“I take it, Rebecca didn’t come out to greet you?” Matthew said, frowning.
“No. Kara told me Rebecca stood up for the others and took the brunt of the punishments,” Julio informed him as he went over the conversation in his head. “If I knew it before Rebecca killed the man at the mansion, I might’ve done it myself.”
“I don’t blame you, brother. We’ll get the others this weekend,” Matthew assured him. “Jameson texted. He’ll call us in an hour.
“Let’s head back to the farmhouse, and hopefully we can map out our intel.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Matthew agreed.
In the dark night,Julio made his rounds, securing all the cabins. Everyone checked in on time and the hours dragged, making him restless.
A light flicked on in Rebecca’s cabin. He watched, in the cover of the trees, as Rebecca walked out onto the deck wrapped in a blanket. She seemed to struggle as she paced the small area.
Julio debated making himself known. His mind recalled the conversation earlier as he peered at her. Rebecca used her job as a way to cope and until she admitted it to herself, he could only offer his support.
To keep from startling her, he made some noise as he came around the cabin across from her.
Her head jerked up as she scanned the area and saw him. Wrapping the blanket around her, she waited while he approached.
“Why are you here?” she asked, staring behind him.
“I’m filling in on guard duty and patrolling the cabins,” he informed her. “Did you have trouble sleeping?”
Rebecca nodded jerkily. “I fell asleep earlier and I’m wide awake,” she explained. “It’s chilly out here.”
“Yeah, but it keeps me alert,” he said quietly. “Have a good night, Becca. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Wait,” she blurted out, making him stop in his tracks. “I’ll be right back.”
A minute later, she returned carrying a mug of hot coffee. “Will you be here all night?” she asked, handing it to him.
“Thank you,” he said, accepting the hot beverage. “I’ll be here until dawn. You can rest easy.”
He noticed her shoulders relax, and he hoped she felt better, knowing he planned to stay close. Julio yearned to escort her to bed, tuck her in, and listen to her talk about her day.
“I’m sorry for earlier,” she murmured.
Julio sipped his drink. “There’s no need for apologies. I didn’t mean to upset you. Why don’t you try drinking some peppermint tea? It usually helps when you feel restless,” he reminded her. “I believe Matthew brought honey from Serenity Mountain. You know it’s the good stuff.”
“It sounds like a good idea. When will you sleep?” she asked, tightening the blanket around her.
“When someone relieves me in the morning. I’ll grab some shut-eye for a few hours,” he told her as he passed her the mug. “Thanks for the coffee. I’m not going anywhere until I see you enter your cabin. It’s late and Kara has counseling early in the morning. You need to rest,”
Rebecca turned toward the door and glanced back at him.
“Goodnight, Julio. Stay warm,” she said before entering the cabin. He didn’t move until he heard the lock click into place. Why did it seem like she remained only a few feet away, yet a giant canyon divided them?
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
“They’re fucking pissed,” Jameson said. “Considering how many kids we saved, you’d think they’d feel upset about them. Instead, they’ve sent out a manhunt for Rebecca. Not only did they interrogate us, but they also haven’t allowed us to leave. We’re still in Georgia. We won’t leave until the early morning of the auction.”
“Those people will be trapped inside one of those trucks for hours,” Matthew growled.
“What about the woman, Caroline?” Julio asked, knowing Jameson desperately wanted her found. He didn’t want her to pay for snooping around in search of Rebecca.
“I haven’t found her. She’s not on the list for this auction,” Jameson told them. Julio heard the disappointment, knowing it all too well.
“What about Megan?” Julio pressed.
