Page 32 of Coming Up Aces

“Granddaughter,” Lucy corrected.

“We’ll see,” Xavier joked. “Seriously, though. Why are you—?”

“I’m not putting myself in the line of fire. Rayna’s a trained FBI agent. I’m just along for moral support.”

The onboard system beeped again. “Dad, there’s another call coming through. Hopefully, it’s Lachlan. Call your buddies and get them ready, just in case.”

“Will do, Son.”

Tamian switched over to the new caller. “This is Tamian.”

“St. Claire, it’s Lachlan. Carter said you’re in need of my services. Tell me how I can help.”

Chapter Twelve

Ace

Ace always figuredwhen he crossed over it would be when he was much older than fifty-two. He imagined being dead would be a state of nothingness. Instead, he was floating along with all his memories intact. He had lived an honest life with few regrets.Rayna.Ah yes. Ace wished he’d had more time with his Cheetah. He knew in his heart she was the one who would have waited for him. His Gryphon had already claimed her, proving the pretty agent would have been there with him until the end.

“We’ve got to get out of here,” a man said.

“And go where, Silas?” a woman asked. “We’ve lived here for twenty-five years. There’s nothing for us on the outside.”

“And if the police show up? What then, Claudia? We can go to my brother’s. He’ll take us in.”

“And how do you suppose we get there?”

“I’ll take the van. If anyone asks, I’ll say I’m going on a supply run.”

“And what about him? Or all the others who might need a doctor if we leave? You can’t just leave this man, Silas.”

Maybe he’d gotten the afterlife all wrong. If so, where were his parents? And why did he feel as though an elephant was sitting on his chest? It was then he noticed the faint beeping. It was a patient monitor. But if he had died…

We didn’t die. They saved us.

Oh. But who was “they”?

The guard took us to the infirmary at the compound.

They have a doctor who can do surgery?

It appears so.

But why? Why save me?

We know not everyone at these compounds is bad.

The door slammed open. “Silas, I’ve been— Who is that?”

“We don’t know, Brother Abraham. One of the guards brought him to us,” Silas said. “He had been shot.”

“Which guard? Never mind. I was also shot. Stitch me up.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Silas, I’m afraid Oasis isn’t the safe haven I created all those years ago. Ruth is dead, and her son is responsible. Once I’m patched up, I’ll be leaving, and I suggest you take Claudia somewhere else.”

“What about our members?” Claudia asked.

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