Remy had ducked out for something to eat, so Nadia sat with her brother for a quiet moment. She stared at his pale face, but all she could see was Earnest. Her being shuffled from room to room. Paraded around and pawed at. It wasn’t something she wanted to relive, but she’d have to get it out. She’d have preferred it be with Andra, not her brother—even if he was unconscious.
A light tap sounded on the door. A woman walked in. Nadia half expected it to be a nurse, but it wasn’t.
“Mom?”
A stout man in jeans and a heavy jacket followed her mom into the room. She glanced between them. Her mom had switched the hippy clothes Nadia was used to for a long striped skirt and whatever shirt she wore under that pea coat.
The woman, an almost exact replica of Nadia’s dark hair and dark eyes, gaped. “I didn’t know you were here.” She swallowed. “They told me Shadrach…” Her eyes filled with tears, and Nadia’s vision of her got blurry. “My baby girl. Right here in front of me.”
Nadia rounded the end of the bed and strode to her mom, who opened her arms to embrace her. As Nadia settled into her mother’s embrace a sob worked its way up to her throat. Love between them had never been the problem. The tension came when they tried to communicate or cohabitate. Not helpful for an unruly teenager and her exasperated mother, but Nadia was an adult now. Perhaps things would be different.
“My baby girl,” her mom said again, as she stroked Nadia’s back. Who’d have thought what Nadia needed right then was a hug from her mother.
“It’s been a long time.” Thank You, Lord. He had known and blessed her—yet again—in ways she couldn’t even have fathomed. Nadia pulled back and wiped her cheeks with the back of her fingers. “I can’t believe you’re here. That’s so crazy. I didn’t even know you were coming, but I’m glad.”
“I can’t believe you’re here. For years my baby girl has been hidden away from me. Now here you are, a beautiful woman.”
Nadia nearly choked. She didn’t feel beautiful, not after the last few days. Mothers always saw what they wanted to see in what they had created. What those men the night before would never have seen or even vaguely noticed about her.
“This is Michael. He’s the sheriff in Kentucky, where I live.”
Nadia tried to look like she wasn’t a crazy mess and shook his hand. Refined but strong. Knew how to handle himself and probably took good care of her mom even while he didn’t let her get away with anything. “Nadia Marie.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you. I feel, in a way, as though I already know you.”
Nadia smiled.
“You ladies have a lot of catching up to do, so I’m going to step out and talk to those gentlemen in the hallway.” He planted a soft kiss on Nadia’s mother’s cheek and then left.
Her mom glanced back to her and smiled. “He’s good to me.”
“I’m glad, Mom.”
“They told me Shadrach had been shot.”
Nadia nodded and turned to her brother, lying in the hospital bed hooked up to all those horrible machines and wrapped in so many bandages he looked like a mummy. She pulled the sleeves of her sweater down over her hands. “It cut through his vest and went straight through him, nicked his heart as it tore a hole in his chest. The doctor said he barely made it through surgery.”
“And that dog of his?” Her mom made a face.
“A co-worker is watching him.”
“And you?” The question was tentative. Nadia tried to figure out what she was asking.
She couldn’t tell her mom about Sanctuary. She’d only spilled under the influence of narcotics. The memorandum of understanding she’d signed when she was inducted into the witness protection program was voided if she told anyone the location of Sanctuary or exposed anything about the program—or anyone in it.
Her heart sank in her chest. Would they let her go back now?
“Honey—”
Nadia shook off the thought. “There isn’t a lot I can say about it. But I’ve been happy. I like my life, where I live. I like the people there.” She scratched at the skin of her arm. It felt like something crawled between her sweater and her arm.
“Coming down off something?”
Nadia’s head jerked. “Excuse me?”
“It was a simple question. It’s been years, and I don’t know where you’ve been. Or what you’ve been doing.”
Yeah, it was so simple. “I was kidnapped and injected with something against my will. To get me to talk.”
“Did it have anything to do with Shadrach being shot?”
“The same man was behind both.”
Her mom settled on the edge of Shadrach’s bed. “I guess it was too much to ask that since you’re here that meant you were no longer in danger. I guess some things never change.”
“None of this was about me. We got caught up in Bolton’s thing.”
“One of those men in the hall?”
Nadia nodded.
“Both of them are more dangerous and more deadly than my son. Which is saying something, considering my son is Shadrach Carleigh. Let me guess, you had a part in his being accused of shooting the president, too?”
“No. I had nothing to do with that.” Nadia scratched at her arm again. “Mom—”
“I think I need some space, if you don’t mind.” She shifted on the bed and presented Nadia with her back. “I’d like to be alone with my son.”
She was going to blame Nadia for this, like it was her finger that had pulled the trigger and shot Shadrach? As though Nadia would ever do something to hurt her brother. He’d been her ally. He’d taught her to be smart and to survive. She’d have been dead a hundred times over if it hadn’t been for Shadrach.
Nadia strode to the door and let herself out. She set her hands against the opposite wall of the hall and hung her head.
