Page 16 of Maverick

“Yeah, they’re going to be doing some work for the team in Guyana. They were just letting me know why they would be away for a few days.”

“Oh, okay,” she nodded.

“Katelyn, we’ve got your cottage ready for you,” said Kennedy. “I have to get back up to the hospital to check on some patients, but Kate and Gwen will walk you over there. Based on what the guys told us, we bought clothing for you. If anything doesn’t fit, just let us know, and we’ll return it for you. We’ve stocked the kitchen and bathroom with everything you should need, but if we’re missing something, just tell Mav.”

“I can’t believe you did all that,” she said, shaking her head.

“It’s what we do, honey. We’re family.” Kennedy gave her a quick hug, kissing her son on his cheek as she waved.

“Your mom is a doctor.” Mav nodded. “And your father was a Navy SEAL. They’re all real, and they’re all so special and wonderful. Everyone is kind and beautiful, and they’re all sticking their necks out for me.”

“I told you all that,” he smiled. “I told you about my parents. I told you about the property and all the people here. Didn’t you believe me?”

“I know. I guess, I don’t know, maybe I thought you were exaggerating.” Mav laughed, shaking his head.

“Honey, there is no need to exaggerate a thing at Belle Fleur. Everything is bigger and better than your imagination.”

CHAPTER TEN

“Mr. Eric?”

“Hey, Victoria. Come on in, honey. What’s up?”

“Can I talk to you about something?” she asked, looking nervous and a little frightened.

“You can talk to me about anything other than sex. Then I’m sending you to my beautiful wife,” he smirked. She laughed.

“No. It’s not that. It’s the new woman, Katelyn.”

“What about her?” he asked, filled with curiosity and concern. “She’s worked for G.R.I.P. for a while now, always remotely.”

“It’s not that. I know her. I mean, I think I know her.”

“Know who?” asked Luke and Hex, walking into the room.

“Victoria thinks she knows Katelyn. But how would you know her, honey? She’s probably eight or ten years older than you are. She went to some special girls’ school in Maine or something.”

“A special school,” whispered Victoria. “Like me before I was kidnapped, before I was given to those other people at that other school. I was sent to a special school.”

“I. I’m not sure,” stammered Hex.

“I’ve seen her. I’ve met her, and I think it was when I was very little. My memory never fails me. We met, and then I was removed from my first school. Taken.”

“Victoria, have you looked into this school that she went to? That you both went to?” asked Luke.

“No, sir. Not without your approval.”

In spite of having been with them for a few years now, Victoria was still extremely shy and often asked for permission before doing the simplest of tasks. They didn’t want to push her, but since she was fast approaching her twenty-first birthday, they needed her to gain more independence.

“Do it. And Victoria, you never have to ask permission to do something you know is the right thing to do. Just do it.” She smiled at him and nodded, leaving the room.

“What are you thinking?” asked Eric.

“I’m thinking that maybe that school was an agency school to breed great minds for them to use exclusively. Somebody was taking notes from old-school Russia.

“Victoria and the others getting kidnapped could have been a fluke. She needs to figure out if kids were selected to go into that school or taken from their families. If it was an agency school and they were breeding kids to do their work, this is going to be a much different scenario than we originally thought.”

“Not if we blow the fucking lid off the whole damn thing,” said Luke. “I think we need to speak to Katelyn. Let’s go.”

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