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“Dad!” she yelled, seeing her father step toward her.

Tillie ran into her father’s arms, happy to feel his safety and security. The three people with her looked on, staring at the strange helicopter behind her.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt?” he asked.

“No. No, I’m not hurt. They zip-tied us, but we were able to break them and get away.”

“How?” asked Leo curiously.

“She annoyed the shit out of them,” said the man standing with the two women. He grinned at them, smirking.

“Well, you work with what you have,” smiled Tillie. “This is Jewel, Brad, and Gemma. Guys, this is my family.”

“Your family?” questioned Brad. “They don’t look like you. I mean, maybe him.”

“I’m her father,” said Tanner, somewhat annoyed by the man’s comments. “These men are our family.”

“Whatever and whoever you are, I’m just happy to see you,” said Gemma.

“What did they want?” asked Mav.

“They wouldn’t tell us,” said Tillie. “It’s what made them stop and get out of the truck. I kept pestering them about what they wanted from us, if it was ransom, political, or whatever it was. They wouldn’t say.”

“It doesn’t make any sense. They didn’t make any demands for ransom,” said Saint.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now,” said Brad. “We’re free, and we can go home now.”

“It’s not that simple,” said Tanner. “If we don’t figure out what they wanted, it could happen again, or they could come after you again.”

“How?” asked Jewel. “I mean, we’re all going home. They wouldn’t follow us to the states, would they?”

“They might if what they wanted was valuable enough or if one of you was valuable enough,” said Mav.

“So, are you telling us we can’t leave this place?” asked Brad. “I’m ready to go home.”

“You’ll get to go home. Just give us some time to figure all of this out. Until then, you’ll be safe with our team watching over you. We’re going to need descriptions of the men that took you. Where were you? What were you doing? All of it.”

“You can’t hold me here,” said Brad. They detected a slight accent but couldn’t quite pinpoint the location. Perhaps Austrian, maybe German, or Dutch, but he definitely wasn’t American. “If I want to leave, I can leave. I know my rights.”

“You’re right,” said Tanner. “We can’t hold you here. So, I tell you what, you go ahead out there in the streets as a runaway kidnapped victim, find your passport, find a flight, find a way to pay for it, and you go right on home.”

Tillie just grinned at her father, knowing that he was about to blow his lid. Brad was cocky sometimes and pretended like he knew everything when, in fact, he knew very little. She wasn’t sure why he was rushing to get home. He didn’t have a wife or girlfriend that she was aware of.

In fact, she felt as though he was going through a mid-life crisis of some sort, which was why he was working with the foundation.

“I don’t mind hanging with all of them,” smiled Jewel. “You’re far better looking than Brad, that’s for damn sure.” Something inside of Tillie snapped, and the smile was wiped from her face.

“In case you missed it, he’s my father. Very much married to my mother, and they’re all married as well.”

“Leo’s not,” smirked Saint. Tillie glared at her friend, shooting daggers in his direction.

“I’m just kidding, Till,” said the other woman. “Geez. Just relax.”

“I am relaxed,” said Tillie.

“Come on. We need to find accommodations for everyone and do some digging. Have some patience. You’ll be home in a few days,” said Mav.

Finding space in a small hotel was easy enough, but keeping a tight rein on Brad and Jewel was something else. He seemed eager to let loose and just have fun, but the woman, Jewel, was definitely a loose cannon.

“Have those two been taking aphrodisiacs?” asked Tanner.

“I’m not sure,” said Tillie. “I didn’t work directly with the two of them, but they sure seem to be hitting on anything moving.

Stupid Brad is going to find himself married to a village woman and unable to leave if he’s not careful.

Although he hasn’t technically done anything.

It’s like he’s putting on a show for someone.

I just don’t know who. That village woman may take him home. ”

“I’d like to see that,” grinned Mav.

“Thank you guys for coming,” said Tillie. “I knew you would eventually, but I really appreciate this. Especially you, Leo.”

“Me?” he asked. “I mean, of course. I wanted to come. I mean, I asked to come.” Tillie just smiled at him, nodding.

“We were all happy to come,” frowned Tanner. “Well, maybe not happy, but we’re here. Tell me about them.”

Tillie looked behind her at Brad and Jewel, Gemma having gone to bed.

“Like I said, I don’t really know them well. They were only in my group for the last month or so.”

“Why would they be going home already?” asked Leo.

“That’s a good question,” said Tillie. “The work isn’t done, but our turn is done. I can’t speak for them.”

“Tillie, we all think it’s strange that you have three new people on your team who came only for a month,” said Saint. “We’re going to look into that if you’re okay with it.”

“You know damn well you’re going to do it whether I’m okay with it or not.” She laughed at them, shaking her head as she stood to head to her room. “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”

“I’m coming with you,” said Tanner. He’d opted to stay in the same room as his daughter to ensure her safety. Tillie nodded, then turned to the others.

“Thank you all for coming. Especially you, Leo.”

“My pleasure,” he said quietly. When they were gone to their room, Mav, Saint, and the others all grinned at him.

“Dude. You need to make a move before someone else does. Like that idiot Brad,” said Pax.

“Brad? He’s a doofus and at least ten years older than she is,” frowned Leo. The others just laughed, shaking their heads. Mav looked at them all.

“Get some rest. We’ll have a plan tomorrow.”