by Cara Carnes
People remembered what you told them with details.
“Walk around the side to the elevators. He’s up on the third floor in the pediatrics unit. It looks like he needed a few tests run.” The woman’s expression showed concern. “We’re taking good care of him.”
Zoey sniffled and nodded. “Thank you.”
She let Gage steer them toward the elevator bay even though she knew where it was. A cluster of bodies shoved into one of the lifts the moment it opened.
“Hang back. Another one is en route,” Cord said.
Zoey turned and wrapped her arms fully around Gage to delay their procession upward in a way people would recall if asked. “I love you, Jeremy. I’d be lost without you.”
“I love you, too. Come on, let’s go get our boy.”
As if on cue the elevator dinged, and they got in. Gage reached over and hit the door shut button. A second ticked by before the elevator froze.
“We’ve got a couple minutes before the system gets triggered for an emergency stop,” Cord commented.
“Look at me,” Gage ordered.
Zoey peered up at him as she separated herself from him.
“Are you okay?”
“Of course.” She swiped the last of the tears from her eyes as his gaze narrowed on her. “What? It’s method acting. I took it in college. I got an A.”
“I see why,” Mary commented. “Good job, Z. She’ll certainly remember you and Jeremy.”
Gage grunted. “Pediatrics ward isn’t a good sign.”
“It is. Ben’s a nurse there. Even if it was just the sniffles, Ariana would’ve been brought up here. Ben knows to enter her into the system as a boy. Janie and Johnny are the go-to names.”
The elevator started moving again as Jesse asked for status checks. One by one the team members who’d fanned out checked in with “Clear.”
Zoey took a deep breath. They were close. The elevator doors opened, and they spilled into a wide, white corridor. Chimes sounded around them as a voice droned over the loudspeaker overhead. Each step ratcheted her pulse a bit higher.
This isn’t Boston General.
This isn’t Boston General.
This isn’t Boston General.
Three years and the pain hadn’t dulled. She still remembered his boisterous laugh and the gleam in his gaze the last time they’d spoken—mere hours after his surgery.
Sneak in a cheeseburger and shake, baby girl. They’re starving me.
A couple stray tears escaped her burning eyes as she sniffled. She’d been later than expected because she’d swung by Dad’s favorite diner to get the damn chocolate mocha shake and sneak it in. Phantom memories mingled with reality as she glanced down at the floor.
He’d never gotten the shake. It’d been mopped up while her aunt and uncle joined her on the floor where she’d collapsed into a sobbing mess.
“Look at me, sweetheart,” Gage ordered as he cupped her face and drew her attention to him. “Talk to me.”
“This isn’t Boston General,” she whispered.
“No. Hang tight for me, Little Bit. We’ll be out soon,” he whispered against her ear. “If you need to leave, say the word.”
“I’m good.” She forced the words out. Sara needed her. “Sorry, hospitals still get me.”
“They get everyone,” Gage offered with a squeeze of her neck. “You need a breather, you let me know.”
Zoey nodded and motioned down the hall. “Let’s track down Ben.”
Gage took her hand and threaded their fingers together like he had on the plane. Heat rolled through her as they made their way down the corridor until they found the nurse’s station.
A young man with bright green hair surged forward. “Can I help you?”
Zoey glanced down at the nametag. Ben. They’d spoken on the phone quite a few times since Chicago was one of several hubs within her network. While most of her assets landed out at small, out-of-the-way towns, most required medical attention first. Hubs were large cities where the women and children could recover and heal enough to shift to their new life.
“Hi. I’m here for my son, Johnny Marks.”
The young man’s eyes widened as his mouth formed an O for a flash of a minute. “Of course, come right this way. Your sister was smart to bring him in when she did. He was a very sick little boy, but he’ll be good as new in no time. Doctor Savangiano is taking good care of him.”
Zoey separated from Gage and let Ben guide her down to a room across the way.
