Page 19 of The Press Secretary's Passion
“Just leave it alone,” he snaps.
There’s not much we can do, so Grace and I do as Rick asks and let it go.
We make our way back downstairs, where everyone is sipping coffee and waiting. A ballgame plays low in the background, but I couldn’t tell you who is playing or what sport. That’s how high tensions are right now. When Rick, Jake, and Ryan devised a plan to bait the kidnappers last night, I was worried, now I’m terrified.
“We should have heard from them by now,” Rick says, and I can hear the frustration in his voice.
“We will,” Ryan assures calmly. “You have to let the plan work.” After a moment, he turns in his seat. “Did you hear that?” Ryan asks. He’s suddenly alert, and it’s creepy the way he does that, but it also stands the hairs on my arms on end.
“Hear what?” Rick’s brow furrows.
“It sounded like the door opened,” he says, reaching for his gun that’s tucked into the back of his jeans. “I’m just going to go check that out.”
“Sure,” Rick says.
This is all so crazy. I’m not sure what to do with myself, but I know I need to stay calm for my friends. Otherwise, I don’t know. But I hate this.
“Hey, Rick?” Ryan calls out from the back of the house, and I instantly know something is wrong.
“Yeah?” Rick calls out.
“The side door is unlocked.”
Rick jumps up and runs upstairs. I can hear doors opening and closing, and I know—we all know.
“She’s gone.”
I grab Grace’s hand, and she squeezes mine tight as the men follow him upstairs. We wait silently while they speak in low tones I can’t hear upstairs. And then they all file down the stairs and out the door.
“Stay with Grace,” Jake barks as he follows them out.
“I guess we’re supposed to stay here,” she says.
“I’ll make some coffee.”
“Funeral Plans are Pending”
Chapter 6
Little white lies
“It’s time to move,” Gus, Jake’s Secret Service Agent, says.
“What’s happening?” Jake asks.
“The package has been retrieved,” Gus replies, tapping the earpiece in his ear. “We need to return to the residence.”
“And Black?” Jake prompts, and I hold my breath, wondering what the hell could have happened to Ryan.
About an hour ago, everyone went tearing through the house while issuing orders for me to stay behind with Grace, so that’s what I did. We hunkered down in the living room and waited. Sometime later, Jake and Gus returned. But that was it. Everyone else was gone, and the boys weren’t talking.
“Gunshot wound.” That was all he said. Just two little words and all the breath whooshes out of my lungs.
“Status?” Jake barks.
“Alive,” Gus replies before his eyes twitch over me for a split second, and I get the feeling there’s a whole conversation happening between Gus and Jake just through looks and nods.
Someone shot Ryan. He’s breathing, but I don’t know how freely he’s able to do so. God, was it only last night I swore I would never let him into my bed again? How stupid am I? I let my feelings get in the way once again, and now, some of the last memories I made with him are tainted, when I should have just been his friend.