“Whoa, whoa.” Bolton touched her shoulder, and she realized she’d started to cry. “What just happened?”
Nadia cried harder. Her mom’s friend or whatever ceased his conversation with Ben and frowned at her. She turned away from him. She didn’t know him, and she didn’t need to take on whatever he would dish out in defense of her mom.
“Not the happy reunion you were hoping for?” Bolton turned her so she could plant her face against his chest.
The tears turned to a horrible, nervous laughter. Nadia was pretty sure she had lost it, as she half laughed/half cried against his chest.
“Andra would be horrified at this display.”
Nadia laughed harder as she clutched at his chest like a ninny. “I’m not hurting you, am I?” Bolton almost smiled. Shook his head.
Ben’s phone beeped. Or she thought that’s what it was until he lifted his wrist. “Will says turn on the TV.”
They trailed into the room but steered to the side where the tiny TV sat high in a cabinet so the person in the bed, or whoever sat with them, could watch.
Nadia didn’t look at her mom. She’d have seen the objection on her mom’s face. Mom was going to have to get used to Nadia being there through Shadrach’s recovery. And the armed guards Ben had called to watch the door. Whatever the woman had in her head that she couldn’t manage to see a single bit of good in anything Nadia tried to do, she would likely fight when Nadia didn’t leave before Shadrach said it was okay to.
Maybe she’d stay longer on principle.
Ben flipped on the TV. “…with the escape and continued evasion of federal prisoner and former DEA agent Dante Alvarez. This man is suspected of being an accomplice and in collusion with the crooked federal agent who was convicted of crimes too numerous for us to list in this short update. The man’s name is unknown, though his picture is up now on the screen.”
The newscaster disappeared, replaced with a mug shot of Bolton.
“Why are—”
Bolton didn’t let her finish. He turned to Ben. “Dante knows where I am. This has to be Tristan.”
Ben nodded. “He’s trying to get ahead of Dante, to get word when someone finds either of you so he can control the fallout.”
The newscaster spoke again, “He is to be considered armed and highly dangerous, and indications are that he is travelling with this woman.”
The screen showed a grainy photo of Nadia exiting the salon where she had worked for weeks while she and Bolton had been hiding. Or at least, she’d thought they were hiding. He’d been in contact with Ben the whole time.
She whirled around. “I’m fine here, right? I’ll be protected if I stay here, and you get those guards. Won’t I?”
Ben didn’t answer. Not a good sign. He clearly had an answer for her but wasn’t about to give her one that she’d like.
“Shadrach’s hurt. I’m not leaving.”
“If you’re in danger, then you can’t stay.” Her mom’s voice cut through her. “If people are looking for you because this man—” She waved in Bolton’s direction. “—is a criminal, then you’ll bring danger to Shadrach when he can’t defend himself.”
Nadia wanted to wince…or cry. Whichever. But she didn’t. Her eyes burned as she stared at Bolton.
“I’m sorr—”
She couldn’t believe he was going to say that. “Don’t apologize.”
“I did drag you into this.”
“It’s not your fault Tristan is trying to flush you out so he’s posting out pictures all over the news.” She pointed at the screen. “This is local, right?”
Ben said, “Getting out of Denver would be a good plan. Before they leak this nationwide. They know you’re here.”
“But you guys are going to find—” Nadia cut herself off before she said it out loud. If their destination got leaked, it wouldn’t be because of her. “The person you need to make sure is safe.”
Bolton nodded. “Looks like you’re coming with us.”
“Um…pretty sure you can drop me off in the mountains of you-know-where on your way.”
“There’s no time,” Ben said. “Not if we want as much chance as possible to get there ahead of Dante. I’ll go tell them we’ve got an extra passenger, and then we’ll figure out how to get you two out of the hospital.” Ben strode out.
Nadia wanted to slam her foot down. “Is he always like that?”
Bolton said, “You’ve been in worse situations.”
Nadia said, “Bye, Mom,” and didn’t wait for an answer. Remy would tell Shadrach what had happened when he woke up.
**
Nadia unbuckled her seatbelt and stretched. A ride in a cushy chair on a private plane had done her the world of good. It had been a long time since, and she’d thought it wasn’t likely she’d ride chartered private ever again. Yet here she was.
Out the window, palm trees were silhouetted by runway lights, beyond which shone an array of night stars. She could hardly believe she was back in Hawaii again. That had been a fun vacation, not that she remembered much of it since she’d been so inebriated, but it was a great place. Nadia paused her thoughts. Why did she think that had been fun? Three minutes of familial harmony and a comforting hug from her mom had been more pleasant than spending a long weekend stumbling all over Oahu from club to club because she couldn’t walk straight. Then, much like the hug, came the reckoning.
Yeah, so she’d just compared her relationship with her mom to getting drunk, but what else was she supposed to do? Process, and set it aside. Process, and set it aside. Her emotional outburst in the hall notwithstanding, the technique seemed to be working pretty well.
