Page 62 of Jay Bird

For three years, Willow had tried to make sense of why she’d been taken, turning it over in her mind again and again until she finally settled on the fact that she had just been in the wrong place, at the wrong time. It was easier to believe that than to accept there might have been something more deliberate behind it, especially when no other answers ever came.

“I wonder if Dr. Walters knew I’d found something.”

“It’s possible.”

“He knew.” Willow’s voice hardened. “I went into his office. I found those records, and a few days later I was grabbed.”

“If Demetri was connected to the trafficking side of the operation...” Mia stopped.

“Then Dr. Walters had me removed.”

The realization hurt in a way Willow hadn’t expected.

“I am so sorry,” Mia whispered.

Willow shook her head. “You didn’t do it.”

“No, but if I had made it to the restaurant that night.”

“No,” Willow said, squeezing Mia’s hand. “We’re not doing that. We can’t rewrite it.”

Mia nodded slowly. “Dr. Walters and Demetri can’t hurt you now,” she said.

Willow believed the certainty in her voice. One threat had been eliminated, but unfortunately, another remained.

“Chen isn’t.” Willow looked toward Lily again. “I’m terrified he’ll figure out where we are.”

Mia’s expression softened. “I promise you that you’re safe because of the people surrounding you.” Mia gestured around them. “You are currently living inside a gated neighborhood, in the house of a Navy SEAL whose security system probably knows when a squirrel farts near the property line.”

A surprised laugh burst from Willow.

“And between Alpha, Bravo, Tink, Riley, law enforcement, and God knows who else is involved, Chen would have to be suicidal to come anywhere near Virginia Beach.”

Willow smiled faintly. “That’s comforting in a strangely violent way.”

“We specialize.”

That opened the door to something Mia had apparently been waiting to discuss.

“So, how is it living with Jay Bird?” Mia asked, that mischievous grin of hers appearing again.

“Mia…” Willow said, shaking her head.

“What? I’m asking.”

“You’re nosy.”

“I’ve been deprived of three years of friendship gossip. I have a quota to fill.”

Willow laughed. “It’s fine.”

“Fine?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s good.”

Mia leaned back in the chair. “The entire team nearly went into cardiac arrest when they heard he had offered to let you and Lily move in.”

Willow frowned. “Why?”