Echoes at Dawn (KGI #5)(35)

Grace went numb as memories of all she’d endured came hard and fast. Residual pain echoed through her joints and muscles. The voices in her head screamed. Before she realized what she was doing, she’d lifted her palms to her temples and closed her eyes in an effort to make it all go away.

“That’s enough,” Rio said in a terse voice. “It’s time to eat, Grace. You need to keep your strength up.”

She swallowed, realizing that Rio had just bailed her out where before he hadn’t and she’d recognized the importance of standing on her own, of not being so damn weak all the time. The past couldn’t hurt her. Memories couldn’t hurt her. Only the present and the future had that ability. She had to stop fearing the ghosts.

They were all still staring at her. She cleared her throat and pushed away the lingering shadows.

“When they…” She took another deep breath. Pull it together, Grace. This isn’t a big deal. “When they made me heal all those test subjects, it hurt me. Not just physically but mentally. When I heal someone, I take on their injury or illness. It becomes mine. As if I lift it straight from them and absorb it. They go away free, recovered. I have to then recover myself.

“Some of the subjects were hard. With each one I grew weaker until I was sure I would die. I severed the link to my sister because I didn’t want to become so weak that I called out to her without realizing it. I never wanted her to see me as I was and I didn’t want to endanger her.”

Terrence scowled fiercely. Diego was frowning as well while Decker and the others still wore puzzled looks.

“You just severed it? You can do that?” Decker asked.

Grace nodded, tears crowding her eyes. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. She was…she was a part of me. Always with me and suddenly andinI was alone and frightened. And slowly dying.”

“Ungoddamnbelievable,” Diego muttered. “What the f**k were they hoping to prove? That they could kill you? How would your death benefit them at all? If they wanted to use your powers, why the hell wouldn’t they take better care with you?”

Grace wiped at her cheek in an offhand manner, relieved to find no trace of tears there. “I don’t think they understood. How could they? I think they thought I was acting because I didn’t want to perform to their expectations. It wasn’t until…”

She shook her head and clamped her lips shut. She didn’t want to go there. It still shamed her even though she knew it wasn’t her, that she hadn’t had any control.

Rio cleared his throat. “That’s enough. Come eat now, Grace.”

She glanced gratefully over, this time allowing him to rescue her. She pushed herself from the couch and slid her shaking hands into the pockets of her jeans to disguise how traumatized she still was by the past weeks.

To her utter shock, Terrence stood, towering over her briefly before he pulled her into a huge bear hug. She stood there plastered against the big man’s chest, mouth open as he squeezed the breath from her.

Touched by the show of support, she slowly put her arms around him and returned the hug. He swiped a big hand down her back and then patted her awkwardly on the shoulder as he pulled away.

“You’re a tough nut, Miss Grace,” he said gruffly. “Don’t ever let anyone tell you different.”

She smiled up at him. “Thank you, Terrence. You’re very kind.”

“Let’s go eat. Rio cooks some good stuff when he’s home in his kitchen.”

She allowed Terrence to lead her into the kitchen and up to the large island with barstool seating. She glanced around, having just given everything a cursory once-over last night. It was indeed a dream kitchen. A chef’s kitchen, she believed they were called. Top-of-the-line appliances. A huge, six-burner gas stove. Double oven. Stainless everything.

It didn’t compute.

She’d spent time in the mountains under the worst conditions possible with these men. Rio was a badass. A dark, brooding type that looked like no one ever dared cross him. But here? He was relaxed. Obviously a fan of creature comforts, judging by the custom home, the appliances and all the luxury items.

The bedding alone was simply to die for. She hadn’t stayed in hotels that had better linens.

Rio was obviously someone who liked to live well when he wasn’t out saving the world and getting shot at. It was hard to reconcile this man standing before her with the man who’d carried her all over a mountain tied to his back.

Terrence seated her on a stool close to the end and then took the one next to her. There was only one left on the other side of her, which she assumed was for Rio, since the othe

rs were all claimed by his team members.

Rio put a plate in front of her and the scent wafted through her nostrils. Her stomach immediately growled and she closed her eyes, savoring just being able to sit down and enjoy a meal in the comfort of a home.

Rio slid onto the stool beside her after serving the others and glanced over.

“Eat up,” he said gently. “As soon as you’re done, I’ll try to get Shea on the phone for you.”

CHAPTER 17

THE meal was rather simple. Baked chicken, vegetables and rice deep>Sheȁ, with hot rolls straight out of the oven. But for Grace it was the closest she’d come to having a normal meal in longer than she could remember.

She savored the sheer mundaneness of sitting there, cutting into her chicken, the burst of warmth and flavor on her tongue. She purposely took her time, not wanting to hurry the moment. It was probably a sign that she really had lost her mind that she was taking such pleasure in drawing out a meal.