“I was just so upset. It didn’t help that I was coming down from the venom and had a massive headache.”
“Yeah, plus probably PTSD,” Jodie said flippantly. As if it wasn’t something they both might never heal from.
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Meghan mentioned it. That’s why we’re both sleeping so much. It’s why she wants us to go to a therapist.” Jodie rolled her eyes. “As if I’m going to spill my guts to some stranger.”
“I’m spilling mine to you.”
“Yeah. What’s with that, huh?”
“I don’t know,” Reyna said. “You were there, too.”
Jodie shrugged. “I guess.”
Then Meghan entered the room.
Jodie gasped and rose to her feet. “Who did your box braids? They’re perfect.”
Meghan’s bright-red hair had been carefully braided nearly to her waist, and she smiled at the pair of them. “I had them done by the same woman who got me the products for your hair. You like?”
“Love,” Jodie confirmed.
“Definitely,” Reyna agreed.
“Good. Now let’s get going,” she told Reyna. “Sydney requested your presence.”
“Really?” Reyna asked.
“Yes, Sydney authorized your rescue. She’s the reason you’re here and not still with Harrington. I’m sure you have a lot of questions for her.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later,” Reyna said to Jodie.
“Good luck,” Jodie said before falling back on Meghan’s bed.
Reyna followed Meghan out the door. “So, what’s Sydney like?”
“She’s amazing. Ex-military and a brilliant strategist. She expects and commands respect from everyone. Mouthing off to her is not something that I’d suggest.”
“How do you talk to her, then?”
“Carefully,” she said with a quick grin. “But really…be careful.”
“Why do I feel like I should be afraid of walking in there?”
“Not afraid. Cautious. She’s gotten ahead for a reason. Everyone who succeeds gets ahead for a reason,” she told her. “She’s not the kind of person that you want to have on your bad side.”
“Anything else I should know?”
“Sydney is the only reason we’ve survived this long, but don’t let her see any weaknesses. Be strong and confident. You’ve got this.”
Reyna didn’t respond. All she could think was that Sydney sounded a hell of a lot like Harrington. The tactics were the same: Lock down your emotions. Show no weakness. Control your reactions. Don’t get on her bad side. It all felt too familiar. Uneasiness settled in her bones.
Meghan stopped in front of a steel door.
“Situation room.” Meghan tapped in a code and then did a retinal scan. The door popped open. “Good to go.”
“Aren’t you coming in with me?”
