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I heft the granola bars and wait for Silas to grab the bag before asking him a follow-up question. “He mentioned something about Samantha becoming a team member?”

Silas’s lips quirk. “He’s always thinking three steps ahead. It’s what makes him so effective.”

“And Jake?”

He laughs. “He’s what I call a ‘fixer-upper.’ He’s had it rough, but with God’s grace, he’ll get there.”

“You employ a lot of car thieves?”

Silas reaches for another bag, one I didn’t see. “It’s a useful skill that we utilize out of necessity.”

I frown at the disclosure even if I appreciate that he’s being frank. “When this is over, I’d like to meet the rest of the team. Say thanks.”

He smiles. “How about we meet you at the Lighthouse Bar and Grill?”

My eyebrows hitch. “You know about that?”

“Caleb mentioned you came to the aid of a damsel in distress. Seems to be a theme for you.”

I don’t sense he’s mocking, so I shrug it off. “Just doing my job.”

He drops the bag at his feet. “You checked in with your CO recently?”

I grimace and shake my head. “That’s the last thing I’m thinking about now.”

His gaze drifts from me to the tarmac outside, his eyes narrowed as if he’s trying to see something in the distance. “But he’s expecting you at the base?”

“Yeah. Twohoursago.”

He leans against the steel door and works his jaw. “Leave it with me. I’ll see what Justus can do.”

“Justus?”

He smiles, turning to look at me. “My father. If anyone can buy you a little time, it’s him.”

I blow out a breath. “Thanks. I mean… for everything.”

His smile slips from his face, and his words lock in just how dire the situation is. “Save your thanks untilafterwe get Brooke back.”

Fifteen

Samantha

The next few minutes pass quickly. Everyone seems to be in motion as Jake arrives with a minivan, and Mick and Silas start loading up the vehicle. As if things weren’t weird enough, Mick keeps checking on me, a puzzled expression on his face, as if he can’t quite believe I’m still here.

And maybe I wouldn’t be, if Adena hadn’t been stuck to me like superglue. At Silas’s instruction, I clamber into the back of the van and sit closest to the window so I can see where we’re heading. Surprisingly, I don’t have to guess. As Jake and Adena climb in, Silas sits in the seat in front and pivots so he can answer my unspoken question.

“We’re all heading to the Glades. Stay close to Mick, and he’ll tell you anything you need to know.”

My nerves start to increase when he reaches across and slides the door closed. “The only thing Ineedto know is whether you’re going to hand me over,” I say.

From the front, Jake answers before Silas can. “If that was the plan, don’t you think you’d be handcuffed and gagged by now?”

Adena mutters just loud enough for me to hear. “It’s not too late.”

Silas frowns at them and yanks his belt across his lap. “Unless you want to drive back to HQ when we’re done here, keep your unhelpful comments to yourselves.”

Jake glances at Adena, smirking as she gestures out the windshield. “Just drive, newbie.”