Page 8 of Leo

“So, are you telling us we can’t leave this place?” asked Brad. “I’m ready to go home.”

“You’ll get to go home. Just give us some time to figure all of this out. Until then, you’ll be safe with our team watching over you. We’re going to need descriptions of the men that took you. Where were you? What were you doing? All of it.”

“You can’t hold me here,” said Brad. They detected a slight accent but couldn’t quite pinpoint the location. Perhaps Austrian, maybe German, or Dutch, but he definitely wasn’t American. “If I want to leave, I can leave. I know my rights.”

“You’re right,” said Tanner. “We can’t hold you here. So, I tell you what, you go ahead out there in the streets as a runaway kidnapped victim, find your passport, find a flight, find a way to pay for it, and you go right on home.”

Tillie just grinned at her father, knowing that he was about to blow his lid. Brad was cocky sometimes and pretended like he knew everything when, in fact, he knew very little. She wasn’t sure why he was rushing to get home. He didn’t have a wife or girlfriend that she was aware of.

In fact, she felt as though he was going through a mid-life crisis of some sort, which was why he was working with the foundation.

“I don’t mind hanging with all of them,” smiled Jewel. “You’re far better looking than Brad, that’s for damn sure.”Something inside of Tillie snapped, and the smile was wiped from her face.

“In case you missed it, he’s my father. Very much married to my mother, and they’re all married as well.”

“Leo’s not,” smirked Saint. Tillie glared at her friend, shooting daggers in his direction.

“I’m just kidding, Till,” said the other woman. “Geez. Just relax.”

“I am relaxed,” said Tillie.

“Come on. We need to find accommodations for everyone and do some digging. Have some patience. You’ll be home in a few days,” said Mav.

Finding space in a small hotel was easy enough, but keeping a tight rein on Brad and Jewel was something else. He seemed eager to let loose and just have fun, but the woman, Jewel, was definitely a loose cannon.

“Have those two been taking aphrodisiacs?” asked Tanner.

“I’m not sure,” said Tillie. “I didn’t work directly with the two of them, but they sure seem to be hitting on anything moving. Stupid Brad is going to find himself married to a village woman and unable to leave if he’s not careful. Although he hasn’t technically done anything. It’s like he’s putting on a show for someone. I just don’t know who. That village woman may take him home.”

“I’d like to see that,” grinned Mav.

“Thank you guys for coming,” said Tillie. “I knew you would eventually, but I really appreciate this. Especially you, Leo.”

“Me?” he asked. “I mean, of course. I wanted to come. I mean, I asked to come.” Tillie just smiled at him, nodding.

“We were all happy to come,” frowned Tanner. “Well, maybe not happy, but we’re here. Tell me about them.”

Tillie looked behind her at Brad and Jewel, Gemma having gone to bed.

“Like I said, I don’t really know them well. They were only in my group for the last month or so.”

“Why would they be going home already?” asked Leo.

“That’s a good question,” said Tillie. “The work isn’t done, but our turn is done. I can’t speak for them.”

“Tillie, we all think it’s strange that you have three new people on your team who came only for a month,” said Saint. “We’re going to look into that if you’re okay with it.”

“You know damn well you’re going to do it whether I’m okay with it or not.” She laughed at them, shaking her head as she stood to head to her room. “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”

“I’m coming with you,” said Tanner. He’d opted to stay in the same room as his daughter to ensure her safety. Tillie nodded, then turned to the others.

“Thank you all for coming. Especially you, Leo.”

“My pleasure,” he said quietly. When they were gone to their room, Mav, Saint, and the others all grinned at him.

“Dude. You need to make a move before someone else does. Like that idiot Brad,” said Pax.

“Brad? He’s a doofus and at least ten years older than she is,” frowned Leo. The others just laughed, shaking their heads. Mav looked at them all.

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