Page 71 of Kept By The Agents

"She's over there," Drew said from behind me.

I looked to where he was pointing and gasped when I saw the hollow cheeked version of the photograph Alyona had given me. "Could you translate for me?" I asked in a whisper.

"Of course," he said and followed me over.

Elena looked up as I approached and I smiled when I saw the spark there in her eyes. She wasn't shut down like a lot of the women here, not that I blamed them. She still had some fire in her eyes. It gave me hope that she'd make it through all this.

"Hi. I'm Catalina," I told her, then paused as Drew translated. Elena's eyes shifted between us as she listened, and when she focused on me again, I continued. "Your aunt Alyona asked me to help find you. These men are my friends and are here to help."

She looked at Drew again, but a slow smile crossed her face when he said her aunt's name. She spoke, her voice so soft I nearly had to strain to hear her. Not that I understood.

"She said her aunt talks about you all the time. She knows exactly who you are."

I smiled. "I always hoped to meet you one day. I'm sorry this is the way we're meeting, but-"

Before she had a chance to respond the door slammed open, causing us all to flinch.

"Sorry! Sorry. Elena!"

I turned and smiled as her family rushed up. Her mom and aunt were already in tears, and so was Elena as they all hugged.

Lev, her father, looked over at me and swallowed hard. "Thank you."

"These guys were the reason she was found," I said, pointing to the men surrounding us.

Drew looked uncomfortable, but said, "You shouldn't have to worry about the Raleka again."

I was crying again as I watched Alyona and Ferra fret over Elena. Then they were all hugging me, and I embraced them back. Seeing them all reunited made everything we went through to find Elena worth it.

Then Lev wrapped his daughter in his arms, tears forming in his eyes, and held her close, and I could barely stifle the sobs. He'd been wracked with guilt the whole time she was missing. It was hard to watch such a kind and caring man blame himself for something that wasn't his fault. Their reunion was beautiful.

Alyona wrapped me up in another hug. "Thank you, Sweetie. Thank you for finding her."

I didn't bother to try to give the guys credit this time. We all knew they were the reason we were here right now, with Elena being hugged by her parents.

They didn't stay long. All of them were anxious to get Elena home and begin to heal from the trauma of the last five, almost six months. I didn't blame them at all. I planned to keep in touch as often as possible. We said our goodbyes and then I did my best to help the other women still here.

Not long after they left Matvey and a young girl, who I assumed was Motya, walked through the door. She didn't have the same wary look in her eyes as the other women. I hoped that meant nothing happened to her in the short time she was with the Raleka. Matvey's grin backed up my theory.

"Thank you," he said as he approached and squeezed his daughter closer to his side, "for helping me to find her."

"She helped herself," Brandon said with a smile.

"Speaking of," Drew interrupted. "How did you manage to get those messages to me?"

She rolled her eyes. "One of the guards liked to drink," she replied in halted English. "I waited until he was…" She looked up at her father and asked something in Russian.

"Asleep," Drew responded before Matvey could to her question of how to say an English word.

She grinned at him. "I waited until he was asleep, then went into the office and used the computer."

Drew's gaze darted between Matvey and his daughter. "If you ever want a job with the CIA, just let me know. You have an incredible skill."

Matvey snorted. "Like I would let her become one of you."

"Besides," I added, "Boykov is probably going to try to do some heavy recruiting of his own if she's as good as you say she is."

"She is," Drew replied.

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