Page 28

28

KYRA

T he industrial district loomed around them in gray metal and concrete, a stark contrast to the chaotic mixture of architectural styles of central Tehran.

As Dima navigated the van through the maze of warehouses and abandoned buildings, Kyra's hand remained on her weapon, eyes constantly scanning for threats.

Her pendant had cooled against her skin, but recent experience had taught her that its warnings were inconsistent at best. "Where are we going?" Parisa asked quietly, leaning forward in her seat.

"One of these buildings." Kyra caught her sister's gaze in the rearview mirror. The unfinished conversation from the shop lingered between them, questions suspended in the chaos of their escape. But this wasn't the time or place to address them. "This is just a meet-up point. Not our final destination. "

Parisa nodded.

Dima slowed the van as they approached a dilapidated textile factory, its faded sign barely legible beneath years of dust and neglect. The loading bay door was partially open, and through the gap Kyra could make out other vehicles parked inside.

"Looks like Max and Rana beat us here," she said.

Her heart started beating a little faster as Dima pulled the van into the cavernous space, the hollow echo of their engine bouncing off concrete walls, and then it raced when she spotted Max standing beside a van, speaking with Rana.

Her sister looked remarkably composed, given the circumstances, and Kyra didn't know who she wanted to hug first, Max or Rana.

Another vehicle was parked deeper in the shadows, and she assumed it was the one Yamanu had used, arriving here first with Soraya.

When the van came to a stop, Kyra was out before Dima killed the engine, her eyes quickly finding Max's. The brief exchange of glances communicated everything words couldn't—relief, concern, the shared understanding of a mission in flux.

"Any trouble?" Max asked, moving toward her while trying to maintain a respectable distance, conscious of her sisters' gazes.

"It was scary, but Dima executed impeccable evasion techniques." She cast the Kra-ell a fond look. "He says that he learned to drive escape vehicles on a simulator in the village. He also insists that I have to do it too, and I'll become as good as he is."

"I might join you." Max reached for her hand. "I'll tell you all about it on the way back. There is much more than driving you can try on those simulators."

It reminded her of what Jasmine said about the Perfect Match technology and how it transcended entertainment and could be used as a training tool. That was probably what Dima had trained on.

"Hello." Parisa got out of the van. "Did anyone hear anything from Jade? I'm worried about my boys."

"She had to lose a tail," Yamanu said as he emerged from the shadows, his tall frame somehow blending with the darkness despite his height. "But she's confident they are no longer being followed." He offered Parisa his hand. "I'm Yamanu, and I'm in charge of this mission."

She took his hand, looking up at him with awe in her eyes. "Hello. I'm Parisa."

Kyra had to admit that he was quite striking, but he was happily mated, so her sister should cool her jets, as the saying went.

Yamanu turned to them. "Kyra, Max. We need to discuss our options."

Before Kyra could respond, a cry of recognition cut through the warehouse as Soraya stepped into the light, her eyes fixed on Parisa.

"Pary!" Soraya rushed forward, arms outstretched.

The two women collided in an embrace so fierce it seemed they might never let go. Rana quickly joined them, the three sisters clinging to each other with tears gleaming in their eyes.

"You're alive," Soraya whispered, pulling back to examine Parisa's face as if to confirm she wasn't dreaming. "I was so worried. You should never have left my house. You and the boys should have stayed the night."

"I know." Parisa sighed. "They had school, but it wasn't as important as keeping them safe. I don't know what was going through my head."

Soraya kept her hands on Parisa's shoulders. "Never do that to me again, understand? I must have aged a decade since my girls were taken and then Yasmin and her kids."

Kyra stood apart, watching the reunion with a complicated twist of emotions. These were her sisters, her blood, yet she remained a stranger to them. The truth she carried inside her would change the dynamics between them but now wasn't the time to reveal it.

Yamanu cleared his throat. "I hate to interrupt, but we need to discuss the change in plans."

The sisters broke apart reluctantly, Soraya wiping tears from her cheeks as she turned to face him.

"What's happening?" Kyra asked after she and Max moved a few paces away from her sisters to talk with Yamanu.