“We went ahead and put him in a room because he was getting fussy with all the other babies,” Ben said as he guided her into the room and shut the door after Gage followed them in.
The second the door was closed Sara surged forward and vaulted into Zoey. “Thank God you’re here. I’m so scared.”
“You’re okay.” Zoey pulled away enough to look the girl in the eyes. “You’re okay. We’re here. Are we clear?”
She asked the latter into the com.
“You’re clear,” Vi said.
“How’s Ariana?”
“The doctor said she has a really nasty viral infection. They’re writing up a prescription now. We can go in a few hours. They want to make sure she’s over the worst of the diarrhea and hydrated better.”
A few hours was a problem because in hospital terms that meant at least an overnight’s stay. They wouldn’t take chances on a dehydrated, sick baby. Insurance and documentation were stellar, but they were a nightmare from the data perspective. Even if she hacked her way into the hospital records before the information was transmitted to the insurance company, there was still a physical paper trail she’d have to scrub sooner rather than later.
“We’ll need to bury the paperwork. The insurance and identification paperwork is a trail we can’t leave,” she said into the com. She’d have to trust Vi and Mary and Cord to handle the hacking aspects for now.
“On it,” Vi said.
“I’m thinking the concerned uncle needs to find his way up to the third-floor waiting room,” Gage said into the com.
“On the way,” Jesse said. “Need secondary in the lobby.”
“On the way,” Levi said.
“Moving transport,” Howie said.
“Sol?” Gage asked.
“Hanging out. All’s clear.”
“Brooklyn?”
“Taking position at the main hospital entrance,” the woman replied.
Zoey was glad they weren’t using call names or numbers like teams typically did. She wasn’t sure why they weren’t, but it didn’t matter. “I’m thinking the concerned uncle needs to take Bess home. She’s done her babysitting duties.”
“I’m not leaving my baby,” the woman argued.
“You’ll both be safer this way,” Zoey reasoned. “Think about it. You need rest as much as your baby does.”
“But I don’t know these people. I want to stay with you.” Fear resonated in the woman’s voice. “I need you. You’re all I have left.”
Uh-oh. She’d had a few incidents like this before. Sometimes people were so relieved someone had helped them out of a horrifying situation that they refused to detach and transition. Sara was young and vulnerable.
She’d have to keep her distance and help Sara move past relying on her.
“Brooklyn will take good care of you.”
“Brooklyn? There’s a girl on the team?”
“Yeah. She’s a commando, too, because she’s the ordnance expert. She knows at least a hundred ways to blow things up,” Zoey said. “She and the rest of the team will keep you safe while the rest of us stay here and keep Ariana safe until she’s ready to leave.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am.” She looked over at the bed and saw the bag. Likely Ben had retrieved it from the employee locker she used as a stash site. “Now, I need you to go into the bathroom and get ready. Everything you need is inside. Ben, how long has she been isolated in here?”
“Shift change was an hour a
go. I’ve handled the rounds in here, so no one’s seen her,” the man said. “What are you thinking?”
“We can’t risk not doing the hair dye now.”
“Hair dye? I’m not dying my hair.”
“Yes, you are. And we’re cutting it, too.” The woman gasped. Zoey didn’t stop. “Do you want to keep Ariana safe? Which is more important? Your hair or your child?”
“Come on, there’s a shower down the hall. Put this over your head for now. They’ll think the baby puked on you or something,” Ben said. “I’ll handle the hair. Knowing you, there’s a kit in the bag. Lord knows I’ve cut enough hair in that bathroom since I signed on to help you.”
“Thanks, Ben. I can always count on you.”
Intensity settled in the man’s gaze. “I never had reason to believe in much until you contacted me. I’m proud to help you save so many. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”
Zoey hugged the man. “It’s because of people like you in the hub cities that the network functions. You get them patched up and ready to be hidden. Once we get her secured, I’ll want you to fill me in on your college courses, okay?”
