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“Well, thank you, but they really weren’t my friends. I didn’t know any of them well. As I said, they’d all arrived just three or four weeks before. Brad was a bit of a know-it-all, and Jewel seemed to flirt with anything on two legs. Gemma was okay, but I didn’t know them that well.”

“What were their qualifications?” he asked out of curiosity.

“You know, I don’t know. Usually, the agency I work with vets everyone and sends them based on their skill set or language abilities. None of them spoke any African languages, so I had to assume that they were teachers or medical personnel.”

“So. What now? What’s next for the great adventurer, Tillie Sung?” he said, kissing the tip of her nose.

“Like I said earlier, I think I’d like to stay home for a while,” she smiled. “It looks like there might be new adventures for me. Right here.”

“I’m glad, Tillie. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I met you. I know this is all new, but I know what I like and what I want.”

“Is that so?” she grinned.

“Yes, ma’am, that is so.” Just as he was about to kiss her again, her phone vibrated in her pocket. “Damn.”

“Sorry,” she laughed. “Oh, it’s Gemma. Hi, Gemma. Is everything okay?”

“No. No, everything isn’t okay, Tillie. Jewel has been kidnapped again.”

“Wait, I need to put you on speaker so that my friends can hear this.” She waved the rest of the team over, and they all quickly stood, moving to encircle Tillie and Leo. “Go ahead, Gemma.”

“Jewel. She’s been kidnapped again. A group of men apparently approached her while she was leaving her home to go to the grocery store. Neighbors said it was four men with hoods. I’m scared, Tillie.”

“Have you spoken to Brad?” she asked.

“No. I tried calling him, but he’s not answering. I told the police that they should check on him.”

“Tillie, tell her that we can send someone to protect her,” said Tanner.

“I-I heard that. Thank you, but I’m going to stay with my neighbor for a few days. Just be careful.”

“Thank you, Gemma, you too.” Tillie ended the call and looked at her family and friends. “I feel like we should do something. Doesn’t it seem odd that they would kidnap her here? In the states? I mean, as far as I know, she’s not anyone special, wealthy, that sort of thing.”

“It definitely doesn’t make sense,” said Saint. “Let us try to get some background information on them and see what we can find.”

“On them?” she frowned.

“All three of them, Tillie. Jewel, Gemma, and Brad. We need to find out why anyone would want to kidnap them, or are they trying to get to you,” said Mav.

Tillie’s face paled, and she looked at her parents, then toward Leo. He had an intense expression as he squeezed her hand.

“Why would anyone want to get to me?” she whispered. Leo kissed her temple and then looked down at her beautiful face.

“That’s what we’re going to find out.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Are you going to be alright?” Leo asked Tillie, standing at her door.

“Honestly? No. I mean, what the hell do these people want with her or with us?” Leo pulled her in for a hug, kissing her forehead and massaging her back gently with circles.

“I don’t know, babe, but we’re all going to find out.” There was a rustling in the bushes, and Tillie nearly jumped out of her skin. When Zeus tilted his head, his tongue hanging out of his mouth, she wanted to cry.

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s just one of the dogs. Maybe he senses that you want protection.”

“He wasn’t exactly the protection that I was hoping for,” she smiled. “I know this feels brand new, Leo, but will you stay? Will you come in and stay with me?”

“You know I will, but are you sure, Tillie? I won’t be able to start this and walk away. We don’t have to make love tonight, but I sure as hell won’t just turn away from you.”

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