Page 21 of Wired Strong

Please also know that I will always love you and value you. I miss you, and so does Anubis. One day we’ll all be together on Phi Ni again. Love, Sophie

Sophie paused before she sent the message, about to log off—then added a separate, final line. She’d done what she had to. Hopefully, it would help keep both of them safe.

She logged out of the chat room, and then sent a video call to Kaua`i, and Armita’s phone.

Armita picked up. “This isn’t the usual time,” she said in Thai. “Momi’s down for her afternoon nap.” The nanny’s angular, golden-skinned face looked well-rested. Alika’s big Hawaiian family loved to take care of Momi and pass her around to play with her many aunties, uncles, and cousins. Armita actually got time off, which she didn’t get on her months with Sophie. Realizing this, Sophie felt a stab of guilt.

“That’s fine, Armita. It’s the middle of my workday, anyway. But I had something to tell you. Or maybe, it’s better to show you.” She used her finger to find the sonogram picture of the baby, and sent it to Armita via text. “I was waiting to tell you . . . until it seemed more certain. More real.”

Armita’s phone dinged with the incoming text. Sophie watched her nanny’s face as she opened the message.

Armita’s severe features broke into a joyous grin, transforming her face into one of beauty. “Oh, Sophie! I suspected, when you were so nauseous and sleepy—but I didn’t want to hope you’d be this lucky!”

“You’re happy for me?” Sophie’s eyes filled immediately. “You’re happy about this for us? You are okay with caring for another baby with me?”

“Oh, my dear.” Armita looked straight into Sophie’s eyes. “Caring for you, and for your children—that is my mission. My life’s work. Only that.”

Sophie burst into tears. “I love you, Armita. So much!” She had to set down the tablet and grab a handful of tissues. She pulled herself together momentarily, patting her face and wiping her eyes. “I was terrified you’d say this was too much, and leave me. Leave us.”

Armita’s dark eyes gleamed with answering emotion. “Never. Nothing but death could take me from you.”

“Thank you, thank you. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you.” Sophie blew her nose. “I’m so relieved. You have no idea. Doing this without Jake—or even Connor—to help me—it’s overwhelming.”

“You’re not alone. We’re together in all of it,” Armita said. “I’ll call you back when Momi is up from her nap and we’ll tell her that the family—herohana—is going to get bigger.”

Chapter Seventeen

Connor

Connor layon his belly on the massage table. Nam massaged his muscles with deep, firm strokes of his forearm, using the Hawaiianlomi lomimethod. Connor had flown a teacher in that form of massage out to Phi Ni some years ago, and both Nam and Kupa had been certified in the art.

Connor had spent long hours training with the men using staffs that day; one of the trainees was showing good promise and had landed several blows to Connor’s sides and back.

He was feeling them now.

“My wife tells me that now that she and Pim Wat have returned to the compound, we can expect to see more of them,” Nam said. “The Master’s consort is much changed in appearance but not demeanor, she says.”

“I spoke to the Master about Kupa’s situation, as you asked me to. He says she must endure until a replacement can be found, but I have been unsure how to proceed in procuring one,” Connor said.

“We would like to return to our home.” Nam’s forearm was particularly forceful as it slid over Connor’s lower back muscles.

Connor hissed out a breath, willing himself to relax. “I would very much like you to be able to, but the island remains seized by the United States Department of Justice. Sophie is fighting it in court, but until the property is released to her, we have no place there.”

“I fear for my wife’s life. She may displease Pim Wat in some way, and not survive.” Nam’s voice sounded ragged.

“I know. The Master is aware of the situation. He has apprised Pim Wat that Kupa is important to me. To us,” Connor said. He hoped that was the truth; the Master gave Pim Wat directions, and she obeyed him. But had he ever told Pim Wat specifically that Kupa was not to be killed? Connor had assumed that, when his houseman’s wife had been assigned to the deadly assassin as a maid, it was understood that Kupa was not to be mistreated, let alone murdered. “I will speak to the Master again. I will ask what is being done to find a replacement for Kupa at Pim Wat’s side.”

“I thank you.” The tension that Nam’s skillful hands had conveyed to Connor began to ease. The man worked Connor’s back, glutes, and legs, then turned him over and did his front, starting with his arms and shoulders.

Connor fell asleep, deeply grateful to have both Nine and Nam, two men he trusted, so close to him.

* * *

Connor woketo find that the Healer’s chamber, where he got his massages, had grown cool with evening. He swung his legs off the side of the stone table, feeling loose and relaxed, ready to resume nighttime work in the upper room. He donned his whitegiand headed up the stairs to the Yam Khûmk?n’s computer lab.

Once inside, he logged onto his rigs and surfed quickly through the correspondence he monitored for the compound. While a program was loading, he looked around the ascetic space, enjoying the sight of his violin on the wall—and noticing that his personal cell phone was flashing with an alert.

He picked up the phone, logging in quickly, and his pulse raced when he saw that he had a message from Sophie in their low-tech, secret chat room.

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