Pink rose in his cheeks as he nodded. “You remembered.”
“You’re family. Everyone in the network is,” she said. “Get her ready, then we’ll talk.”
6
“Are you certain she’s safe?” Zoey’s wide, expressive gaze demanded Gage’s full attention.
He touched her shoulder and nodded as he, for the tenth time in as many minutes, assured the woman Sara was secure. “She’s safe.”
“And the safe house was good enough? I have others, you know, if she needs to be moved.”
“The less we move, the better,” Gage said. “Get in the bed, Zoey.”
“But we need to strategize our next steps and debrief.” She yawned and stretched her arms above her head.
The move thrust her generous tits upward. Gage glanced down. Talk about being a lecherous bastard. The woman was exhausted, and so was he.
But the normal live-wire personality Zoey exuded had given way to a dimmed version. She on a constant wandering assessment of their surroundings. Whatever past she’d experienced in a hospital had left her scarred.
Boston General. She’d mentioned it a few times. He made note to ask one of the other geeks to look into it if they hadn’t already.
“Get in bed,” he repeated as he pulled the sheet back. “The sooner you sleep, the sooner I can. We’ll take shifts.”
Because by the time she woke, Jesse and Howie would have returned, and Gage could grab a couple hours before little Ariana, aka Johnny, was discharged. Ben entered the room but hovered by the door and out of Zoey’s view. It was the second time he’d made an attempted approach without her noticing.
Trouble.
Gage’s gut clenched.
“Wake me in a couple hours. That’ll be enough,” she mumbled. “Sorry I’ve been so nuts today. Hospitals suck.”
“You’ve done great, Little Bit.” He tucked the sheet around her and looked over at the nearby baby, sleeping soundly despite the hums and beeps of monitors. Gage dimmed the light over the bed and ran a hand across Zoey’s forehead. “Jesse and his team said the safe house is one of the best they’ve ever used. Sara’s sleeping.”
“I should’ve put her with someone, but she wanted to be alone.”
“Is that what you do with young ones? Put them with someone?”
“When I can, yes. The little ones are easy because people are always willing to help little kids. Taking one in is simple.” She swallowed as her gaze settled on him. “It’s the older kids that are tough. Their baggage is uglier, meaner, and tougher to manage. She was on the cusp of being one of them. If it hadn’t been for Ariana…”
“You said yes because of the baby,” Gage guessed.
“I couldn’t let her be raised around a monster.”
“And the baby’s father?”
“Sara had broken up with her boyfriend shortly before coming to me. Her father’s obsessive abuse ruined every relationship she’s ever tried to have.”
“That’s a shame, but thanks to you she’ll have a new life soon enough. She’s young.”
“Yeah. I hope she’s been going to her therapy. She’s stubborn.”
“Teenagers usually are,” Gage said. “My oldest sister has a sixteen year old. She’s threatened to run away so many times we’ve lost count.”
“The daughter?”
“No,” Gage said with a smirk. “My sister.”
Zoey laughed softly and stretched out deeper across the bed. “You have nieces and nephews. That’s why you’re so good with Ariana.”
“It’s been a while, but I’ve changed my share of diapers.”
“You’ll make a great dad one day,” Zoey whispered. She drew her lower lip into her mouth.
Jesus. He needed his head examined because he couldn’t imagine anything better than leaning down and tasting her sweet lips. But they were on an op and Ben was hovering in the shadows of the entry listening to every word.
“Get some rest, Little Bit.”
“Why do you call me that?” The question was a faint whisper he barely heard even though he was close.
“Because you’re a little bit of everything that tempts a man like me,” he admitted. Gage headed toward the exit but paused at the door. “You did good today.”
“Thanks for having my back. I should’ve trusted you a long time ago.” The admission drifted within the room as the words softened toward the end. Eyes closed, the beautiful woman was already half asleep.
