I have had my third child ripped from my arms now. My husband no longer wastes his time with lies. I am certain all baby girls are being groomed as wives, but whatever is happening to the baby boys troubles me more. I have thought about denying the opportunity to have another child but fear whatever outcome would await that decision.
—The diary of Megan Jean
Sweat was pouring down Mia’s forehead. Her body ached from the abuse she’d subjected it to. Riley charged at Mia from across the open room and Mia ducked, avoiding her right arm. She did not turn around fast enough and felt Riley’s foot hit her back, and Mia fell to the ground.
“I think that’s enough for this morning,” Riley said.
She walked over to a chair and grabbed a towel, tossing it at Mia.
“I’ll never beat you,” Mia said.
“No,” Riley said. “You won’t, but you’re getting much better. You could beat an untrained person with ease.”
Mia forced herself up and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She looked out the window and saw Corinna and her mother working with Alex and Frank outside. They looked much less spent.
“What is the point in training my family?” Mia asked. “You know I don’t want them anywhere near danger.”
“It keeps them busy,” Riley said. “Makes them feel like they’re part of the team.”
“We have four days to get Rod out,” Mia said.
“And we leave tomorrow night,” Riley said. “Are you ready?”
“Still no word from Andrew,” Mia said.
“We don’t need him for the rescue,” Riley said. “Focus on one thing at a time.”
“Once this is over,” Mia asked, “where are you headed?”
“After we rescue Rod?” Riley asked.
Mia nodded.
“Right back here,” Riley said.
“What?” Mia was surprised.
“You’re my friend,” Riley said. “Pretty much the only one I have. This place is secure. I’ll stay with you until you no longer need my services.”
“That makes you sound more like an employee than a friend.”
“Nonsense,” Riley said. “Friends help each other. You need what I have to offer and I will supply you with it.”
“What do I help you with?”
“Not thinking about my husband every second of the day,” Riley said.
Mia was quiet for a moment.
“Tell me where you’ve been,” Mia said. “Maybe I can share some insight.”
“Not much to tell,” Riley said. “After the lead in Mexico turned out to be wrong I went back to Ireland. I wanted a new mission; they told me no, that I was still incapable of thinking straight. But I know they think I’ll lose another agent if I have an operation again.”
“That’s not true,” Mia said.
“Maybe it is,” Riley said. “I’m lucky in a way. They didn’t force me to quit; I have the Irish government backing my trips across the world chasing a ghost.”
“He’s not dead,” Mia said.
“He is dead,” Riley said.
“You don’t know that,” Mia said.
“Yes,” Riley said. “I do.”
“How?”
“I followed a lead to another militant group,” Riley said. “They had him there for less than a day before he was executed.”
“I’m so sorry,” Mia said.
“I destroyed their base,” Riley said. “Killed hundreds of people in the process. It didn’t make me feel any better.”
“Then why are you still looking for him?” Mia asked.
“Because if I tell my government he’s dead then I’m all out of missions,” Riley said. “They’ll give me a desk job or let me go off peacefully to spend the rest of my days doing as I please, when rescuing people and working on dangerous strategies is all I want.”
“I didn’t realize,” Mia said. “I shouldn’t have been going on about Andrew.”
Mia felt a lump in her throat. If Riley’s husband was dead maybe Andrew was too.
“I know how your brain works,” Riley said. “Stop it. Andrew was not captured by a dangerous military presence—well, technically he was, but you already saved him from them. Focus on things you can help. Like rescuing Rod. It’s the only way to stay sane.”
Mia went back to the window. She watched as her mother and Frank fought with sticks.
“Are you teaching them how to sword-fight?” Mia asked.
“I think it’s one of the more fun ways to defend yourself,” Riley said.
“Thank you,” Mia said. “For all your help.”
“Get cleaned up,” Riley said. “You need more relevant skills. We’re working on shooting this afternoon.”
Mia hated guns, but over the week her aim had been improving.
“Do you think I’ll have to kill anyone?” Mia asked.
“Not if everything runs smoothly,” Riley said. “But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be ready.”
Mia nodded, but the thought of ending a life sent a shiver down her spine. There was no way she would ever be ready for that.