Page 49 of Everything We Found

“Rest, and when we get more intel, we’ll make a plan.”

They had a plan to make plans. She could get on board with that. “Okay.”

Thomas started to close the door again when Nadia said, “Tom… no.”

His brows drew together. “No what?”

“I didn’t love any of them.”

His frown deepened before his eyes slightly widened. The edge of his mouth pulled up as if a smile was trying to peek out. Nadia felt her own lips curve up as she felt a mild flutter of something nameless, more tender than outright longing, at his obvious relief.

Thomas retreated into the bathroom, and a short bit later, she heard running water. She crossed the room to the window and stared out at the barren landscape, the dry, high desert air teasing her hair, the wisps tickling her cheek. She touched her wound. The cut still burned. She needed to clean it again.

And with the thought of her marred skin came the gnawing paranoia that she’d been fighting hard to keep from eating her alive. Nausea thickened in her throat and her stomach roiled. Twice in twenty-four hours she’d nearly died. Worse, she’d killed a man.

The burner phone in her back pocket vibrated, the sensation putting the brakes on her downward spiral.

She snatched her phone with a trembling hand, grateful for the distraction, and looked at the screen for the first time since they’d left the safe house. Two missed calls and five texts from Aimee had come in since they last spoke.

Proof of life.

Hello?

Text back! You’re worrying me.

Nadia!!!!!!!!!

PLEASE TELL ME YOU’RE ALIVE.

She tapped Aimee’s most recent incoming call notification and the phone connected. Aimee answered after the first ring.

“Nadia?”

Nadia inhaled a shaky breath and sank to the floor, her back to the wall. “I’m alive,” she said in a mere whisper.

“Jesus. You can’t text me to get Ian and the kids and go off grid and NOT tell me more.” Nadia had shot off the text last night before she’d fallen asleep, acting on a bad feeling she’d had while showering. Maybe she and Thomas were alike in more ways than she’d care to admit. But she’d feel a lot better knowing Aimee and her family were tucked away somewhere safe.

“Areyouokay?” Aimee asked.

Nadia rocked back and forth. She shook her head even though Aimee couldn’t see her. Usually, she was the levelheaded friend, but right now she was falling… falling…falling.

“I killed a man.” Her whispered confession drew a sharp gasp from Aimee.

“You…WHAT?”

“They found us, Aimee. The Hidalgos. They came to kill us. Tom knifed a guy and I—” She choked up.

“It’s okay. I’m here…”

“He dropped his gun.”

“Who?”

“One of the intruders, the cartel guys.” Emotion filled her throat, tears welled as she explained what had happened. “He was going to shoot Tom and I just… I didn’t think. I just shot him,” she said through a tight throat. “I killed him, Aimee. What if he had had a family… kids? What if he—” She hiccupped and Aimee interrupted.

“Stop. Do not even go there, Nadia.” Pause. “I can’t begin to understand what you’re going through. But…” Another pause as Aimee struggled to find the right words. This was so out of both their comfort zones. Way off course. Then, “He would have killedyouif you hadn’t fired first. From what I’ve read those people are capable of, he wouldn’t have thought twice about it. Your life is worthless to him. And you meaneverythingto me… Don’t give that man one more second of your head space. He does not deserve your pity. Oh, my god.” Nadia heard a thumping noise and pictured Aimee pounding her chest. “My heart is beating so fast. You came so close to—” She stopped abruptly. “Nope. Not going to go there.”

Nadia sniffled. “It’s so hard though. Not to think about it. Not to feel guilty.” About much of what she’d done: kill a man, betray Aimee. Hide her true feelings from Thomas. Lie, fib, divert, conceal. Hugging her shins, Nadia dropped her forehead on her knees.