Page 52 of Strangers in Love

My emotions and body back under my control, I went back out into the room. She was sitting at the table, drinking a bottle of water, and trying to look like she hadn’t embarrassed herself. The moment her eyes met mine, though, color flooded her cheeks, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Look, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t–”

“Don’t worry about it.”

For a moment, I wondered if she was going to keep at it anyway, but instead, she pointed at the tray. “Eat.”

I almost asked her who was taking care of who here, but I didn’t know how she’d take it, and I was hungry, so I just sat down and reached for one of the sandwiches. After I’d taken a few bites, I realized she wasn’t eating, and only part of one sandwich was gone.

“Eat.”

“I did,” she said. “If I force myself to eat more, I’ll just make myself sick.”

I frowned. “Didn’t they feed you?”

“Some.” She shrugged. “But not enough for me to go back to eating normally right away.”

Smart kid.

Woman. Smart woman.

“I know you said you’re going to look into rescuing the others after I’m on the plane,” she said, her gaze dropping to her water bottle. “But I think there’s someone who might be in danger right now. One of the other teachers at Neutral Ground.”

“I’m listening,” I said cautiously.

“I heard the guards talking, and I couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying, but they said a name I recognized. Serle Lansky. He’s–”

“I know who he is,” I interrupted. This was going to suck, but she deserved to know what that bastard had done, especially since she was actually worried for the asshole.

“Oh.” She blinked and then seemed to give herself a mental shake. “Right. You went to Neutral Ground. So, he’s okay? Did they send the others home after I was taken?”

I answered the easiest question first. “They didn’t send anyone home, but Miss Little told me they’re going to be making some changes to security protocol.”

“That’s good,” Aline said, looking only mildly relieved. “But no one else was taken, right? Serle was okay?”

“I don’t know ifokayis the word I’d use,” I said, working to keep my voice even. “He’s in deep shit, but he’s not hurt.”

She frowned, a crease appearing between her eyebrows. “I don’t understand.”

“Serle was never a target,” I explained. “He was paid to give the kidnappers names of volunteers who had access to money or had powerful connections.”

Her jaw dropped, and she shook her head. “No. Not possible.”

“He sold your name to the group who kidnapped you. Probably your sister’s name too. I didn’t get a list, but I doubt you’re the only one he’s done something like this to.” The distress on her face made me want to hold her hand, comfort her, and that definitely wasn’t something I was used to feeling.

“It has to be a mistake.”

A thought popped into my head, and I hoped I was wrong. “Were the two of you…involved?”

The idea of her and that guy together turned my stomach. Some because I hated the idea of a woman being treated so badly by a guy who they thought cared, but most was because he didn’t deserve her.

“No.” She shook her head again, a flash of revulsion crossing her pretty features. “No. Definitely not.”

Happier at her reaction than I should have been, I filled her in on the entire conversation I’d had with Serle and the fact that Miss Little had been informed too. I added that Cain was going to reach out to some people he knew back home and see if what Serle had done could be prosecuted in the States. Aline looked vaguely sick by the time I’d finished, and I immediately regretted telling her. Then I saw the spark in her eyes and knew that she wasn’t the sort of woman who’d want to be coddled. She would’ve wanted to know, no matter how betrayed she felt.

“Greedy little shit.”

I’d never been one to say that a woman, no matter how delicate and pretty, couldn’t curse right alongside men. My sisters, Paris and Rose, came to mind. But something about Aline told me she wasn’t like that. For her to call someone a ‘greedy little shit,’ she must’ve been even more pissed than she looked.

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