She held his gaze.“I understand.”
“Do you?”
Marielle whispered, “I keep thinking about Olivia.All those years with Mateo.How the Agency hung her out to dry.How I didn’t do enough to help her even though Iknewwhat he was like.”
Omar understood then.This was about Hanna and the mission, but it was also about something else for Elle.
“We’ll get her out,” he said quietly.
“Promise?”
He thought about his career, about Jake’s orders, about all the very good reasons they should walk away.Then he thought about being able to look at himself in the mirror.
“Promise.”
By wordless agreement, they climbed into the massive bed to take a nap.They needed to be rested for what was to come.They fell asleep forehead to forehead, their arms and legs tangled together.
16
Marielle woke from a fitful nap.Beside her, Omar still slept.The alarm wasn’t set to go off for another fifteen minutes.Omar.She eased herself out from his embrace slowly, quietly, trying not to disturb him, trying to allow him those final moments of slumber.He rolled over and sighed in his sleep.She tiptoed out of the room to go in search of Hanna.She needed to get her alone and tell her the plan.
On the pool deck, Brad, Poppy, and Idris sat in a trio of chairs, watching the French coastline grow bigger by the moment.The tension between the men was palpable.Brad was jittery, Idris was cold, and the Secret Service agents were practically vibrating with readiness.Marielle felt it in her bones: something was about to break.
“Where’s Hanna?”she asked.
“Too hungover,” Idris said dismissively.
Poppy piped up, “Yeah, I definitely heard her puking earlier.Poor thing.”
Marielle frowned.Hanna had barely touched her wine—or her food—at lunch.
She excused herself from the group and hurried down one level to the first aid station, where she grabbed a packet of anti-nausea medication and a tumbler of water and headed for Hanna and Idris’s stateroom.
Hanna opened the door, looking pale and sweaty.
“I think he drugged me,” she whispered.“I think he knows.”
“Or he doesn’t want you to talk to anyone when Customs boards the yacht.”
“Maybe.”Her voice quavered.
“Here.Take this.”Marielle pressed the pill into Hanna’s palm and passed her the water.“Your queasiness should go away quickly.”
Hanna swallowed the pill and washed it down with a sip of water.“Thanks.”
“Are you having second thoughts?”Marielle asked gently.
Hanna shook her head.“No.”
Marielle tossed her a waterproof bag.“Bring only what you need.And wear a swimsuit under your clothes.”
Hanna’s eyes were full of questions, but she asked none of them.“Okay.”
“Meet me in the library in fifteen minutes.”She turned to leave.
“Margaux?”
She turned back.“Yes?”
