“Take one of each,” Julio said. “We have plenty.”
Kara rummaged through the pile until she spotted one of her favorites and then searched for a chocolate candy bar. “Do you think the others will get to eat some of these on the other plane?”
“Absolutely,” Julio exclaimed. “The woman who owns the planes keeps it stocked to feed the team who saved you. It has tons of food. As you can guess, they eat a lot.”
Kara smiled as she struggled to open her can. Rebecca took it from her and handed it back as the plane picked up speed and lifted from the ground. Kara clung to Rebecca’s hand as they climbed higher and watched out the window.
“This is how it feels to be free,” Kara whispered.
Rebecca tucked the blanket around her and smiled. Her nightmare finally ended, but Megan remained out there somewhere. The man beside her didn’t touch her, but she seemed hyperaware of his presence. After months of dreaming of Julio rescuing her, it surprised her to find him there. What did Julio think of her for murdering Jim in cold blood? Monsters like him never stay away for long, and she ensured Jim never returned.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
When they landed, buses met them and drove them to Serenity. As Julio promised, Kassie and her team waited for them. It didn’t escape her notice it consisted of only women. She watched the people she hadn’t seen in over a year welcome the victims and usher them into the hospital.
“Triage them and put anyone hurt in the ER. Annabelle and Addison will attend to them immediately. Tell Randy we need food brought up from the kitchen,” Kassie Winters ordered her team.
Rebecca smiled. The woman seemed to have grown more confident since she’d last seen her. The older women, referred to as the grans, coddled the women as they draped a blanket over their shoulders and walked them inside. Victoria seemed to have softened a bit as she led one of the younger women by the hand.
Kassie approached their bus as the next set of women helped them off. With everyone else gone, Julio stood, allowing Rebecca to lead the way. She rose and extended her hand to Kara.
“Do I have to stay here?” she asked.
“You’ll love it here. It’s very peaceful. We’ll only be here a night or two before we go to the new location. Then, we can contact families and let them know we found you,” Rebecca said patiently. “In the morning, you’ll see two big, beautiful mountains.”
“Will you be here?” Kara asked as she rose.
“I’ll be close,” she assured her. “They have to document all of our injuries and then you can sleep in a nice warm bed.”
Kara stepped off the bus, right into Edie’s arms. “Land’s sakes, child, did they turn off the heat on the bus? Let’s get you inside where it’s nice and warm. Do you like hot chocolate?”
Kara smiled shyly, her eyes widening with disbelief as she nodded. Edie wrapped her arm around her and escorted her inside.
Rebecca stepped down and Kassie smiled. “Welcome home, Rebecca.”
“Thank you for doing all this. Has Leo’s team landed? We need to go over the cities and the names while they’re fresh in my mind. I tried to write them down in order, but I’m not sure I have them correct,” Rebecca babbled nervously.
Kassie nodded. “They’re on their way back, except for Leo and Ivan. They’re handling the other details. I have a room for you if you’ll come with me.”
“I need to get the women settled,” she argued.
“They’re settling in as we speak,” Kassie said firmly. “Now it’s our turn to get you comfortable.”
“I’ll go with Kara. She’s scared and doesn’t know anyone,” Rebecca deflected.
Dr. Claire Meyers approached them, smiling at Rebecca. “Hello, Rebecca. I’m Patch’s fiancée, Claire. Why don’t Kassie and I help you to your room? You can write anything else you can think of down, and when Leo arrives, you’ll have plenty oftime to speak with him,” she assured her and took her arm, leading her away from Julio.
He followed closely behind, intent on going with the woman he loved. Kassie pulled him back, sending him an empathetic smile. “I know you want to join her, but we need to examine her and take pictures. It’s best if you wait across the hall. I have to protect her privacy, but I will come for you if she requests it.”
“She didn’t say much on the plane. Rebecca’s worried about the other women and refused to leave until they all arrived,” Julio murmured. “The teen, Kara, seemed anxious and Rebecca refused to leave her. Where did you take her?”
“She’s two doors down,” Kassie informed him as they entered the hospital. “The same rules apply to her, but she may see you as a safe person since you came for Rebecca. If I don’t find you in the waiting room, I’ll search there.”
“Thanks, Kassie,” Julio said, scanning the chaotic scene as staff led the brutalized women down the hall to X-ray while nurses rushed for IV bags to hydrate almost all of them. They appeared like haunted skeletons.
“You’re welcome. Randy will bring you something to eat while you wait. Doc will be here shortly with some of the team,” she said before heading to Rebecca’s room.
Kassie knocked softly and entered to find Rebecca furiously writing on a piece of paper while Claire observed her and frowned.
