“I’m okay,” I repeat, more firmly this time. “Banged up. Dehydrated. My feet are a mess because I was running through the jungle barefoot. But I’m okay, Lucy. I promise. The guards did rough me up a bit, but I managed to escape any gang rape, so there’s that.”
“Oh geez…yes, I have to admit I was worried that was happening to you and I couldn’t handle the thought. Thank god,” she sighs, then her voice pitches higher. “Wait, what happened to your feet?”
“Long story. I’ll tell you everything later.” I shift on the hospital bed, wincing at the pull of bruised muscles. “First, what happened on your end? How did you even know I was in trouble?”
Lucy lets out a breath that’s half laugh, half sob. “Aldar called me. Well, technically Jonus called me first, but then Aldar took over the logistics. I told your parents and even called your editor at the Times.”
“Oh, thank you for that. Have you talked to?—”
“I did not call Ryan,” she responds with a hard tone. “Sorry, but I refuse to call that man. You know how I’ve always felt about him. He hasn’t called me and as far as I know he hasn’t talked to your parents either. He might not know what happened.”
“Oh, he knows. Jonus said the State Department told him that Ryan said something about how we weren’t together anymore and this was none of his business.”
“Fucking bastard,” Lucy breathes.
“Yeah, obviously it’s over between us and I’m not wasting my time thinking about him right now. Hey, what about my parents? Do they know?—”
“Yeah, I called your mom and let her know you were rescued and you’re back in the US, but not home yet.”
“Thank you so much.
“No worries. Aldar was a huge help too. He coordinated everything,” Lucy continues. “Flight paths, satellite imagery, cartel territory maps. I fed him everything I could find on the Reyes organization’s known locations. We were on the phone constantly.”
I decide to prod. “Oh yeah, I could tell that you two have become good friends. That’s nice.”
“Well…” she sputters. “He was…he was my primary contact for the rescue operation. Of course I talked to him a lot.”
“Uh huh.”
“Don’t ‘uh huh’ me. You were kidnapped by a cartel. This is not the time for your investigative journalist nonsense. God, Sloane. When they said you’d missed your check-in, I thought... I really thought...”
“I know.” I close my eyes. “I know, Luce. I’m so sorry I put you through that.”
“Don’t you dare apologize. This is not your fault. Those cartel bastards are the ones who—” She stops, takes another breath. “Okay. Okay, I’m pulling it together. Tell me what you need. Do you need me to fly out there and bring you back to DC? I can be on a plane tonight. I’ll call in sick, I have plenty of leave saved up, I can?—”
“Not yet.” The words surprise me even as I say them. “Jonus has offered to let me stay with him and his family in Truckee. It’s a mountain town a few hours away from here. It’s hard for me to explain, but I just need to be with Jonus and the others. I haven’t had a chance to fully bring this up with him yet, butI’m worried this isn’t all over yet. The people who wanted me dead are still out there and they’ll be pissed when they discover I escaped. I think for my safety and yours, and everyone else in my apartment building, it’s best if I stay here, amongst a group of badass orcs.”
Lucy laughs. “That makes perfect sense. Those orcsarebadass.” Then her voice softens.
“Aldar told me... well, he said Jonus hasn’t left your side since they found you.”
Something warm curls in my chest. “He hasn’t.”
“Good. That’s good.” A pause. “Sloane?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really glad you’re back.”
“Me too, Luce. Me too.”
After we hang up — with promises to call tomorrow— I look over at Jonus as he enters the room.
He watches me with dark eyes, his expression careful. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I think I am. I’m even going to call my mom now.”
“Are you close with your parents?”
