Chapter 41 #2
“We’re not sure.”
“Sylvia.”
“I know, I know. But we really aren’t sure.” Her face flushed. “The Board ascertained that when you were stuck with that needle at the Reverence Sisters compound it was because they needed to use your DNA to change someone’s genetic makeup so that it allowed them in.”
“But the theft happened after.”
Sylvia shrugged. “Maybe it was a test, and they didn’t have it right. Or they hadn’t perfected it yet. It probably was recon.”
Eliana shook her head. “They needed my DNA so the vault wouldn’t kill them?”
Sylvia lifted her chin. “It is what it is. I suggest you don’t worry about it so much. The Board deemed it necessary, and it seems like it worked out in your favor.”
“I cut the cables. There is no Board.”
Sylvia pressed her lips together. “I see.”
“It’s over now, right?” Eliana asked. “I need to get Carlos before Wallace kills him.”
“You know where he is?”
“Maizie is—” She looked around and found her sister at the wrecked reception desk, working on her laptop. Finding Carlos. “I think we’ll know soon enough.”
Sylvia nodded. “I’ll make a call. We’ll use our people, and the police can join us if they have the personnel available. We’ll take care of it.”
Eliana didn’t think she meant only Carlos.
Right now, she didn’t care what the Shrine did with the Board. She just wanted the man who had always had her heart back in her life.
She walked over to Maizie.
Her sister turned to her as she approached. “I know where he is.”
Half an hour later, the town car pulled up outside the house. Cop cars parked out front clogged the street, making it so they couldn’t even get near the house where Wallace had been holding Carlos.
Eliana peered out of the window, straining to see something.
Maizie had checked the location on their parents’ phones and sent them this address so they could head here. Right now Eliana needed a hug from her mom and her dad more than ever. After today? She might stick with them for a while.
They at least needed a big family debrief. After that was done, she was going to call Auntie Zeyla and thank her for all those self-defense lessons. They’d probably saved Eliana’s life.
The car came to a stop.
Rather than wait to be let out, Eliana flipped the lock in the handle and shoved the door open. She stumbled on the ground, fatigue weighing her down. Injuries… Well, she had so many bumps and bruises right now she wasn’t even sure what parts of her weren’t injured.
Uniformed cops in SWAT gear stepped out of the house, walking Detective Wallace between them. His head down, hands cuffed behind his back. The group of half a dozen officers headed for the van at the curb.
An EMT came out next, pushing a stretcher. But there was no one lying on it.
A couple of guys in black fatigues, carrying rifles, came out. Between them, Carlos walked under his own steam. Maybe more of a limping stride than a walk. He had a bruise on the side of his face and visible abrasions on his elbows and hands. He looked like he’d been through something serious.
And he’d never looked better.
She picked up her pace to a run, weaving through people toward him.
One of the men with him tapped his arm and pointed at her. Carlos switched directions, coming toward her.
She planned to slow before she slammed into him, but it didn’t quite work that way. They collided, and he grunted, taking a step back. His arms slid around her, and she wound hers over his shoulders, linking her fingers behind his head. “You’re alive.”
His arms flexed around her, the strength he had keeping her grounded. Reassuring her that she hadn’t lost him. “I could say the same.” His voice sounded scratchy.
She tugged his head down so his face was closer to hers. “I thought I might’ve lost you.”
His gaze flitted over her face, those dark eyes assessing her. One hand came up, and his thumb touched her cheek.
She held on tight.
“I’m right here.”
He swept her up into his arms and touched his lips to hers. Everything inside Eliana settled into place with a click that resounded through her, but which only she could hear.
The past. The future. Her. Carlos. The entirety of who they were merged in that one moment as he eased his lips against hers, and she matched him step for step, trying not to push for something he didn’t feel.
But she didn’t need to worry about that.
He swept her away with the strength of his passionate embrace.
Eliana’s thoughts shuttered, and the world seemed to disappear into a wash of noise and sights she lost track of in the heat of the moment. In finally having everything she’d ever dreamed she might have.
And being who she was always meant to be.
He pulled back, a kind of wonder in his gaze as he stared at her.
Eliana bit her lip. “Um, that was…” She couldn’t think of the words to finish.
“Yeah.” His arms tightened around her for a second. “It really was.”
She smiled. “We should talk about that.”
Carlos chuckled. “Don’t worry. We will.” He pulled her to him, hugging her against his chest with his chin on her head. Then he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “We will.”
“Um, guys…” Maizie wandered into view beside them.
Carlos didn’t let go of her. “Hey, Maze.”
Her sister pointed up the street. “Incoming.”
A shiny RV had pulled onto the street and now headed this way.
Eliana smiled. “Mom and Dad are here.”