I wrinkle my nose. “Kind of? I’m their only child and they didn’t really mean to have kids. Apparently, I was an accident. I wasn’t treated terribly or anything. They hired amazing nannies and I had everything I needed growing up. They even paid for college for me, to set me up in life. But they were always kind of distant and not that involved. And after I moved out to go to college, I haven’t seen them that much. They don’t even make it a priority to spend holidays with me.”
“You don’t have to call them,” Jonus grouses. “You only need to talk to humans you want to talk to.”
I smile at him. “I know. But I’m in a surprisingly good mood right now so I’m going to make an effort and call my mom.”
An hour later,my good mood continues, buoyed by the fact that I’m free of those fucking guards and that hellish pit and back in the States. Safety and security are certainly good for the mind and body. My parents were reasonably supportive on the phone, which was a nice surprise. There is plenty of food here, no bugs, a soft place to sit and my feet are being tended. And best of all, my painkillers are doing a great job and the last IV has finally runs its course.
Life is looking up. Well, there are still bad guys out there who want me dead and a story I still need to get out into the world so I can take down a fucking Billionaire who thinks he’s above the law but isn’t. But, that can wait for later.
I’ve called everyone who needed to be called right away. I’ll wait to call my editor tomorrow, or even the next day, when I’m more level-headed.
And I’m never, ever calling Ryan Kreychek ever again.
Soon after, when the doctor wants me to stay overnight for observation, I decline.
“Ms. Adams, you’re severely dehydrated, malnourished, and your feet?—”
“Will heal just fine with the antibiotics you’re prescribing.” I keep my voice polite but firm. “I’ve spent twelve days somewhere I didn’t choose to be. I’m not spending another night like that.”
The doctor, a tired woman in her fifties who’s probably seen every kind of stubborn patient, sighs and reaches for the against-medical-advice paperwork. “At least let me give you a list of warning signs. If you experience any of these, you need to come back immediately.”
“I will. I promise.”
She doesn’t look convinced, but she hands me the discharge papers anyway.
Jonus appears in the doorway as I’m signing the last form. He’s changed at some point — someone must have brought himclothes, and he looks slightly less like an orc who just spent thirty-six hours extracting a journalist from a Colombian jungle. I realize he’d probably like the chance to take a shower too. Another reason for us to leave.
“Ready?” he asks.
A big smile widens across my face. “More than.”
He crosses to the bed and scoops me up without asking permission. I should probably protest, I’m a grown woman, I can walk, even if my feet are bandaged, but the truth is I’m exhausted down to my bones, and his arms feel solid and safe, and I just... don’t want to. I love being that close to Jonus Irontree.
“Aldar’s got the car,” Jonus says as he carries me toward the elevator. “It’s about a two-hour drive to Truckee.”
Truckee. The town where his family lives. The place he’s taking me because I said I wanted to stay with him and he offered without hesitation.
I rest my head against his shoulder. “Okay.”
Aldar waits in the hospital’s pickup zone, behind the wheel of a black SUV that probably costs more than my annual salary. He nods when he sees us but doesn’t say anything, just opens the back door so Jonus can slide me inside.
It’s just the three of us now. Cole and Martinez left to go their separate ways back at the airfield — professionals who did their job and moved on to the next one. Kelt flew back to Maine because he’s needed at the commune where he’s head of security. It’s strange how quickly our group of six became three. How intense bonds can form in crisis and then dissolve back into regular life. But that’s how it works, I guess. The mission is over. Everyone goes home.
Everyone except me, who doesn’t really have a home to go back to.
I’m asleep before we hit the highway.
A sound wakes me.The turn signal clicking. The car slowing.
“Hungry?” Jonus’s voice, close. He’s in the back seat with me, and at some point I migrated in my sleep, my head now resting against his shoulder. I should probably move but I don’t. My stomach answers for me, a loud, embarrassing growl that echoes through the car.
Jonus doesn’t comment, just looks toward Aldar. “Pull into the drive-thru.”
I blink myself more fully awake and see the familiar red and yellow sign of an In-N-Out. “You don’t have to?—”
“What do you want?”
I give up. “Double-double. Animal style fries. Chocolate shake.”
