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Barbi looks at me with fear. Her hair falls in disarray around her face, and she bites her lower lip nervously. “Where are they taking us?” Her voice is barely audible over the roar of the engines.
I take a deep breath and try to steady myself. “I don’t know yet.” I keep my voice low. “Be ready for anything.”
I wish I could teach her everything I know. Help her face whatever’s coming. But there’s no way to do that. I can only hope she’s as strong as I believe.
The man sitting across from us watches me intently. His sharp eyes scan every inch of my face. Suspicion and hatred fill his dark gaze as he attempts to figure out what I’m thinking and how much of a threat I pose.
I meet his stare head-on, refusing to back down. For all I know, this man could be one of Artemus’s top lieutenants, and he may have some valuable information that could help us escape.
“Who are you?” I ask him, my voice cold and steady.
He raises an eyebrow in response but doesn’t answer.
“Answer him,” Barbi demands, her eyes flashing with anger.
I cringe at her demand. It’s exactly the wrong thing to do, as it will only attract attention she doesn’t want.
The man chuckles and leans back in his seat. “You seem to have some spunk, little lady,” he says with a sneer. “But trust me when I say you’re in no position to be making demands.”
My blood boils at his words, but I force myself to remain calm. If we’re going to get out of this alive, I need to keep a level head.
Just then, the plane hits turbulence. We’re thrown around the small cargo bay. Barbi lets out a small cry as we’re tossed around. She lands on top of me after a particularly harrowing drop, shaking and terrified. I try to comfort her with the only thing I can.
My voice.
“It’s okay. Just hold on tight.” I hope to give her some shred of comfort, but she’s smart. Our prospects are bleak, and she knows it.
As the turbulence subsides, I turn my attention back to the man across from us. “If we’re not in a position to make demands, then what do you want from us?”
He leans forward, his eyes locked onto mine. “I want to know where your boss is.” He speaks slowly and deliberately, his words twisted with his thick accent, as if trying to tease information out of me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I keep my voice even. The man doesn’t realize how valuable his words are. They tell me much and give me reason to fear even more.
They want Forest Summers.
He snorts in disbelief. “Don’t give me that bullshit.”
I bite my lip, trying to think of a response, but there’s no way I’m telling this asshole anything.
When I don’t answer, the man leans back in his seat and stares at me for a long moment. “Fine,” he says finally. “You don’t have to tell me anything, but we’ll get what we need out of you—one way or the other.” His gaze shifts to Barbi and it’s painfully clear why she’s here. She’s my Achilles heel and they’re going to use her against me.
I’m fucked.
With that, he leans back and closes his eyes, signaling the end of the conversation.
I turn to Barbi, trying to gauge her reaction, but she looks back at me understanding everything. What else should I expect?
I have nothing to tell her except to say how sorry I am this is happening to her.
Her greatest fear is that something might happen to me during one of my missions. It never occurred to me that the real danger would be what my job would cost her.
TWENTY-TWO
Barbi
I long for strength,for the knowledge of what to do, but I’m confined to the back of the plane, desperately trying to maintain my sanity. Alec slips in and out of consciousness following the injuries he sustained. Given the severity of the beatings he endured, it wouldn’t surprise me if he has a concussion.
I pray that’s not the case.