Page 69 of Savage Beauty

“Can you?” She rolls onto her back and looks up at me with troubled, dark eyes. “Because if you could see it, you’d let me go back to Origins and ask for my job back. I’m not great with people. Selling investors on my research isn’t something I can easily do. Finding a spot on a research team is possible but it would take so much time. I want my old job back, and I swear, it doesn’t make sense for them to be involved.”

“I get your theory. You could very well be right. Maybe after your meeting with the intelligence goons?—”

“That’s what Jack Sullivan said.”

“When, exactly, did you talk to Jack?”

“He called yesterday. When you were in your meeting with the team.”

Fascinating.

“So, I’ll go to D.C. He asked that I meet with them. He asked for my patience. To let all of his resources look into this further.” Her chest rises and falls dramatically. “For Sage’s sake.”

“You’ve heard that a lot, huh?”

“I have.”

“That’s got to be hard.”

“No.” Once again, she tilts her head, looking directly at me. “I’d do anything for her. That’s why I tested all those people. That’s why I did what they asked. Because while it breaks some people’s rules, they’re still saving lives. And someone out there loves those people. Just as much as I love Sage.”

“But it’s…” She’s got to see that ethically what’s going on there is all kinds of wrong. Harvesting organs from captive people shows an unconscionable disregard for human life. But that’s why she’s torn. She’s feeling guilty because she knows it’s wrong, but she’d do it for Sage if forced to make a choice. “Are you worried about Sage?”

“Right now, she’s healthy, but if she lives long enough…”

“She’ll need another transplant.”

“And my research?—”

“Won’t be done in time.”

“Probably not.”

“Did you get contact information? So you know who to call if the day comes and you need?—”

“No. I don’t believe any of the men on the ground had any idea what I was doing or why.” She’s probably right. They hired mercenaries to run security. “But if we’re ever desperate, I have a better idea now of how it works.”

“They wanted you alive, but it doesn’t sound like they wanted you for your knowledge. Not that you aren’t all kinds of skilled, but they weren’t using you for that. Not really.”

“There was a building on the far end of the compound with a small casino and a brothel where both the guards and the workers could spend money. I overheard one of them mention they get one day off a month. But whoever put me there set me up on a different schedule from the other workers. I mean, I didn’t get a day off, but I slept away from all the others. In a private room. I was definitely treated differently, but I don’t know why. Do you think the men Jack’s asked me to meet with will believe me?”

I think she might be in for a long interrogation, is what I think. But I press my lips to her shoulder and hold her tight. “Is worrying about that meeting what’s making you sad?”

“Oh. I didn’t finish my list.”

“No?” I let my teeth sink into her shoulder.

“Today is the day we have to say goodbye.” She doesn’t want to say goodbye either. An idea crystallizes.

“I don’t know about that.” My chest feels lighter.

“Yes. You’ll go back to LA, and I’ll?—”

“We’ll go to D.C. together.”

“What?”

“Yeah. I’ll let Jack know.” There’s no way I’m letting her go through a CIA interrogation without support. If not in the same room, I’ll be counting the minutes and doing everything I can to ensure those fuckers don’t put her through the wringer.

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