I have intimate details on the new families living in my area. They are happy and, as the grand commander predicted, do not object much to turning over their sons. I believe it is because they are so thrilled to keep their daughters.
—The journal of Isaac Ryland
Andrew drove as fast as he could down from the hills and the deceased RAG agents they’d left in the road.
“How much time do we have?” Andrew asked.
“An area like this?” Trent said. “Twenty-minute head start, easy. Cross your fingers we don’t run into any other official vehicles.”
“Can we stop and steal another pair of plates?”
“We are half an hour away from our contact,” Zack said. “He lives on the outskirts of the capital. We might get lucky and not pass a single other car. I don’t want to waste time going into a city. Did you send Mia there?”
“Yes,” Andrew said.
“You don’t sound thrilled,” Carter said.
“Something went wrong,” Andrew said.
“What?”
“I don’t know,” Andrew said.
“Mia is a strong person,” Zack said. “You’ll see her soon.”
Nobody moved. Andrew pressed the accelerator down harder.
“Let’s not forget the important thing. I’m part of the team now,” Trent said.
“No,” all three men said in unison.
The house was large. It stood on top of a hill. Andrew did not slow down when he drove toward the attached garage. As Zack had been notified it would, the door to the structure started to rise. Andrew saw a beat-up white van parked on one side. He slowed down and parked his SUV next to it. He recognized the vehicle as belonging to Frank and Alex.
“Let me do the talking,” Zack said.
Andrew didn’t wait for anyone. He unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out of the SUV. He made his way toward the van. The back door was open. He saw a giant red stain on the carpeting.
“I didn’t realize you would be coming in two groups,” a voice said.
Andrew looked toward the sound. Standing at what must have been the entrance to the home was a man. He wore a white bathrobe tied over red pajamas. His dark hair was cut short on the sides and left long on the top. He was about Andrew’s height but had an extra twenty pounds to him. Andrew ran toward him.
“Where’s Mia?” Andrew asked. “Is she all right?”
“The pretty one with the bob?” he asked.
Andrew did not know what that meant.
“All of your friends are inside,” he said.
“You’re Greg Finnegan,” Carter said.
“The one and only,” he said.
“The most trusted man in America is working for the rebels,” Trent said. “I never would have guessed.”
“What happened to letting me do the talking?” Zack asked. “My name is Zack.”
“I know all about you,” Greg said. “But my contact did not mention you would be so . . . attractive.”
Andrew didn’t have time for the small talk. He started toward Greg, ready to push him to the side and search every inch of his home for Mia.
“They beat you here by almost an hour,” Greg said. “Two of the girls are sleeping. I didn’t expect a comatose man but did my best to make him comfortable.”
“Comatose man?” Zack asked.
“I need to see Mia,” Andrew said.
Greg moved to the side and motioned for the four of them to enter his home. Andrew walked inside first. There was a small hallway with several closed doors. It ended at a larger hallway.
“Go left,” Greg said.
Andrew walked several feet until they were in a kitchen. The guests at the table rose. Andrew recognized Frank and Alex. A redheaded woman was with them. All three looked dirty. Alex had puffy red eyes while Frank’s looked glassed over.
“Andrew,” Frank said.
“Where is Mia?” Andrew asked.
“She’s asleep,” Alex said. “Greg was kind enough to give her some medication.”
“Trust me when I say an earthquake won’t wake that girl up,” Greg said.
“What happened?” Andrew asked.
“We rescued Rod,” the redhead said. “Her mother died in the process.”
“My dad is here?” Carter asked.
“Did you two know about this?” Zack asked. His voice was fueled with anger. “This is irresponsible. You risked our entire operation. Who are you people anyway?”
The redhead turned toward Zack. She was shorter than him, but her build and demeanor were intimidating. She took a step toward him and dragged her other leg behind her. Andrew saw a white bandage wrapped around her calf.
“My name is Riley,” she said. “I am a strategist for the Irish government. These are Frank and Alex; they risked their lives to save one of your group members. Before throwing a temper tantrum, why not take the time to say thank you?”
“Where’s my dad?” Carter asked. “He’s in a coma?”
“It looks like an induced coma,” Riley said. “Depending on how long the medication takes to get out of his system he’ll wake up sometime in the next twelve hours.”
“Where is Mia?” Andrew asked.
“Upstairs,” Greg said. “Second bedroom on the right.”
Andrew spun around toward the hallway they had come down. He saw the stairs near the front door and started toward them.
“She’s asleep,” Riley said. “You can’t do much for her now.”
The words went right past Andrew’s ears and he ignored them. He rounded the stairs and took them two at a time until he reached the top. He spotted the second door and swung it open. There was a bed in the middle of the room and Andrew saw a figure under the blankets.
“It really is you,” a female voice said.
Andrew felt like he was seeing a ghost. Sitting in a chair with her legs curled underneath her was Corinna, Mia’s older sister. He hadn’t seen her in two years, and even then they had not been familiar with each other.
“She kept trying to explain which farmhand Andrew was,” Corinna said. “But you all blended together for me.”
“I thought you were dead,” Andrew said.
“I know it’s not me you’re here to see,” Corinna said. She uncurled her legs and stood up from the chair. “I was sitting with her, but I’m guessing you can relieve me now.”
She walked past Andrew and put a hand on his shoulder in the process.
“You look like you could use some sleep now too,” Corinna said.
Her hand fell off his shoulder and he heard the door close behind her. Andrew walked over to the bed and sat down. There was Mia. He brushed the hair away from her face and she didn’t stir. Andrew had never felt such relief in his life. He didn’t even bother to take off his shoes before lying down next to her and wrapping his arms around her waist.