The sky was fully dark,and the stars were hidden behind the clouds when Omar pulled into the parking lot closest to Building H. Ryan’s adrenaline buzz from the confrontation in the alley was long gone. He staggered out of the SUV and yawned widely. The cool night air gave him a small jolt, but it wasn’t enough to clear his head.
While Trent and Omar hauled Ahmadi’s men from the back of the Suburban, he approached Jake.
“Hey, I’m not firing on all cylinders. I’m gonna grab a cup of coffee. Want one?”
Jake shook his head. “No, thanks. Just meet us in the basement conference room.”
The basement ‘conference room’ was more of a cell. No windows, no tables, no phone. There were chairs, but that was the extent of the amenities.
Ryan frowned. “Listen—”
“—Don’t get all lawyerly on me. We won’t rough them up. The atmosphere is simply conducive to encouraging conversation.”
“Conducive to encouraging conversation,” he repeated slowly. “You don’t think they’ll talk?”
