Page 19 of Legacy's Call

He nodded. “It was included in my briefing. Accessing them and keeping the people safe as they traverse the system is insanely complex, especially with the smugglers in the area.” He shook his head. “That’s why we dismissed the idea unless we need to use it as an emergency egress for the staff.”

“An emergency what?” She was trying to keep up, but he was talking in a language she didn’t understand.

“Egress. An emergency exit. We could possibly protect the staff, but the amount of people in this camp—there’s no way.”

She moved forward and put her hand on his arm.Surprised, he locked eyes with her as she almost pleaded, “If we took them in small groups, we could get them out. The question would be where we would come out and how to get them from the end of the tunnel to a safe location in Turkey. That, and how to be absent from the camp from when we left to when we got back without raising concerns or suspicions. The second someone learned about it in camp, the information could be sold, and that would jeopardize the route and the people.” She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. “So many variables, but it’s a viable option.”

Ronan lifted his hand and put his finger under her chin, lifting her eyes to his. His eyes glimmered with knowledge as he said, “You’ve been planning to use the tunnels, haven’t you.”

His words weren’t a question. They were a statement, and she nodded, and his finger fell from her chin. “I’ve asked one of the ladies in camp to contact her late husband’s coworkers. He was killed trying to bring supplies into Aleppo. When she found out he was killed and that the faction who’d killed him had identified him, his business partners helped her flee. She ended up here.”

Ronan frowned and glanced back toward the camp. “We have contacts that have been vetted, andwe trust them. Don’t endanger yourself or the occupants of this camp by using people who aren’t trustworthy. That’s not smart.”

The reprimand stung. She blinked at him and then huffed out a humorless laugh. “What isn’t smart is leaving all these people here. They came here for help. Our organizations have promised to do that. If we’re pulled out, what’s going to happen to them? I can tell you what’ll happen.” She was shaking because she was so mad, but damn it, calling her stupid for looking for alternatives was the straw that broke her back today. Her voice rose as she continued, “Those men will sell any female they can and use the ones they can’t. The fathers in this camp will be killed or forced to join the factions along with all boys above the age of eight. Those under the age of eight will be sold for sex or servitude. Their own government turns a blind eye and offers no assistance. Looking away and pretending thatisn’thappening is what isstupid, sir, not trying to find ways around our current dilemma.”

Ronan cocked his head and stared at her, an amused gleam in his eyes. Well, screw him. “I’m sure you can find your way back to your campsite.” She spun on her heel, but a solid hand on her shoulder stopped her before she could put one foot forward.His voice was right behind her. “Forgive me for offending you. You should know I’ve spent years fighting the worst the world offers to protect those with no alternative. Additionally, my little spitfire, I did not say your methods oryouwere stupid. I said working with people who have not been vetted was not smart. Guardian has resources you do not. Let us determine the best actions to take.”

She dropped her head, the feeling of this man’s body behind her, warm and strong, and his hand resting on her shoulder sucked every morsel of rebellion from her. She didn’t turn around as she apologized. It was easier not to face him. “I’m sorry. It’s been a difficult time. I’ve been going insane trying to find a way to relocate our people. The tunnelsarean option. Too many people have lost their lives trying to get these people relocated to a safe place.”

His hand squeezed her shoulder. “I understand where you’re coming from.”

She turned and didn’t try to keep the desperation and anguish out of her voice. “Do you? Really? Have you lost people or known anyone who’s been trafficked?” How could he understand unless he’d worked in the camps and seen the complete lack of sufficient help that dashed the hopes and dreams ofevery person who walked through those camp gates? It wasn’t possible.

The kindness in his eyes vanished, and a blank, desolate stare filled his expression. In a natural movement, he tapped his ear before he said. “Yes, I’ve lost people, one who died in my arms, and yes, my sister was kidnapped and sold to human traffickers. Don’t assume you’re the only one who’s had losses. You aren’t. If you’ll excuse me, we’ll make our way back to our camp.” The warmth in his voice was gone. Instead, his answer was clipped and sharp. He strode past her, brushing her shoulder and turning her.

