"I personally believe Kael would rather see you dead than alive." Ava directed her blunt statement to Garrett.

His right leg shook rhythmically beside me on my sofa. I didn't blame him for his uneasiness. My mother made me more nervous than the beady eyed publishers I worked with. As she continued, Garrett's fist formed a tight grip on the corner of my gold throw pillow.

Ava narrowed her gaze. "I find it very interesting that he devoted half a year to your rescue."

Garrett pointed a thumb in my direction. His leg still bounced beside me.

"Mmm." Ava's gaze shifted between us. The creases around her eyes spread with her scrutiny. Leaning back, she sighed, "well go on. From the beginning."

I had heard the story countless times. I hated it. As a journalist, Garrett could tell a story better than anyone I knew, but this one was different. He paused frequently to wipe his brow and closed his eyes when recalling his painful memories.

Ava wasn't empathetic, but she wasn't callous either. She waited for Garrett to offer what little he could. Heavily drugged at the time, he could recall none of the events clearly. He spoke of squelching heat and air that had threatened to suffocate him. During brief periods of lucidity, he'd cry for rations of food or water. Often, they offered none.

Ava seemed to find the events less shocking than I did. After all, I assumed my father and Kael had kept trafficked victims under similar conditions.

Garrett's recount of his rescue was vague. When he spoke of it, he always sounded like he had a lump in his throat, and it grew as he tried to push past it. Words came in short bursts. He looked away from Ava. He couldn't meet my eyes either. "There was a... the leader I guess. A woman..." He coughed around the lump. His voice was hoarse, but he continued. "Actually... compared... she wasn't as horrifying as..." I reached out and clasped my hand over his fist. My touch seemed to relax him a little. "So, from what I can remember, when Kael... everything was rather civil between them." Garrett had found a spot on my floor and cast a dark look over it. I wondered what he was thinking. He sighed, coming to the end of his story. "I don't know how he did it. I doubt it will, but I hope this helps you, Ava."

"I see." Ava's lips turned down. Garrett and I waited for her cue. I wondered if she would leave. But she stayed, her hands draped over her crossed knees. "Thank you, Garrett. Now, there is something I should share with you."

Ava tucked her tablet toward her and leaned forward. "Before he disappeared, Kael was summoned for questioning. He'd taken Interpol property and used it without authorization." Ava shrugged. "It was just protocol. He'd done that sort of thing before and there was always a reasonable explanation."

I could not help the cold, prickly feeling that spread on my arms. There would be an explanation, but I couldn't help the response. Something about Ava's story was odd or contrived or vague. I couldn't be sure what bothered me, but something felt off.

"We now know that he was trying to protect you, Harper. An assassin had been tracking you for months." Ava let her words echo into silence before proceeding. "French, I believe, which made sense once we discovered Madeline survived the blast at Mason's. When Kael didn't come in, I went looking for him." Ava's eyes became distant, looking at but not seeing either of us. "But he was already gone." She moved her hands open in expression. The ominous words stayed in my mind.

Our reactions could not go unnoticed. Every muscle in Garrett's body tightened beside me. I could feel the blood draining from my face to settle into a knot in my stomach. Madeline was alive and wanted me dead. This realization awakened a fear I had repressed, a fear I had longed to forget.

My mouth was dry, but I ran my tongue over my lips anyway. "What do you need from me, Ava?" My voice was husky.

"You've been in there."

"Harper Manor?" Saying the words for the first time in months felt strange. Images of massive stone walls and hidden bays flashed into my mind.

Ava nodded. "You have intel, seen people. You can help me more that you know. I don't know who Kael trusts or who he doesn't." Ava seemed to sense she hadn't convinced us and pressed on, "The only way I can protect you is if you come to England with me. Help find Kael and in turn, I'll ensure Madeline can't get to you."

I held up a hand. "Wait. You want me to go in there?" The thought of going to Harper Manor without him being there made me feel ill. Either Kael's employees would kill me or my heart would stop. One way or another I'd end up dead.

Frustrated, Ava threw up her hands. "I'm generously offering to protect you. All I'm asking for is intel. Accept or don't, but with the information I have, we won't find him any time soon."

Garrett shifted in his seat, his hands folded between his knees. I waited for his protest, his petition that I would be much safer here than in England despite the promise of Interpol protection. Instead, he surprised us both with, "There's something else. I don't know if this is relevant, but Kael was looking for his father."

"Garrett!" I cried, disappointed. I hadn't yet decided how much I wanted to share with her. Ava's eyes widened. Fury swirled in their depths.

"Gideon." She swallowed hard as she said my father's name. Beads of sweat broke out across her brow. For the first time since we arrived, she looked uncomfortable. "It was Gideon's final act of revenge. This is what Kael has been working on." She rose her hand to her face, pushing moisture quickly from the corner of her eye.

I had never seen Ava cry. I hadn't thought her capable. Leaning forward, I reached for her hand in empathy, but she pulled back. Her voice shook as she spoke. "He has no idea what horrors he'll face if he finds him."

I caught Garrett's eye. A knowing look passed between us. We were thinking the same thing. Kael found his father. Perhaps that's why he was gone.  

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I'm sorry this is so short guys, but it's a bridge to get them moving! Adventure awaits. I promise :)

This is dedicated to another of my wonderful readers. Thanks so much for your support!

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