“She had to leave,” the man responded. “She’s gone.”
“Before the announcement?”
“There was an… emergency.”
My heart stopped and stomach sank. Was she okay? I had to ring her. I raced to find our assistant and get my phone back. She handed it over but told me I only got it until we went back towards the stage. In a few short minutes, I rang Betty to no avail. Then, I texted.
ME
They caught him. He’s gone. Sweden got DQ’ed. Where are you? Are you safe?
There was no response. I knew something was wrong when a few more minutes passed with no response. I followed up.
ME
Betty it’s okay if you can’t say what is going on, but I’m worried. Please just tell me.
As the call came for two minutes, I got a text.
ÄLSKLING
There is a family situation. I am not available.
I knew it wasn’t Betty who texted. Was she blowing me off? Had she been abducted? What was going on?
Chapter 49
Brought Forth
BETTY
Iwas deposited in the drawing room unceremoniously along with my very-confused brother. My family waited—Mamma, Pappa, Ingrid, Keir, and Paulie—Keir and Ingrid’s very-awake toddler. No one knew what was going on until my cousin Cici arrived with her husband Isak. I gathered whatever happened was hers to deal with. This was a training mission and she’d been drafted.
“Pappa will be back soon,” Cici said. “He finished up an engagement and is driving in. I was closer.”
Cici arrived that morning in time for my birthday brunch. Of course, it was now feeling very muchnotlike a birthday.
“What the fuck is happening?” I burst out. “Why was I spirited away? Did Mary make the finals? Wait, is there a threat to Mary? What is happening?”
“Betty, just sit, please,” Cici’s voice rattled.
I had no time for this. Someone needed to tell me why I’d been pulled from the event before the finals. No one answered. I was sick of that shit!
“Has someone died?”Ingrid asked.
I stood and paced, unable to sit. It felt wrong to leave Mary.
“No,” Cici said. “It’s not like that. We were blindsided by some news.”
“Which facilitated you pulling me?—”
“I made a choice based on limited options,” Cici sighed. “And… unfortunately, it’s messy.”
“How?” Pappa asked.
“Betty, there was a tape leaked.”
My mind raced. A tape ofwhat? We’d been so careful. It hit me. I’d consoled Mary in the hallway. I dropped the mask for five minutes to take care of the woman I loved. I thought we were alone. I risked it because it felt right, but what if Kaldi and her crew broke our trust? What if they outed us for clicks?
