by Cara Carnes
“I’m sorry. She’s always crying. She never stops.” The girl sniffled into the phone. “I was gonna call last night but got scared. I didn’t want to get you angry.”
“You know I’m always a call away if you have troubles.” Zoey glanced over at Gage. “Tell me why you were going to call.”
“She’s sick. I took her to the doctor, but the medicine isn’t working.”
“Okay. What are her symptoms?”
“That’s not why you called, is it? The doctor didn’t call and tell you.”
“Let’s help Ariana first, okay? There’s lots of things we can do to help sick little babies, so tell me what we’re looking at.”
“She’s pooping a lot. Squirting diarrhea. It’s disgusting,” the girl declared. “And she’s got a real high fever.”
“How high?” Zoey asked.
“How am I supposed to know? She’s hot. That’s all I know.”
“You’re her mom. You know everything about her until the day you die. That became your first priority the day you gave birth to her,” Zoey said, her voice hardened. “Get the medical bag I gave you. There’s a baby thermometer in there. Use it. Tell me what her temperature is.”
But Zoey was already opening up her laptop. She reached over and muted Sara’s line. “Jade, I’m yanking her cord. She needs to be relocated anyway. With Ariana sick, this can’t wait, even if she’s still secure.”
“You need me there?”
Zoey looked at Gage first. Some of the distrust he still harbored melted away beneath the determination glinting in her gaze—the hope he’d help. He nodded his head, then looked around the room.
The Arsenal was all in.
“No, we have this covered. Keep locking down the network for now. Hang onto the line, though. I’m patching Sara back in.”
4
Zoey never should have put Sara into the system alone. The young woman had assured her she could handle being independent and raising her baby without help. She’d been outright emphatic.
“This is gross. She’s crapping on me.”
“Keep the thermometer in place until the reading is done.”
“One hundred two.”
Fuck. Zoey typed in the password D0bbyRu@z and waited as the Z flashed onto the screens around her. She experienced a moment’s panic since she hadn’t intended to broadcast to everyone, but then realized they needed to understand more of what was happening anyway.
She clicked on the orange dot amongst the sea of multi-colored ones that formed the letter Z. She called up Sara’s data and clicked into her grid of usable assets. Sara was located within an asset-rich area because Zoey had been a bit worried about the young woman’s ability to handle being alone with a baby.
Gage was right.
Zoey had great instincts. She needed to learn to trust them more. Her gut tightened as she clicked through the data. “Which doctor did you see?”
“The closest one. Some old man around the corner from the market I go to,” Sara supplied.
“Okay. Remember you’re supposed to log into the tablet you have and let me know you went. Otherwise the doctor doesn’t get paid.”
“So?”
Zoey gnashed her teeth together and forced a deep breath. “So if we don’t get him paid then he’s less likely to help you or someone else next time he’s needed. He’s taking huge risks to help.”
“I don’t understand why I couldn’t give him cash. Or use the card you gave me. It’s all under a different name anyway.”
“Credit cards leave trails.” Zoey called up the credit card information and silently cursed at the string of purchases. A shoe store. A jewelry store. “That card was for baby stuff and only if you needed it.”
“She’s not the one running for her life,” the woman said flippantly.
Zoey swallowed the retort lodged in her throat. The young woman’s voice cracked at the end. Terror. She’d seen it enough over the years to recognize its many faces.
“You aren’t alone, Sara. I’m coming to get you.”
“You are?”
“Yes, that’s why I was calling. I’ve come up with a better place for you.”
“Thank God. This one’s a dump.”
Zoey didn’t think a two-bedroom in a decent part of Chicago was a dump. Given how much had been paid for the small apartment, it was certainly not. But Sara had been born to a billionaire. Her definition of a dump was likely much different than Zoey’s.
I want you to get the go bag I gave you. Get Ariana and take her to the address I’m about to give you. It’s a ways away, so you’ll need to drive there.”
