Page 180 of Marks of Rebellion

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"You know I don't need as much sleep as you," I reply.

"I want to watch you surf."

"I'll be out there awhile. And if you don't watch today, you can tomorrow." I lean down and kiss her. "Go back to sleep."

She curls into the pillow, and sleepily replies, "Okay."

The sun is starting to rise when I get into the water. I surf for hours, and when I finish, she's still sleeping. I take a shower and crawl back into bed.

We sleep for several more hours. When I wake up, she's on the phone, softly talking and pacing.

"Naomi, I don't understand. Why can't you run it?"

Run it? We discussed not publishing anything yet.

I sit up in bed.

"But we're safe here."

Flower, what are you doing?

"What about Emilia?"

She runs her hand through her hair.

"When? And is she okay? What about Malin?"

"Are they in Bermuda?" I blurt out, and Vanessa jumps. "Sorry to startle you."

She turns and puts the phone on speaker. "Hunter just woke up. You're on speaker."

"Hey, Hunter."

"Naomi. What's going on?"

"The U.S. President just proposed to inject another $50 billion into the War on Drugs budget."

"Which is why we need to get this out now. That doubles their annual spending. It's all part of the plan," Vanessa insists.

"Emilia is getting closer to me. My dreams confirm it. If they are in the U.S., there's a reason."

I grab the phone. "Naomi, what do you mean they are in the U.S.?"

"Kalim called Andre. He's tracked them there."

"He knows where they are at?"

"No. He lost them, but as of Monday, they were still in the States."

"Where?"

"In D.C., at an embassy party."

Embassy party...?

"Why would they go there?" I ask.

"I'm not sure."

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