Echoes at Dawn (KGI #5)(36)

But for her, it was like Christmas and Thanksgiving all rolled into one. All that it lacked was Shea.

Remembering what Rio had promised her, she dug into her food more rapidly, not wanting to waste a single bite. She was already full, but she was compelled to eat it all. Going for so long without food made a person not take a meal for granted when they finally got one.

When the last bite was consumed, she looked up to see that the men had already finished and were staring oddly at her. It made her self-conscious and she pushed the plate away, her cheeks warm under their scrutiny.

“That was really good, Rio. Thank you.”

He continued to look at her, his lips set firm. He inclined his head to the side, motioning for the others to leave. When they were gone, he took her plate and the others and stacked them in the sink. Then he glanced up, catching her gaze and holding it for a long moment.

“How long has it been since you ate?” he asked bluntly. “I mean really ate, Grace. I watched you last night and now today and you never once looked away from your food. It was as if you were afraid it was going to get up and walk off your plate.”

She bit into her bottom lip and ducked her head to avoid his scrutiny.

“You’ve lost weight. Even since I saw you in that surveillance footage. You were lean and toned. You had more muscle mass. You look like they damn near starved you.”

His words stung even though she knew he hadn’t meant them to be demeaning. He was angry. Not at her. She knew what she looked like. Like someone who’d been as close to death as one could be without sliding all the way into the grave. There were times when she swore she felt the cool earth cover her and darkness surround her. It was all in her mind. Her mind had become hell instead of a refuge.

“They mostly gave me IV fluids,” she said in a low voice. “I’m not sure what all they gave me, to be honest. Those weeks are—were—a blur. But they certainly didn’t bring me regular meals that I ate on my own if that’s what you’re asking.”

Rio’s expression grew stormier. His eyes darkened until they were nearly black.

“I’ll make you special meals for as long as you’re here. You won’t go hungry again, Grace.”

She blinked in surprise and then smiled, some of the shadows lifting at the fierce vow. Being plied with yummy food and luxurious surroundings wasn’t exactly a hardship.

“Can…Will you call Shea for me now?” she asked anxiously.

His expression grew more serious. “You need to understand that I may not be able to make this happen.”

Her lips turned down and she was unable to call back the unhappy frown.

“I’ll do what I can. I know this is important to you.”

He walked around the island and held out his hand to her. She slid her fingers over his palm, tangling with his fingers, and allowed him to pull her from the stool. He led her beyond the kitchen and into a small enclosed space that resembled a patio except it was cut off from the outside. The windows were dark and seemed thick, and there was and chelmost a distortion of the view.

But beyond was a lush garden, well attended. A small pond sporting Japanese koi had a cascading waterfall that slid over a series of rocks before splashing into where the fish swam in lazy circles.

“What is this?” she asked as she stared around at the enclosure.

“It’s a safe room. A place to enjoy the outdoors without actually being outdoors. There’s an indoor pool just around the corner and behind the same bulletproof glass that currently surrounds us.”

Her eyes widened. “Do you have that many enemies?”

“Yes.”

She hadn’t quite expected his terse, blunt response, and if she’d thought he’d go into further detail or perhaps elaborate, she was completely wrong. He said nothing more and instead drew out a phone and began punching a series of numbers.

Rio waited while the call connected, capturing Grace from the corner of his eye. She’d turned away but her body posture was stiff. Agitation rolled from her, almost tangible in the quiet. Then she paced a few steps, turned, and he could see her hands clenched tightly together.

When the line opened, Rio uttered the password and then Sam was there, immediately brisk and all business.

“Rio, what the f**k is going on? Where are you and is Grace okay?”

Rio lifted a brow. “Is there any reason she shouldn’t be? She’s with me and recovering well.”

“I got a call from Resnick. It would appear you have a problem that isn’t entirely exclusive to Grace.”

Rio almost laughed. Like that was anything new?

“Cut the bullshit, Sam. Just tell me what he said. I assume you mentioned Titan to him.”

“Yeah. He said that as of two years ago they no longer unofficially existed. They were disbanded and retired.”

Rio snorted. “That’s a pretty damn naïve assessment from someone who should damn well know better. Does he think just because the government no longer had a use for them that they’d just go away quietly, take up normal jobs, buy houses with picket fences and raise a brood of children?”

There was a long silence. “He said you were one of the original members of Titan.”

Yeah, Rio had figured that would come out. It wasn’t a shock. He’d be damned if he spent even a minute apologizing or explaining his past.