“With what car? You make me take the bus and subway everywhere.”
“Get the bag and Ariana and nothing else. You’re going to the hospital.”
“Why?” The woman’s voice rose. “You said hospitals were dangerous. There are cameras and too many eyes. You said I never do that.”
“Ariana’s really sick, Sara. I need you to trust me, okay?” Zoey waited out the woman’s fear and prayed her motherly instincts would override the terror of being found.
“Okay.”
“Walk into the emergency exit. You should be met by a male nurse named Ben. If he’s not there, sit at the first available seat nearest the exit doors and he’ll meet you there.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. He’s one of my grade-A assets. He’s helped me many, many times.”
“And the cameras?”
“Don’t worry about those. I’m your eyes and ears, remember? All you have to do is get your bag, bundle up Ariana, and get to the hospital.” She paused a moment. “Repeat it back to me.”
“Bundle Ariana, get the bag, and go to the hospital. Ask for Ben.”
“Good. Repeat that in your head. Take a cab to the hospital, okay?”
“That’s not too dangerous?”
“No. By the time you get done at the hospital I’ll be there to take you somewhere new.”
“Okay.” The girl paused. “I’m scared.”
“I know you are, honey, but you’re safe.”
“You swear?”
“I swear.”
“He can’t have her. She’s mine,” the woman said. “He’s not hurting her.”
“No, he’s not. Now I need to go get some stuff ready. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay. Bye.” The woman sounded calmer when she clicked off. Zoey hoped it held until she could get there.
“I can hop the next plane there,” Jade offered. “Just tell me where I’m going.”
“We’ve got this,” Gage stated. “We’ll take the jet.”
“The team leader without a team,” Jesse muttered. “You aren’t going anywhere alone, Lone Ranger.”
Zoey’s gut tightened. She hated the latest nickname a few bandied about for Gage. He’d spent his time at The Arsenal vetting team leaders and operatives, but he’d yet to settle on a team. Vi and Mary didn’t seem worried. But the fact that he didn’t trust anyone at his back clearly bothered a few of them enough now for them to voice their concern.
“Not cool, brother,” Dylan said. “We’ve chatted. He’s going to get a team sorted.”
“Jade, I’ve gotta let you go so I can sort some commandos. I need you online running the dots until you hear from me. Go by color priority, most recent first. If there’s any blip at all, you let me know.”
“On it.”
Zoey clicked off and glared at Jesse.
“I wouldn’t bite off more than you can chew, Little Bit,” Gage said. “He’s right. I need a team at my back. I’ve put it off long enough. As soon as we’ve got her shit sorted, I’ll sort mine. Fair enough?”
Jesse nodded.
“Until then, you and your team in for a trip?”
“Let’s do it.”
The two men rose.
“Erm, hold up a minute, Lone Ranger and Tonto. Sit your butts back down. I’m getting some answers before anyone’s going anywhere,” Bree declared as she gl
ared at Zoey from across the table. “We’re friends. I thought we were tight.”
“We are,” Zoey whispered, her voice filled with the guilt and regret she’d chewed on a lot since befriending the woman. “I swore I’d never tell anyone about this.”
“This being Sara,” Dylan said.
“Yes.” And the others. Zoey supposed the others could wait.
“Let’s take the display back a few screens,” Vi ordered.
Zoey swallowed and did as ordered until they arrived at the Z. The two women who’d hired her on at The Arsenal were two of the most brilliant people Zoey had ever met. Her pulse thudded when she looked at them both. They glanced at one another.
“Son of a bitch,” Mary muttered with a sigh.
“Fifty bucks. That was the bet, right?” Vi glanced at her friend then over at Zoey. “I’m thinking there’s a bit more than Sara we need to discuss.”
“Probably.”
“Uh-huh,” Rhea said. “Each of those dots is a person, isn’t it? That’s what you meant by ‘running the dots.’ You wanted Jade to check on everyone, make sure they’re secure?”
