Page 68 of Todd
“I’m okay,” she whispered, seeing the terror and fury warring in his blue eyes. “She didn’t get the chance to inject whatever was in that syringe. I’m okay.”
His exhale was shuddering, carrying suppressed fear. “I heard you scream, and I thought—” His voice broke, unable to complete the sentence that would give voice to the nightmare.
“But you got here in time,” Sadie said firmly, her free hand reaching up to cup his face with gentle reassurance. “You got here in time. She can’t hurt anyone else now.”
Agent Rodriguez watched as one of her agents escorted a handcuffed and sobbing Dr. Patel from the room. Turning to another agent, she bit out, “I want to know who the fuck was at the Phoenix airport using Patel’s passport!”
Cory growled, “My guess is they had it set up ahead of time in case anything went wrong. That’s what we told you we were investigating… a woman guest from the spa was seen using her passport to head back to Italy, but we don’t think it was her.”
Agent Rodriguez’s mouth was a tight line. “I promise, we’ll comb over every inch of the resort and surrounding area in an effort to find all the bodies.”
Sadie just blinked at hearing the conversation, finally giving up that it would make sense right now. As the agent walked out, Sisco turned to Sadie and grinned. “You’re a real badass, Sadie. But then, I always knew that.”
She couldn’t help but grin as he winked, Cole and Cory chuckled, and Todd growled. The Keepers turned to walk out after Cole said, “I’ll call it all into Logan.”
After Sadie’s doctor finished his examination, and she’d finally made it to the bathroom, Todd climbed carefully into the narrow hospital bed beside Sadie. The cramped space was meant for one person, not two, but neither of them cared about comfort when they could finally hold each other without pretense or professional boundaries.
“Cole will have the plane ready tomorrow morning,” Todd murmured against her hair, his arms tightening around her with what felt like possession and relief. “We’re going home.”
Through the hospital room doorway, she could see Sisco, Cole, and Cory conversing before they glanced inside the room. Their knowing smiles suggested they understood exactly what had changed between her and Todd, and their approval warmed her more than any medical treatment could have managed. With winks, waves, and chin lifts, they headed down the hall.
Home.Sadie settled into the warmth of Todd’s embrace as exhaustion finally claimed her.Finally, we’re going home together.
35
TWO WEEKS LATER
The late afternoon sun painted the LSI Montana compound in shades of gold and amber, the familiar sight of home more beautiful than any luxury spa could ever hope to achieve. Sadie stood on the deck of Logan and Vivian’s house, watching as her chosen family gathered for what Vivian had dubbed Sadie’s “clean bill of health celebration.” In truth, it was really an excuse to eat too much barbecue and remind themselves why they’d all chosen this life together.
The medical tests had finally confirmed what she’d known in her heart for days. Dr. Selinski’s experimental compounds had been completely purged from her system, leaving no lasting damage beyond memories that would fade with time. The FBI doctor who’d kept up with her through her doctor in Montana had marveled at her recovery, attributing it to excellent physical conditioning. He’d also commented positively on her superior emotional support system.
Superior emotional support system.She smiled at the clinical phrase that could never adequately describe the love and loyalty of the people now scattered across Logan’s property.
“Sadie!” Evie’s voice rang out across the deck as Sisco and Lenore’s daughter raced toward her with the boundless energyof a six-year-old who’d been declared cancer-free and was determined to make up for lost time. “Mama said you were really sick, but you look fine to me!”
Sadie knelt to catch the little girl in a fierce hug, breathing in the scent of sunshine and innocence that made everything else seem manageable. “I’m all better now, sweetheart. The doctors said I’m as healthy as a horse.”
“Horses are really healthy,” Evie agreed solemnly, then brightened with sudden inspiration. “Daddy said you had to sit in mud like a pig! Did you oink?”
The question sent laughter rippling through the adults within earshot, and Sadie felt her cheeks warm with amusement. “I didn’t oink, but I definitely felt ridiculous. Mud is for mud pies and pigpens.”
“I like mud,” Evie declared with the confidence of someone who’d never met a mess she didn’t want to explore. “We could make mud pies together sometime!”
Sadie ruffled the little girl’s hair as she stood. “Maybe we could make regular pies instead? The kind you actually eat?”
From across the deck, Logan’s deep laugh carried over the conversations as he maneuvered carefully with his son balanced against his shoulder. The sight of their formidable leader transformed into a doting father never failed to amuse her and the others, though none of them were brave enough to comment on how easily the infant could reduce him to nonsensical cooing.
“Speaking of mud,” Cory called out from his position at the grill, his voice carrying the kind of mischief that usually preceded embarrassing stories. “Did Sadie ever tell you all about the volcanic ash treatment? Because apparently that’s a thing rich people pay thousands of dollars for.”
“Don’t,” Sadie warned, but her smile took any real threat out of the word. “I refuse to relive that particular humiliation for your entertainment.”
“But it’s such good entertainment,” Frazier added, his usually serious demeanor softened by his smile. “Timothy missed all the good stories while he was getting his appendix removed.”
Timothy, fully recovered from his emergency surgery, raised his own beer in mock salute. “I feel like I missed the adventure of a lifetime. Next time someone needs to go undercover at a luxury spa, I’m volunteering.”
“Next time,” Todd said, his arm sliding around Sadie’s waist with the casual possessiveness that still sent butterflies dancing through her stomach, “we’re going somewhere with normal room service and hot tubs that are only filled with water.”
The easy moment of being surrounded by friends who’d become family, held securely against the side of the man she loved, listening to gentle teasing that spoke to shared experiences and mutual affection, felt like the answer to prayers she’d never quite known how to voice.
