Page 21 of What Remains

Zoey?

For a second, all three of us just breathe. The only sounds come from the faint whir of the AC and the buzz from the overhead lights.

Now I know why my mouth is covered—so I don’t warn Zoey that she’s compromised. I don’t know what games this woman is playing, but if she knows so much about Falcon Falls, she knows who Zoey really is.

And wait.

That was Easton.

Oh my God.

I wish I knew Morse code so I could blink a message to her. Instead, all I do is yell against the tape, “She knows who you are!” But only garbled sounds come out.

“You needed me?” Zoey leans against the door, folding her arms. She’s calculating risks, I can see it in her eyes. Formulating a plan. But she has no idea her cover is already blown.

“I wanted you to meet the package you’ll be delivering. You’ve been asking for an introduction to the boss. You finally get your wish.”

“Really?” Zoey raises her brows. “And who’s the girl?”

“Someone special, so take good care of her. I’d bring her myself, but I have somewhere else I need to be.” She lifts her chin toward the door like a directive. “Go find your husband and let him know you’re going with him. He’s piloting the flight, and three of my men will also join you. You’ll be leaving earlier than originally planned.”

“Which is when?”

She checks her watch. “In two hours.”

“Anything else?” Zoey asks, and I can tell she doesn’t want to leave me in here, but what choice does she have? Even if Zoey’s armed, I doubt we’d make it far in that maze with so many guards.

“Yeahhh.” The dragon lady drags out the word. “Do what I already ordered your husband to do tonight.”

“Which is?”

“Release that pent-up tension you two have before you’re wheels up.” Her gaze slides to me, and oh this woman is pure evil.

I squeeze my eyes closed until I hear the door click shut.

“Not jealous? Really?” It’s just the two of us now, and she rounds the table and violently rips the tape from my mouth. “It doesn’t bother you at all that Derek is fucking her?” She tosses the tape onto the table. “Excuse me, I meant to say Easton.”

Tears continue to battle their way forward as I try and wrap my head around everything that’s happened in the last few minutes. “Please don’t hurt either of them,” I beg, no point in pretending I don’t know them now.

I still can’t believe Easton’s here. That it was him in the hangar.

“Seeing as though you’re now properly motivated”—she leans in and cups my chin—“you’re going to do exactly what I say. Or more strangers, along with everyone you care about, will die.”

CHAPTER 7

Easton

The image of Gwen, wide-eyed in that jumpsuit and bound like a hostage, keeps flashing like strobes behind my eyelids as I search the hangar, looking for something to use to kill twenty-plus people.

Every instinct in me wanted to run, grab her, and never let go. But she had a Glock and a bolt-action rifle aimed her way. I never would have made it in time.

I dump tools onto the bench and sort through them, searching for something to bludgeon someone to death. Hammer is my best bet. My hands go still when I realize I have eyes on me.

Zoey walks into the hangar, taking cautious steps as if I’m radioactive. Might as well be. My fuse is beyond lit, and I’m about to go get a whole lot of blood on my hands. Anything to save her. To hear her voice again. To see her light up the world just by existing.

“You know?” The question comes out small and nervous, which isn’t the norm for her.

“Yeah. I. Know.” I punctuate each word, furious and frustrated and ready to blow.