Page 24

Rolling her eyes, she maneuvered her wheelchair into the bathroom. Quickly taking care of business, she washed her hands, glanced up at the mirror, and almost screamed. No wonder Gideon had asked if she needed help. She looked like a wraith. She almost laughed at how she’d been rolling through the hidden passageways of the castle, looking like a waif from Les Miserables. That was probably one of the reasons poor Mylan had been so terrified.
She opened the bathroom door and called out to Gideon, “It’ll be just a few more minutes.”
“Take your time,” he answered.
Closing the door, Eve went to work. She and Gideon were about to have the most serious discussion they’d ever had. She needed all the armor she could gather.
Gideon went through his phone messages as he waited for Eve. From the look of it, each member of Option Zero had texted him at least a dozen times. He’d had both his and Eve’s trackers removed before they’d arrived in Ile de la Lune. No one knew Eve’s background, and it wasn’t his story to tell. However, they cared for her deeply, and he needed to check in and let them know a little of what was going on.
He hit Asher Drake’s speed-dial key, knowing he would be tap-dancing like a maniac with his answers.
“Where the hell are you?” Ash growled.
“Hello to you, too.”
“Don’t give me that, Wright. You and Eve removed your trackers, and last time we heard from you was five days ago when you left that lame-assed note and you both disappeared. Eve texted me earlier, looking for you. What the hell’s going on?”
Removing the locator in each of their arms had been a direct violation of their contract with OZ. Ash could relieve both of them of their duties without any more discussion. Though Eve likely hadn’t noticed the small cut on her upper arm where the tracker had been removed, she would have approved the procedure.
Explaining that to Ash was a different story.
“Eve is good. Recovering on schedule. I couldn’t check in. Had an issue, but it’s been resolved.”
“Glad to know Eve is recovering, but the rest of your sentence is pure bullshit.”
Yeah, he couldn’t argue with that.
“Why did you remove your tracker?”
“It’s safer for everyone if no one knows where we are.”
“Are you out of OZ?”
“No. Not unless you want us out.”
“Removing the tracker wasn’t a good move. Not without talking to me.”
“Yeah, I know. It couldn’t be helped. I didn’t do it arbitrarily.”
“And Eve was okay with her tracker being removed?”
“I haven’t told her yet, but she’ll agree that it was the right thing to do.”
Ash sighed. “I’m taking a lot on faith here with you, Gideon.”
“I know that, Ash, I appreciate it. I’m going to stay here with Eve while she recovers. As soon as we can, if we’re allowed, we’ll be back. Until then, we’ll stay off-grid.”
“And if you need help, will you contact us?”
A wave of appreciation swept over him. Never had he believed he could find a group of people like his OZ brothers and sisters. They were as much family as his own blood kin were, and he’d lay down his life for any of them. Just as they would for him.
“I will, Ash. I promise.”
“Give Eve our love and stay in touch.”
“Will do.”
The call ended, but Gideon stared at the phone for a while longer. He owed more than one explanation. Knowing he had no choice, Gideon went through each text and answered the same way: Eve is recovering well. We hope to be back with you soon.