Page 20 of Defenseless
She nodded and looked about to say something, then shook her head and smiled. “Drive safe, and thanks for picking me up.” That hadn’t been what she’d intended to say, that was obvious, but he didn’t call her on it. Instead, he flashed her a smile then turned and walked away. Again.
* * *
“How’s the test going?” Chad asked, poking his head into the cyber lab the day after the opening celebrations. Ava, Leo, and Collin were all huddled around their computers. With the operatives on a training exercise somewhere on the property, they were putting the comms and tech equipment through its paces.
“Good,” Collin answered. The trio was an odd group and not one that would have formed on its own. Collin was short, no more than five foot five, and skinny as a rail. He wore glasses and was often unable to look people in the eye when he spoke. But his demeanor hid a sharp wit. If you were lucky enough to be close enough to hear him—his voice was rarely more than a decibel above a whisper—he’d usually leave you chuckling, or outright laughing.
Leo was also on the quiet side, but not as quiet as Collin. Coming in at a hair over six feet, he had the build of a runner and, as Ava and Sabina liked to point out, the face of an angel. Chad wasn’t so sure about the comparison, but did agree that Leo’s face, which was usually hidden by his shaggy black hair, was rather…arresting.
As for Ava, she wasn’t quite as tall as Leo, but she towered over Collin. She was also, hands down, the most glamorous person Chad had ever met. She wore her long black hair in braids. Sometimes they hung down her back. But other times they were displayed in elaborate styles that drew the eye in a way that was almost uncomfortable. It wasn’t sexual, but more like the styles hinted at magic and history and power in a way he couldn’t explain but felt. He had also yet to see her without four-inch heels, nail extensions, and flawless makeup. As for her skills, well, within a week of starting, Sabina had designated her as her second-in-command. Despite Ava being the youngest of the three teammates, he’d seen no reason to second-guess Sabina’s decision.
Yes, definitely an odd trio. But within hours of meeting, they’d bonded over the work they’d been hired to do. And so far, a few weeks in, they seemed to have slipped into a dynamic that boded well for the team.
“Where’s Sabina?” he asked. He’d noticed that she wasn’t in the room, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. She could have popped out to the restroom or gone to the kitchen.
“She called me this morning and told me to take over the test run,” Ava said, her eyes not leaving her computer screen. “Something about an errand she had to run. More house stuff, maybe? Said she’d check in by the end of the day.”
Not that Sabina had to run her schedule by him, but Chad’s spidey senses tingled. “Did she seem okay when you dropped her off last night, Leo?”
Leo flashed him a quick frown before returning his attention to his computer. “I think she walked home. I didn’t drop her.”
Chad’s stomach plummeted, and his body tensed. She’d lied to him. Probably to avoid him. Warring emotions churned inside him, but he smiled at the team. Not that they noticed as not a one was looking anywhere other than their computer.
“Guess I misunderstood her last night then. I’ll check in later to see how it’s going.” Not expecting any response, he left the lab and made his way back to the office, picking apart the threads of his emotions as he walked. He was angry that she’d gone somewhere without telling someone. Hurt that she’d felt the need to hide it from him rather than tell him. And last, but definitely not least, worried.
It was possible shedidhave some innocuous errand. Maybe shewaspicking up some new home goods for her apartment. Or even buying herself a new car, since she’d been using a company one for the past few months.
But he doubted it. Not on the day of their first big test run. She’d lied to him, and that didn’t sit well.
With zero hesitation, he sat down at his desk and pulled up the tracking app for her phone and the car. The car was parked at the high school, which gave him some measure of comfort. He didn’t yet know why it was there, but at least it—she—wasn’t somewhere dangerous. When he brought up her phone data, though, whatever calm he’d felt fled, and his blood pressure spiked.
There was nothing.
Which meant she’d either turned it off or someone had turned it off for her. Yes, it was possible it had run out of battery. But in more than two years of working with Sabina, that had never happened before. He didn’t place good odds on that being the case now.
Drumming his fingers on his desk, he considered his next move. It was almost noon. If today was Sabina’s day to volunteer at the high school, then maybe she stopped by during lunch to chat with Olivia? But was today her day? It was Wednesday, and he thought her days were Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Picking up his phone, he sent Ava a message.
Chad:Can you check to see the movements of this GPS chip today?
He added the tag data from the device on the car.
Ava:Busy
He frowned.
Ava:Shit, sorry. Still getting used to not being my own boss. Give me two mins, boss
That was better. Less than ninety seconds later, he had his response.
Ava:At seven this morning it drove from Sabina’s place to the high school, and it hasn’t moved since. Anything else I can help with, boss?
Despite the unease unfurling in his stomach, Chad smiled.
Chad:Thanks, and good recovery
Ava: (Wink emoji)I try