"I believe our security has been compromised." Yamanu kept his voice low. "The Doomers have anticipated too many of our moves for it to be coincidence or just incredible guesswork on their part. They are not that good."

Max nodded in agreement. "The safe house may not be safe anymore. We should move Yasmin and her kids out of there as soon as possible."

"My thoughts precisely," Yamanu confirmed. "Instead of going there, we should head directly to the airport, and Yasmin and the children should meet us there."

"What about our belongings?" Kyra asked.

Everything she cared about was on her, so it wouldn't be a great loss if a few articles of clothing remained in the safe house, but perhaps Max and the others had items of personal value there.

"Rishba and Asuka can pack everyone's things and bring them along with Yasmin and her children to the airport," Yamanu said. "Eric has already arrived with the other plane, so we have enough room for everyone."

Kyra's instincts hummed in approval. The Doomers had proven more resourceful and numerous than they'd anticipated, and every minute they remained in Tehran increased their risk of capture or worse.

"I'll brief Rana and Soraya," Kyra said, turning toward her sisters.

"Tell them to get into the replacement vehicles." Yamanu pointed to where they were parked. "We need to be ready to move as soon as Jade arrives with Parisa's boys."

Kyra approached her sisters, who looked up with uncertainty and fear in their expressions.

"There's been a change of plans," she said. "We're not going to the safe house. We're heading straight to the airport and flying out."

"Out?" Soraya repeated. "Out where?"

"America," Kyra replied. "That's where your daughters are."

Soraya gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "America? What are they doing there?"

"They saved them," Rana said. "They were saving someone else and found them."

"That's correct," Kyra confirmed, choosing not to mention that the other person rescued was her. "They're being very well cared for, I promise you. I have notes from all of them for you." She reached into her pocket and gave each mother the notes that were addressed to her. "You can read them on the way."

"But we don't have passports," Soraya said. "And the authorities will be looking for us. The moment my husband discovers that I'm missing, he will use every resource to find me."

"The paperwork has been taken care of in advance," Kyra assured them. "We have documentation for all of you. The important thing is to remember to keep your heads down and follow our instructions. You'll be traveling as Yamanu's wives. "

Both women's gazes shifted to Yamanu, who stood conferring with Max by the vehicles. Soraya raised an eyebrow, studying him with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.

"All of us? His wives?" she asked.

Despite the tension, Kyra chuckled. "It's just a cover, and he plays the part beautifully."

Yamanu probably wasn't going to change into the full disguise now because there was no time. He would just use shrouding.

Her sisters understood that in Iran, it raised fewer questions for women to be traveling with their husbands than alone.

Parisa, who had remained quiet during this exchange, looked toward the entrance. "Where are my sons? Shouldn't they have arrived yet?"

"Don't worry. Jade is on her way," Kyra assured her. "They will be here shortly." She hesitated, then addressed Soraya directly. "I need to ask you something. Do you mind leaving without your husband? I mean the real one. Not Yamanu."

The question hung in the air for a moment. Soraya's expression hardened, years of silent suffering briefly visible in the set of her jaw before she composed herself.

"No," she said firmly. "I don't mind at all. I longed for the day I would finally be free of him."

Kyra nodded. "Arezoo mentioned that things weren't good between you, but I needed to make sure. Sometimes kids see things differently. "

Soraya laughed without mirth. "Arezoo told you the truth. He's been a tyrant from day one—controlling, cruel—but I had no choice. My father chose him and it was either marry Fareed or else." She let out a breath. "If my girls are in America, that's where I need to be."

Rana touched Soraya's arm in solidarity. "My situation is similar. My husband is not as bad as Fareed, but he doesn't love me. He has a mistress and spends more time with her than he ever spends with me. He blames me for not giving him more children, particularly a son." She looked away. "I think he's planning to divorce me anyway." She sighed. "My place is with my Azadeh. I have nothing keeping me here."

The naked vulnerability in their admissions struck Kyra deeply. After talking with their daughters, she'd known intellectually what her sisters had endured, but hearing it from their own lips made it viscerally real.

"You'll never have to see them again," she promised. "A new, joyous life awaits you in America."