The nagging feeling in his chest returned—the one that’d burned ever since the day he’d woken up during transport to see Dylan’s ugly mug hovering over him. Ben moved silently to the hallway as Gage followed. The door closed with a soft click behind them.
“There’s a problem,” Gage surmised.
“The doctor ordered more blood work I just found out about. It’s already down at the lab,” Ben said.
“Is Ariana okay?”
“Yeah, the doc’s the cautious type. The mom’s young and inexperienced.”
“You’re worried she can’t handle the kid alone.” Gage crossed his arms. “You aren’t the only one. She’s not going to be alone once we leave here.”
“For how long? She’ll get relocated, then this will likely happen again,” Ben said. “I’ve helped Z with lots of women and kids since she recruited me. This is the first time I’m wondering if it’s worth the risk.”
“She’s not going back into the network,” Gage said.
“Does Z know that?”
Gage’s jaw twitched. Since he’d just made the decision, no. He’d have to run it by the rest of the team, but he couldn’t imagine dumping Sara and the kid to go it alone again. A support system was needed.
Team.
The word boomeranged in his brain. Working with Jesse and his well-honed group had incited Gage’s desire for another go. Maybe Dylan was right. Enough time had passed to try and put another unit together.
He’d worked with most of The Arsenal operatives since he’d vetted them. They were the best of the best because the Masons wouldn’t accept less. It was time he started manning up and being the best he could be instead of sulking.
If Jesse could move on after what he’d endured, Gage supposed it was time he did the same.
“We’ve got Z’s back. She’s not alone on this anymore.”
“Good. It’s too much,” Ben said. “What she does is important and good, but so is she. It’s time she gets help.”
“She’s got it,” Gage said. “Your shift’s ending soon. What’s the risk assessment for when they discharge Johnny?”
“Well, the biggest problem will be nurses doing rounds. I’m on for another two hours, then things get dicey.”
“Seems like we should have left the baby a girl in the system.”
“The baby shouldn’t have been around this long. I didn’t realize how ill she was,” B
en said. “Either way, she’s covered. Who’s to say Johnny isn’t a girl’s name? The newer generations are more gender fluid now, you know.”
Gage wasn’t one for borrowing trouble. He’d cross that bridge it if appeared. For now he’d worry about the blood work. He headed down the hall and pulled the com from his pocket. One click and he was hooked up with the entire team, except for Zoey.
“You clear?” Cord asked.
“There’s more blood at the hospital lab,” he commented. “Ben’s getting off shift in two hours. Things are likely to get dicey after that.”
“Vi’s working magic in the background to cover the gap between Ben’s end of shift and Ariana’s discharge. You’ll be covered.” Cord’s keystrokes sounded over the com. “Your girl’s got some serious skills she’s neglected to mention.”
His girl. Gage didn’t mind the sound of that even though he doubted it’d become fact. There were too many reasons to avoid a relationship. “The Arsenal clear?”
“So far. I’m thinking we would’ve been good bringing her straight back.”
“Doesn’t hurt to be cautious,” Gage surmised. “Once we’ve checked out here, we’ll make our way home.”
Heavy footsteps echoed from down the hall near the elevators. Gage sidestepped into the entryway to an empty room and peeked around the corner. Son of a bitch.
“We’ve got trouble,” he commented into the com.
“What do you need?” Jesse asked.
“Call up the security cameras. I recognize a couple of the assholes barreling down the hall. They’re mercs.” Gage’s jaw twitched. “Was supposed to work with this crew before Dylan showed up and dragged me to The Arsenal.”
“I’m thinking they aren’t in Chicago on a vacation,” Levi said into the com. “You want us there?”
“No. I’ll handle this. I need to circle back and get Z and the package,” Gage said cautiously into the com. The other team could be intercepting transmissions.
“Understood. Secondary transport is secured in a grocery store parking lot half a click from your current location,” Cord said. “At least that’s what Z’s system says, if I’m reading it correctly.”