Oh, God. No.She reached out and called after him, “Ronan, wait …” But he didn’t stop, and could she blame him? No, she couldn’t. How could she have been so … judgmental? She had no idea of his past, and the pain he had to have gone through was beyond her comprehension. His sister! Her hands shook as she realized she’d alienated the one source of help that could do something to help them. Even more, she’d brought that pain back to him. If his losses haunted him as much as hers, that pain was raw and bleeding.

Yes, Ronan knew about the tunnels. He knew security and maybe could get the convoys back upand moving safely, but before that he was a man. A man who’d brought help, who was workingwithher, not against her and she’d put a mile-wide wedge between them. Damn it. What was she going to do now? She watched as the team headed back to the front of the camp.

“You screwed that one up.”

Fleur jumped at the voice behind her. “Shelly, God, where did you come from?”

“The clinic tent, where I spend my life.” Shelly laughed. “I heard there were some Americans here, and they filled up our generators. I wanted to thank them. I saw you and that big guy and headed this way. I just caught the last bit, but, girl, you’ve got to stop thinking of yourself as the victim in this horrendous mess.Youweren’t killed or taken.”

Fleur blinked at the bluntness of Shelly’s words. If her friend had slapped her across the face, she wouldn’t have felt so …attacked. “Excuse me?”

Shelly pushed her ponytail over her shoulder and put her hands on her hips. “Oh, come on, Fleur, the people who went on those convoys knew the risks. We all do. There’s no guarantee in this part of the world. Yes, it sucks that they were killed. I won’t for a second say it doesn’t, but youare notthe martyr in this situation. According toRana, those guys are here to help us; for God’s sake, let them.”

Fleur’s mouth dropped open. She pointed at herself. “I’m not acting like a martyr.”

Shelly crossed her arms over her chest and stared back at her. “Really? The definition of a martyr is someone who sacrifices something, likeyour life,for the sake of principle. Tell me, why did you ask Rana to find her contacts? Why did you agree to meet with them?”

Fleur blinked, and her mouth fell open. “Rana told you?”

“Yeah, she did. Rana was worried she was doing something wrong by contacting them, and then when you said you’d meet them, she wanted a sanity check. She doesn’t want to be cast out of the camp for doing what you asked, which is a real possibility.”

“She shouldn’t have said anything. She won’t be penalized for doing what I asked. She shouldn’t have told you anything.” Fleur crossed her arms. She and Shelly had always had a strong friendship, but she was crossing some lines right now.

Not backing down, Shelly came right at her. “But she did, which was smart because someone needs to talk some sense into you.” Shelly shook her head. “I know you think you’re responsible for everyonehere because of your position, but you’re no more responsible than Miller, Tom, Louis, or me. We’re all doing a job with the constraints that this fucked up situation has put us in. Yeah, sure, you coordinated the convoys. So, what? Did you sell the information? Did you attack the convoys? Did you kill those people? Did you leave information out so someone could see where you were going? Did you give whoever attacked the convoy guns or ammo? Did you force this country’s government to be the miserable dicks they are? The answer to all those questions is no.Reality, Fleur. Deal with reality, not your perception of what you could have done or could do.”

Softening a bit, Shelly walked toward her. “You couldn’t have done anything more than what you did. You can’t move these people by yourself. Your heart is as big as this country, but you’re not responsible for the wars, the refugees, or the things this country refuses to do for them. Our job is to do the good that we can, no matter how little or how much. Someone should have noticed you were taking all this on your shoulders, but we didn’t. Well, this is me noticing and telling you to stop it. You can’t be everything to everyone, Fleur. You are not responsible.”

Tears filled her eyes as Shelly pulled her into her arms. “Don’t take this on your shoulders, sweetie. Don’t.”

Fleur tried not to cry, but it was game over when Shelly started sniffing. She let the tears roll, and after a few moments of struggling to control herself, she said, “I should’ve been able to do something to stop it from happening.”

Shelly took a hold of her shoulders and pushed her back. “How? Do you have a magic wand? Are you God? Have you been given some omnipotent power to change humanity into something other than what it is?”

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