Page 22 of Savage Reckoning

Jenna and Janey take charge of the kitchen, and the women begin to venture downstairs to eat or explore the rest of the house and grounds. The Savage soldiers who live here have been instructed to keep their distance, so the women are left to wander about at will. I can tell Jack isn’t especially delighted at this turn of events, but he bows to his wife’s judgement in the matter.

“They don’t need guarding. No one is going anywhere until we’re ready to fly them out. Meanwhile, they need their freedom. They need to know they are safe. The grounds are secure, you’ve no need to worry.”

Jack Morgan growls, as usual, but doesn’t interfere.

My own usefulness is coming to an end. The women are in remarkably decent shape, given their ordeal. Clearly, they were seen as valuable merchandise, and reasonable care was taken not to damage them. Two of them are pregnant, a state which predates their kidnapping, fortunately, but showing no ill-effects as a result of their abduction. I’ll keep a close eye, but that’s all that’s needed.

Exhausted, I take myself off into the wing where the offices are housed. There’s a small lounge with a sofa where I can stretch out for a while. I make a few phone calls to check on my other patients, then settle back with my feet up and my eyes closed.

I wake with a start. There are voices coming from the next room. Jack’s office. I consult my watch. Twice. I can’t believe I’ve been asleep for over two hours. I scramble to my feet and straighten my clothes while the number of different voices increases. I recognise Tony, Nico, Rome, and Casey. I hadn’t even realised she was here. She must have arrived while I was busy. Or sleeping.

I open the door into the corridor intending to slip away. I could do with checking in with Ruth again, just to be sure the women are all okay, and then maybe head back to the Richmond. Better still, Caraksay.

“Ah, there you are. I’ve been sending out search parties trying to find you.”

I swing around and drum up a smile for Jack. “Sorry. I was taking a break. Did you need me?”

“Meeting in my office to debrief and plan out the next phase. We could do with your input.”

“Sure.” I follow him into the office, then pull up short. “What’s he doing here?”

I glare at Gabriel, seated at the table between Casey and Tony, and looking for all the world as though he actually belongs there.

He settles back in his chair and treats me to that lazy smile of his. “Hi, honey. How’re ya doing?”

I ignore him and turn on Jack. “Why is he here?”

“He’s helping us for the time being. Do you have a problem with that?”

Yes! He’s a lying, cheating asshole.

“I…” I snap my mouth shut and shake my head.

“That’s good. Have a seat, then. We need to get started.”

There’s only one spare chair, which happens to be dead opposite Gabriel. I slide into it and make a point of exchanging nods with all the others present. Anything to avoid eye contact with him.

Jack takes his seat at the head of the table. “Right. Listen up.”

Silence. We wait for whatever is next.

Jack starts with me. “Update on Aaron, please.”

“Of course. He’s at the Richmond. His shoulder was dislocated, but it’s been reset, and no nerve damage as far as we can tell.”

“How long before he’s back?”

“A week, perhaps.”

“Can that be four days?”

I appreciate the urgency, and I know Aaron will be itching to be out of there, too. “Yes, probably. On light duties.”

Jack gives me a curt nod. “We need him here. What about the others?”

I update everyone on Ethan and Magda. My report is met by grim silence, broken by Rome.

“The bastards will pay for this.”

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