Page 46 of What Remains

He’s talking to Carter and Zoey, not even glancing our way. No jealousy, so that’s good, I suppose.

Zoey’s pretty green eyes narrow on me in apology next. She’s acting like she’s the one who strapped me to that chair herself. She needs a hug so she can stop feeling so bad for something that wasn’t her fault. Since I don’t take her for the hugging type, I won’t attempt to do that.

“I was terrified,” Julian admits, and he’s still holding on to me like I might float away. “I didn’t say that on the plane, but I lost my fuckin’ mind when I heard you were taken.”

Oh. I gulp. What do I say to that? Thank you? Or, um . . . “I’m okay.” Stellar response. “Thank you again for your help with my rig, and with trying to track me down.”

I slip free of his embrace, and he slides his hands down to my forearms, keeping hold of me. I can feel eyes on us now. Dad’s for sure. That protective, hovering energy I’ve come to know buzzes against my skin even from across the room.

“So, uh, how are you holding up?” Julian asks. “You look good considering . . .”

“I’m hanging in there,” I say with a shrug, as if what I survived is just another Monday.

From the corner of my eye, I spot Dad moving in beside us, and that’s Julian’s cue to take his hands off me, which he thankfully does. We face my dad, and his eyes are red and exhausted. He looks like he’s aged a decade since I saw him in Dubai. Every hour I was missing is physically carved into his face.

Dad quietly stares at me, just watching me breathe. Watching me exist. And, no doubt, remembering what those men almost did to me.

“Does Mum know what happened? My brothers?”

He strokes his beard, eyes on the floor. “They’re protected, but I didn’t want to worry them.”

Thank you. I’d rather them not know about this. “Well, um, any more updates? Easton told me about what happened with the Australians, and that you have no photos of that woman, either.”

“Nothing new.” He shakes his head. “Unfortunately.”

“How’d they even get to me at the hotel? I know they had the server on the inside, who they killed in the lift, and eyes on me, but still, that’s crazy.”

Dad rests a hand on my shoulder and lightly squeezes. “I’d rather get you off this island than stand around and debrief. We can discuss everything in the air.”

This isn’t exactly a vacation, so we might as well leave as quickly as possible. I tip my head toward the door, finally making eye contact with Easton as I do so. His jaw is tight, hands buried in his pockets, and there’s something sharp and unspoken in his expression. He looks at Julian, then over at Gideon.

Oh.

Ohhhh.

I stumble back as it clicks. You’re remembering that op. The mission that involved Julian’s family that took down the bird and nearly killed us. You’re not jealous of Julian, you just hate that Julian reminds you of what happened. I bet that’s what it is. Maybe seeing them rubs salt into a wound he’ll never admit to out loud?

“Gwen, you good?” Dad’s voice pulls me back to him.

My stomach aches all over again for so many reasons. “I’m fine,” I sigh. “I’m just ready to get the bloody hell out of here.”

CHAPTER 15

Easton

IN THE AIR

The last time I was in the air with Gwen, I was behind the yoke yelling to brace for impact. To say my stomach is in knots would be putting it mildly.

Add in the fact Julian and Gideon are also on the flight with us . . .

Yeah, fuck my life.

I’m doing my best not to want to throw them both from the plane, but I haven’t fully talked myself out of the idea yet, and it’s a long plane ride to Europe. Plenty of time to test whether billionaires wear emergency chutes under their clothes.

Gwen jumped right into work the second the seat belt sign came off. She’s currently huddled up next to Julian to share his laptop, wearing her own clothes and her signature perfume thanks to Natasha having the foresight to bring Gwen’s suitcase with her.

I’m on the other side of the cabin, trying to maintain some distance, because we already got a little too damn close before this flight. Carter’s currently talking to me about the logistics of the Australian hit against the compound, and if I’m being honest, I’m not really listening. Too busy fixated on the woman I could’ve lost forever yet again. There can never be another almost when it comes to losing her.