“How long have you known?”
“We knew you’d been kidnapped almost right away, but it took weeks for us to find out where he’d taken you. We thought we’d lose Beckham and the information he provided, but he stayed on. He has to play it off like nothing happened.”
Reyna winced. Nothing happened. He must have been convincing for Harrington to allow him to stay in his position as a senior vice president of Visage. Because the alternative wasn’t possible. She couldn’t believe that he actuallydidn’tcare about her.
“So when is he coming back?”
Meghan shrugged sadly. “I really don’t know. I’m sorry. Why don’t I show you around in the meantime?”
“Okay,” Reyna said hollowly.
Reyna followed Meghan and Jodie down the hallway and through Elle headquarters. They moved into a larger corridor, which Reyna was surprised to find full of people. Some stopped to say hi to Meghan. Others high-fived Tye as they passed. But everyone was busy and engaged and happy. Reyna and Jodie received a few strange looks, but overall, most people waved or smiled. They must be so used to strangers in their midst it didn’t even faze them.
Their group turned the first corner, and Reyna froze.
“Surprise,” Meghan called, holding her hands out.
Her brothers stood before her. Brian and Drew were standing in Elle headquarters. She blinked and blinked again, but it wasreal.
“Reyna,” Brian whispered in shock.
Drew couldn’t even get words out. He was sputtering.
Then she was running. She couldn’t hear or see anything else going on around her. She collided with her brothers, throwing her arms wide around them. They tightened their grip on her, and she breathed them in. They weren’t in the warehouses anymore, laboring away. They were here in Elle. Safe and sound.
Tears streamed down her face. She didn’t even care that she was soaking through Brian’s T-shirt as she buried her face in it.
“Oh my God, I missed you,” she gasped.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” Brian said, brushing her hair back.
“We were so worried, Rey,” Drew added.
“You’re alive. God, we pushed for your escape every single day.”
She pulled back with a sniffle. “How are you guys here?”
“The day after you were kidnapped, a group of Elle agents showed up at our apartment,” Brian told her. “They told us what happened to you and that we needed to leave with them. There was a fear that Harrington would try to kidnap us as well and torture us to use against you. We didn’t believe them at first, but then we spoke to Beckham and we went along with what he said. They brought us in, and it’s been great so far.”
“We’re so glad you’re home,” Drew said.
Reyna wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “It’s so good to see you.”
“What did they do…” Drew trailed off when she shook her head. She wasn’t ready to discuss what had happened in that basement in Visage.
“Hey, guys,” Meghan said, jumping into the conversation.
“Hey, Meghan,” Brian said with an easy smile.
She nodded at him. “How’s Laura?”
“Laura is here?” Reyna gasped.
“Yeah. It was one of my stipulations for leaving. And well…” Brian scratched the back of his head as if he were embarrassed.
“They’re engaged,” Drew filled in.
Reyna’s jaw dropped. Her brother was engaged. “Brian, congratulations! That makes me so happy.”
