Chapter 24
The door slammed as Britt gripped the dark gray metal card.
A fluttery sensation of panic shot through her.
She rubbed her hands against her thighs, trying to still her nervous energy.
After three days of being analyzed, assessed, and evaluated by the psychologist and her team, what did she have to show for it?
She was no closer to knowing her real identity.
Dr. Fallon Abrams had meticulously explained that recovering her memories would be long and difficult, requiring her steadfast patience and commitment.
But the good doctor was wrong.
The new memories surfacing over the days of interrogation left Britt rattled and anxious.
She needed fresh air. A nice long walk through the Cabrito Mountains should settle her frazzled nerves.
Britt took a deep breath, then pulled the hoodie over her head.
The wide hallway stretched before her, intimidating and oddly elegant, like a five-star hotel designed by military contractors.
Recessed lighting cast pools of golden warmth onto the polished concrete floors every few feet.
Security cameras were mounted at regular intervals along the industrial-grade ceiling tile, their red lights blinking in silent surveillance.
She walked quickly toward the back door that led to the mountain hiking trails.
“Britt …”
Slowing, she contemplated ignoring the man behind her.
But as she’d learned, every member of Stingray Security was skilled in tactical training, advanced tracking skills, and an uncanny ability to read body language.
She didn’t have a shot in hell of getting away.
Turning slowly, she stared at Kane Ambrose as he strode toward her with purposeful steps.
“You okay?” Kane graced her with a smile. He had a boy-next-door kind of charm that was inviting and welcoming. “I can’t imagine how hard the past few days have been for you.”
She took a deep breath and placed her hands on her hips. “It was brutal. Almost as bad as listening to details of Brittany Freeman’s life 24/7. But not quite.”
“Ouch,” Kane said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You headed out for a walk?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Lachlan’s here if you want some company—”
“No!” Britt said, taking a step toward him. “Please don’t say anything to Lachlan about how I’m feeling. I don’t want to worry him. He has bigger priorities than me.”
“Bigger priorities?” Kane raised an eyebrow.
“His daughter.” Britt balked. “People are trying to kill me. A bodyguard with a daughter should not be assigned to help me. That’s obvious.”
“Did you talk to Lachlan about this?”
“I don’t trust myself to talk to Lachlan about anything.
” Britt rolled her eyes. When she was around Lachlan, all the questions in her head disappeared.
She was exactly where she was supposed to be, with him, and nothing else mattered.
But it did matter. No matter how natural it felt to be in his arms and kiss him, the truth was that she had a child out there somewhere.
And there might be a man in her life. Someone she loved.
Maybe even her husband. She had to resist this magnetic attraction to Lachlan because she didn’t know what life she’d left behind.
Distance from him was prudent. She continued, “But I plan to ask Sebastian. He’s the leader of the security team, right? ”
“Something like that,” Kane said with a chuckle. “I’m sure he’ll accommodate your request, and you’ll get stuck with me.”
“Oh,” Britt said, liking the idea of getting the only other friendly bodyguard she’d seen around the compound. The rest of the men were too brooding and serious. “That would be great. Are you okay with that?”
“Sure.” Kane shrugged. “But you’ll have to tell Lachlan you want the change. None of us are going to do that for you.”
“Right, well.” Britt sighed. “I need to get out there and clear my head.”
Kane nodded, then turned and walked away.
Britt watched him disappear around the corner before pushing through the back door. The cool, briny ocean breeze caressed her skin. She inhaled the strong scent of damp earth mixed with the sweetness of blooming tropical flowers.
She hadn’t been outside since Rocco brought her here.
Before she met Lachlan.
Strange that she thought of her life as Before Lachlan and After Lachlan now.
Less than a week of knowing him felt like more than a lifetime.
She couldn’t make sense of that, just like she couldn’t make sense of the memories that assaulted her as she endured the interrogation of Dr. Abrams and her team.
Britt jogged down the concrete steps and headed onto a path leading into the dense rainforest. She kept a brisk pace, walking under the canopy of trees as the morning sun rays filtered onto the forest floor.
Her running shoes crunched over fallen branches and snapped twigs as a chorus of buzzing insects and tree frogs enveloped her.
As she walked, her mind drifted back to the interrogation sessions.
If she was being honest, what she’d experienced with Dr. Abrams wasn’t exactly memories of her life but a confirmation of educational training that had floated in her mind when she was trapped in the underground prison.
The audio of Brittany’s life didn’t include eight years of university education.
But she’d known immediately when Dr. Abrams was incorrectly explaining legal concepts to her.
“The man who held you hostage and forced this psychological manipulation onto you has broken numerous laws,” Dr. Abrams had said, then rattled off names and statutes that violated Britt’s rights.
She’d listened, her brain honing in on the details and then picking them apart one by one.
Missing charges that should be filed, laws that applied to the United States but were different in the Palmchat Islands, where she’d been held.
She knew exactly what charges should be brought against The Visitor in the Palmchat Islands, Jamaica, Bahamas, Colombia, Mexico, the U.S.
, and the U.K. Even now, she could methodically explain them to anyone, highlighting the differences between the countries and the range of penalties for each.
Dr. Abrams’s authoritative, know-it-all tone had annoyed Britt as if there was no way the information she was sharing with her could be wrong.
Britt resisted the urge to tell the doctor to stick to medicine because she was botching the explanation of legal concepts and the law.
But she'd held back. She didn't want to say anything she couldn’t fully explain until she had a chance to ruminate over it more.
The reason she was taken and groomed to take over Britt’s life was becoming more complex. Had she known Britt? Attended the same law school? Been her friend? Maybe that’s why she was the logical choice for the brainwashing.
A twig snapped somewhere to her left.
She jumped, whirling around to scan the trail for someone following her. She hoped Kane hadn’t gone against her wishes and told Lachlan how she was feeling and where she was headed. Scanning the jungle, she saw no one.
But then, she looked down …