Crap. Zoey nodded. “I need to—”
“Right,” Vi cut in. “Leave the laptop. Gage, Jesse, and his team are on the plane with you.”
“I need the laptop.”
“Then load whatever the hell that program is onto HERA because we’re reviewing it while you’re en route. As soon as Sara’s secure, we need a full debrief on what we just stepped in.”
Zoey nodded. While she was thankful for the reprieve, she regretted the necessity. “Cherling won’t stop until he gets her back.”
“That’s not happening,” Gage said.
“No.” Zoey looked at him. “It’s not. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. I made a promise.”
Gage was surprised to discover Zoey had beat him to the hangar. He looked back at Jesse’s team unloading gear from the vehicle. The little minx of a woman who’d upheaved The Arsenal stood near the jet with a backpack slung over one shoulder. Had she even packed extra clothes?
He studied her requisite cave-gear of a T-shirt and snug leggings. Today’s was one she’d worn before. The saying always emitted chuckles from the gamers amongst the operatives.
I was a badass like you. Then I took an arrow to the knee.
Gage didn’t pretend to understand the nod to whatever game it came from. All he knew was today’s leggings were purple to match her hair. Little zombies spanned the tight material as it clung to her legs and molded against her backside.
“She doesn’t dress to blend in,” Jesse commented.
No, she hadn’t, and that would prove a problem if things got complicated, which they tended to quickly when The Arsenal was dragged into a problem. “I’ll have a word. There’s extra gear for Addy on the plane. Surely something will fit.”
“Yeah, if we whack about eight inches off the legs,” Jesse said. “Owe you an apology. Dylan handed me my ass.”
Gage figured as much. He’d seen the two head off. While he appreciated the assist, he didn’t want everyone knowing his business. But he saw the regret and intensity in Jesse’s gaze. “He told you.”
“Not in so many words.” The man looked at his team as they lugged gear past them and toward the plane. “Something you should know. That hole I landed in? The one where they carved flesh off me a piece at a time?”
Fuck. Gage didn’t like where this was going.
“I got there ’cause locals I was training turned tail and ran when bullets started flying,” Jesse said. “Whatever happened, Dylan seems to think you and I have the same demons. The thing is, I think a team at my six will keep it from happening again.”
“And my team was the demon,” Gage returned.
Jesse grimaced.
Gage didn’t think his story would compare to the brave man’s in front of him. He’d endured a hell no man should experience and had come back strong. He hadn’t let the hell he’d survived beat him.
He hadn’t checked out like Gage had.
“You ever need a sounding board, I’m here. No judgment,” Jesse offered.
“Back atcha.” Gage looked at the woman dancing from one foot to another as she watched him and Jesse. “She’s about to get enough steam built up to charge toward us.”
Jesse chuckled as she did exactly that. The man headed toward the plane and left Gage alone with the fascinating and frustrating woman.
“Where’s the rest of your stuff?” Gage asked.
“Stuff? Why would I need anything more?” Zoey’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Returning here won’t be an option for a while, Little Bit.”
“I’m not an idiot, Sanderson.”
“Then you know you’ll need extra clothes—enough things to get through a few days.”
“This isn’t my first rodeo,” she commented. “I’ve done this a few more times than you.”
“Oh really?” He leaned in and inhaled her soft, strawberry-and-vanilla scent. Damn if it didn’t stir his dick every single time. “I’m thinking you and me should have a conversation while we’re en route.”
“And I’m thinking it’ll wait because I have shit to do.”
Oh really? He let the question hang between them as she bowed up and stood on her tiptoes. “You don’t scare me, Gage Sanderson. While I’m glad you and Jesse are leading commandos at my back, this is my operation. I take the lead when we get there.”
“We’ll see,” he said.
We’ll see? Who the hell did Gage think he was? Her keeper?
As if.