In the seat across from her, Bolton woke. Shot her a smile. He wasn’t as relaxed as he projected. The man was wound tight and had probably slept fitfully.
Ben got up and crossed to the door, which he opened while Will sat in his chair typing. The tech guy was a one track mind if ever she’d seen one. He barely spoke. Maybe he was one of those people who conversed electronically more than they spoke out loud.
“So what island are we on?”
Ben turned at her question. “I guess that’s valid, and it’d be hard to hide.” He smiled. “Kauai.”
“Oh, nice.” Nadia looked outside again to see if her window was the ocean side of the airport, or the side where you could see the mountain peak. Sure enough, a huge towering hill poked up into the sky in an attempt to reach the beauty of the stars above.
“It’s like a sauna out there.” Bolton stood at the door. “Kind of reminds me of Miami.”
Nadia didn’t want to talk about places they’d been, or she’d have to admit she’d dismissed Kauai as being quiet, which equated to boring. If she’d met Bolton during that time both of their lives would have been remarkably different. She would never have gone to Sanctuary and never found faith in God.
Will spoke. “Dante and his pals seem to have chartered a plane of their own. Used a known front company. At least, known to us. Manifest says six people plus the pilot, and the flight plan has it headed to Phoenix.”
“That makes no sense,” Bolton said. “We know he’s going to come here.”
Ben paused in packing his arsenal of weapons into a black duffel type bag, one that looked like it was made of plastic, or rubber. Nadia had used a bag like that during a kayaking trip one of her friends had suggested. It kept her belongings dry. Was he going swimming?
“So he throws everyone off his trail and heads here anyway. Anyone looking wouldn’t think twice. I figure he’s far enough ahead of us that he’s dreaming up ways to throw us off base. He’s probably already here, though we have no way to verify if they’ve arrived.” When he’d secured the top and clicked in the buckle, Ben turned to Will. “We’re all set?”
Will clicked a series of keys and then leaned back, his laptop balanced on his knees. “You are now. Kikiaola harbor, one hour. He said you’ll know where the keys are.”
“And Grant?”
Will shrugged. “Not checking in probably means he went to dinner with the team and can’t hear his phone.”
Ben turned to Nadia. “Stay here with Will. Bolton and I will be back as soon as we can.”
**
“What first?” Bolton glanced at Ben and his bag of tricks as they crossed to the hangar. Inside was a silver Taurus Bolton wouldn’t have looked at twice back in the day. He’d driven a Camaro because he respected the classics. Thea had driven a Bentley since she was more about flash. Crime certainly did pay. That was why he was divorced, childless, injured, broke and homeless, hunted, and about to reunite with a woman who hated him.
Things were going real well.
Ben said, “Car to the marina. Boat is the only way to get close enough. Then we have to hike the rest of the way in. Usually they’re brought in by helicopter, like one of those scenic tours that show you all the sights and the inaccessible part of the island. Grant explained it all.”
Bolton buckled in. “So how do you hide people from nosy tourists with binoculars gaping out a helicopter window?”
“People see what they want to see. A beautiful waterfall, tree tops, and a canyon. Plenty of hiding spots if you can deliver supplies and the residents can adhere to the restrictions on beach visits. Though, it’s nowhere near as big as Sanctuary. No sheriff, no mayor.”
Bolton would’ve chosen it, too, if he’d known. “Wouldn’t that be nice.”
Ben smirked. “Yeah, the Sanctuary mayor is a piece of work. He wanted to arrest me. Apparently I ‘assaulted’ him.”
“Did you?”
“Burden of proof lies on him. Not me.” Ben drove the highway that snaked west around the island.
Dante was ahead of them, that was most likely true. Trying to get to Thea, like she needed him to hunt her down when she was busy hiding and being a mom. Bolton had worried more than once if she made a good mother. She wasn’t exactly the nurturing type, and he didn’t imagine there were many boutiques or salons in an inhospitable canyon. Maybe she’d have rather been in Idaho, in Sanctuary. Why had Grant offered them their respective towns? Bolton imagined the former director had his reasons, whatever they might have been.
Ben pulled into a parking space at the marina. “Time to swim.”
“What?”
Ben pointed at a boat anchored off shore. The light on the deck illuminated it. Otherwise they’d never have known it was there. Which, Bolton supposed, was the whole point. “How’s your back? Think you’ll make it, or is it to be a watery grave for ye.”
“Did you just talk like a pirate to me?”
Ben shrugged, and in the dim light, Bolton thought he might have seen a smirk. “Just tell me.”
“I’m fine.”
“Let’s go then.”
Shoes off. Ben stowed them in the bag, and they swam to the boat. On board, Ben opened the bag and emptied out all their weapons—dry as the inside of a gun.
Bolton pulled his shoes back on and tapped his earpiece. “We good, Will?”
“All set.”
“And Nadia?”
**
Will’s reply was immediate. “She’s good.”
Nadia sipped from the can of diet and stared out the window.
Will reached back for the gun he’d stashed under the tiny airplane pillow.
“Nadia’s good.”