Jolie pressed her fingers to her lips, but it didn’t completely hide her smile. “If it wasn’t the dead man and the safehouse, what was it?”
Stina stared at the water bottle in her hands. She pushed out the breath trapped in her lungs. “The drive.”
The humor vanished from her friend’s face. “The chase?”
“Should I be surprised you know about that? What exactly do you do around here? Do you work for this ghost ops team?”
Jolie shook her head.
“So you know what happened. With the wreck. The drone. Rome driving like he was auditioning for an action movie.” Even now, remembering it made her stomach tighten. One second they were arguing about… What were they arguing about? They’d butted heads over so many topics, from pizza to underwear, that she couldn’t remember anymore.
Jolie reached over and squeezed her hand. “I heard pieces of what happened from the team. They weren’t saying much, but every update sounded worse than the one before it.”
The pain in her friend’s voice made Stina turn the tables on her. “You couldn’t have done anything if you’d been there beside me, Jolie. I’m okay. Really.”
Jolie’s eyes grew shiny, and at the same time, both of them stood and hugged.
“You’re getting emotional.” Stina squeezed her.
Jolie squeezed back just as tightly. “So are you.”
When they drew apart, they shared a smile, then Stina dropped back into her seat, waiting for the energy from her snack to kick in.
She began to talk slowly, recounting the events that took place what felt like a month ago when really, it was mere hours. Her story about the dead agent morphed into weeks of missed conversations with her best friend.
They fell into their old rhythm, and finally, Jolie waved toward the door. “Do you want a tour of the base?”
“Okay.”
Her friend showed her the kitchen and a modern gym. None of the spaces they entered had any windows, but light seemed to glimmer in unexpected places.
“Where are we?” Stina touched her fingertips to the wall and found it cool and made of concrete.
“Hidden.”
“In the Bat Cave?”
Jolie gave her a private smile but didn’t answer her question. They turned down another hallway. Two men were walking toward them. Both tall, broad and chiseled just like the man who brought her here.
They saw Stina and their expressions seemed to clear of the tension they carried.
Jolie paused. “Rorke. Rivers. This is my best friend Stina.”
The guys stopped in front of them and Stina had to tilt her head to look up at them. “Hi.”
“Stina.” The man returned the greeting before continuing on his way.
Rorke lifted two fingers in acknowledgement but didn’t say a word.
They walked away, leaving Stina and Jolie looking at their broad backs.
Stina gave herself a little shake. “Does everybody here look like they can kill a person?”
“Pretty much.” Amusement echoed in Jolie’s tone.
“What’s the job requirement around here? You have to cut glass with your angular jaw?”
They looked at each other and burst out laughing, the most normal thing she’d experienced all day.
