Chapter 35 #2
Zander doesn’t respond, so he gets up, offering coffee and tea before leaving the room.
I raise my eyebrows at Zander once we’re alone, asking what the heck that was without speaking aloud.
Despite our being the victims here, I’ve seen a lot of television, so I assume, rightly or not, we are being recorded.
Dad shakes his head in response, so I remain quiet.
Exhaustion is winning out over the adrenaline still pumping through my body.
I feel safer here than at the house, but unsettled.
I’m eager to have Nick in my sights again, too.
He feels like a mirage in a scorching desert.
Are the rest of the guys okay? I wonder what they know about this situation.
Kinsley returns with drinks for us. Zander and he chat about Finn security and random things unrelated to the case until Mr. Macleod enters. When I ask about him representing Nick, he assures me a partner from his firm is with him now.
An FBI agent named Dawson joins us, and Kinsley leaves to talk to Nick.
He asks us to tell our story. Dad goes first, able to provide background information about Patrick, then I tell my tale.
He has a few questions, probably trying to piece the story together, but our part mostly comprises watching the cameras all night.
Dad and I both leave out Fawx's name on purpose.
We are free to go afterwards, but our house is a crime scene right now. Checking my texts when we leave the room, I see Alex has offered his house to whoever needs it, but I want to wait for Nick.
Mr. Macleod tells us Nick will be here all day after he checks with his colleague in the next room.
Since I can’t be with him, Zander convinces me to leave and get some rest. Mr. MacLeod offers to drive us to Alex’s house and will return to the station to monitor everything, so I text Alex we’re on our way.
Alex, Seb, Bay, E, and Gabby meet us at the front of the house.
We’re enveloped in hugs before going inside and up to the third floor.
Seb hasn’t let go of my hand and pulls me onto his lap on the couch when we get inside.
“We need details, Z. All I know is Sunshine was gonna be kidnapped, Nick was coming, and so was the FBI. You were in the safe room, and then a call from Troy that you were safe, and it’s over. ”
“That sums it up nicely. Summer got a text from Nick’s hacker friend Fawx about the possible kidnapping and to get to the safe room.
We stayed there all night. Men from Tennessee did come and go through the house but couldn’t find us.
After they combed the house, they left. We don’t have details of what happened after that, but we waited until Troy entered a code at the safe room door.
The code was a warning that something wasn’t okay.
He could’ve entered the code to open the door but didn’t. ”
Huh. That explains his caution. “I was wondering how you knew something was wrong,” I say.
“Yes, there are 2 codes. One to open the door and another as a signal to warn the occupant. When I saw Troy with the agent, I suspected he was the issue. I received several texts from Troy’s phone during the early morning telling me it was safe to come out, and knew his phone had been taken.”
“You were badass, Dad,” I compliment. I explain the gun switch, Zander pulling the second gun on the agent while I was still in the closet, tossing Troy his phone to call, it ringing on the agent’s body, and then Dad shooting him in the leg and handcuffing him.
“Damn, Z. Way to go,” Seb replies. “What else?”
“Troy was shot in the shoulder but was already patched up when we got out of the room.” Gabby gasps as E pulls her to his side.
“He’s fine, I promise,” Zander smiles kindly at her.
“Nick showed up as we were getting into an SUV with the FBI agent in charge. He is okay too, a little banged up and had two people with him from Tennessee. He’ll be in questioning all day, and Troy and Mr. Macleod are with him.
The FBI caught all the bad guys who broke into our home, including the boss. That’s all we know.”
“Who's hungry?” E asks, getting up. “We have fruit, pastries, and I can heat burritos in the oven.”
Zander and I both ask for a burrito, so E gets those going before bringing a tray of juice, coffee, and tea over to the coffee table. The tea is just what I need. I’ve had the chills for hours now. Seb doesn’t let me go though, so I stay in his lap while I sip.
There’s small talk going on around me, but I’m sort of zoned out until Gabby comes over and sits beside me. “Troy and Nick are really okay? He’s back?”
Squeezing her hand, I smile tiredly. “They’re both okay. Banged up but walking and talking on their own. Troy had a sling on and his shoulder bandaged. Nick had a black eye and was scruffy looking but said he was good. I can’t believe he’s home.”
“Me too. I’ll feel better when I see them,” she replies, looking tired herself.
“Have you guys been here all night?” I ask.
“Yeah, Sunshine,” Seb answers, squeezing my waist. “As soon as Troy called, we got our butts over here. He didn’t want us home alone or at Finn if they had to leave, so I called Bay, and we all stayed here last night.
Seemed the safest place with the guards.
Troy sent Ceres and two others over too.
They stayed outside the apartment door until Troy called this morning. ”
E brings the burritos over to Zander and me, and after we eat, Dad encourages me to get some sleep.
Alex offers the primary bedroom to Zander, which he happily accepts.
Seb carries me into our room and offers me shorts and a t-shirt to change into.
I don’t really want to be alone though, so I ask to sleep on the couch.
That way, if Nick comes back, I’ll be right there.
Alex sets up the couch for both Gabby and me to sleep, and Seb snuggles with me after Gabby and I are settled.
E and Bay go into their bedrooms while Alex volunteers to stay up until we each get a few hours of sleep.
“Oh crap. School. Ray. Holly. Jake,” I say, remembering I have practice today and Jake probably has no idea what’s going on.
“I notified the school,” Alex responds to me.
“I texted Holly and Jaxon this morning that you wouldn’t be in school today, but you may want to give Jake a call after your nap. You weren’t gonna see him until after school anyway,” Seb advises.