Zoey grudgingly admitted she should have added a couple changes of clothes to her bag, just in case, but there hadn’t been time. Jesse and his crew took the nearest seats as they boarded, which relegated her to sitting beside Gage in a secluded corner toward the back. If she didn’t know any better, she would’ve imagined Jesse had planned it that way, but he hadn’t uttered a word.
Weird.
She latched herself into the seat nearest the window and ignored the heat rising within her as Gage sat beside her. Damn, the man smelled intoxicating. The sardine-sized area sealed the scent into her nostrils. He stretched his long, thick legs out and moaned. Damn. She took another breath and tried to ignore him and everyone else.
It was just a short plane trip.
No. Big. Deal.
“You’re sweating.”
“That’s rude. You shouldn’t say stuff like that. No wonder you never get laid.”
“Been watching that close, huh?”
Zoey’s eyes widened as she replayed what she’d said. Her gaze darted to him. The flash of pearly white teeth glimmered with a playful upturn of his full lips. The humor spread clear to his gaze, which softened as he reached out and ran a hand down her cheek.
“We’re gonna get your girl safe,” he commented.
“I know.” She swallowed. “Thank you.”
She hoped he’d steer the conversation away from her comment about him getting laid. Truth be told, she had noticed he never made the trips into San Antonio like most of the operatives did during their downtime. Carousing with locals within Resino or the neighboring Marville or Nomad was frowned upon by the Masons.
According to Riley, they’d learned the hard way not to dip their wicks into the local ink too much because some of it was a tad bit nuts. Apparently some bitch had hooked up with Dylan, then drugged and raped Dallas.
Messing with the Mason men was downright suicidal. She gripped the narrow patch of armrest between herself and Gage. Goosebumps danced along her skin where his forearm grazed hers.
He stroked up and down her arm, as if chasing the line of bumps.
The lazy grin he offered when she looked over at him only quickened her pulse more.
“You’re nervous,” he commented.
She was always nervous around him. “I don’t fly well.”
“I remember. I almost needed stitches from your talons last time.”
She gasped
and punched his gut. Hard. “That was not nice. Dobby was having a bad day.”
So had she.
“You get him sorted on being fed while we’re gone?”
“TJ and DJ are on Dobby duty,” she said. “Dallas asked Kamren, then sent me a text.”
“I heard Ellie’s doing a good job getting them caught up,” Gage commented.
She was, but Zoey knew better than to think Gage wanted to talk about Dallas’s sons. He was diverting her attention from the fact that a man on Jesse’s team, Levi, was rolling them down a narrow cow trail the Masons had turned into a landing strip.
She could have lived an entire lifetime without knowing the runway they used all too frequently had been carved out of the landscape by cows. Sure, it’d been paved and widened. But still.
She peered out at the waning dawn and wondered if Levi was certified to fly at night. She filed the concern away. Surely so. Otherwise Vi and Mary would’ve said something.
They hadn’t looked very happy.
No, they’d been concerned and rightly so.
And determined to assess Zoey’s programs while she was en route.
No one had ever seen the programs she’d created. A couple were new and blatantly concocted from a couple of things she’d borrowed from Vi and Mary without permission.
Gage threaded his fingers through hers. The contact forced her awareness back to him and away from the what-ifs thundering through her brain. What if they hated everything she’d done?
What if they fired her?
It’d taken weeks for her to acclimate to life at The Arsenal, but now that she had, she couldn’t imagine living away from the compound where fast and dangerous weren’t a possibility—they were expected, planned for, and met with force.
“I’m proud of you, Little Bit.”
Shock riddled her mute as she looked at Gage. He squeezed her hand, rubbing his thumb on her palm. “You looked that bastard in the eyes without reservation or fear and stood your ground. You protected her.”
Only because he’d been there. And the others. Without them in the room, she would’ve likely fouled it up somehow. It was easy to run her mouth when surrounded by commandos.
