Page 41 of Hunted

“Why would mercenaries try to kill you?”

“We think it has something to do with Frank?”

“Frank?” he asks in confusion.

I nod as I respond. “Yeah, we think he’s behind everything, their plane crash, Darla’s…” I trail off, realizing I’ve never told him about the wonky paperwork I found leading me to Frank in the first place.

“Darla? What are you talking about?”

“I found her, Dad. She’s alive.” He doesn’t speak for so long I have to prod him. “Dad? Did you hear me?”

“Yeah, I… I can’t believe it. What about her father?”

“He’s long gone. But she’s been shot. We’re in the hospital now but I’m making arrangements to get us home. Just do me a favor and have someone keep an eye on Frank until we can figure this whole thing out, okay?”

“Of course, whatever you need, Son.”

We hang up and I let out a deep breath.

“Did he even ask about her?” King asks with a frown.

I think for a moment, then shake my head. “I just threw a lot of information at him. He was clearly shocked to hear she was still alive. You have to remember he thought she died fifteen years ago.”

We’re silent for a moment, digesting that information until I look down at the cell phone and realize I’m not the only one with family to call.

“King, Bower, you want to call your mom?” I ask, holding the cell phone out towards them.

They both come over and I take Bower’s place at Darla’s side. Smoothing her hair back from her face, I stare down at her, hoping she’ll wake up soon.

“I’m gonna grab a wet cloth to clean her up a bit,” I tell West as I head into the bathroom.

Silently, I work on cleaning her face and arms as I listen to King and Bower talk to King’s mom on speakerphone.

“Mom?”

“Kingsley?! Oh my god, is it really you?!” His mom bursts into sobs making Bower and King chuckle softly.

“Mom, Mom, calm down, I can’t understand you,” he says, trying to get her to stop bawling.

“Are you okay? What about Bower?”

“I’m right here, Mrs. V,” Bower chimes in.

“Thank goodness you’re both alright! Where have you been?! Do you know how worried I was?”

“Is that them?” I hear Kingsley’s sister, Hazel, yell in the background.

“Yes, they’re okay!”

“Here, let me put it on speakerphone,” Hazel’s muffled voice comes out as we listen to the two of them wrestling with the phone. “King, Bower? Are you guys really okay?”

“Yeah, Haze, we’re okay.”

“Where are you?”

“Madagascar.”

“What?!” both women ask at the same time.