Echoes at Dawn (KGI #5)(37)

“What’s your point?” Rio asked.

Sam blew out his breath. “There is no point. Look, I know you’re a secretive bastard, but do you think at any time this would have been a good thing for me to know? If everything you and Resnick say about Titan is true, then you’ve put KGI in a dangerous situation. Groups like that don’t just let people walk away, as Resnick so eloquently put it. Which means they’ve probably been hunting your ass all along.”

“If they wanted me dead, I have no doubt I’d already be six feet under. Or in pieces somewhere.”

“You give them that much credit?”

“They’re the real deal, Sam. They aren’t amateurs or a bunch of boys playing at being G.I. Joe. I’m sure I’ve remained on their radar, but the man who took over after I left owed me. I saved his life. That and that alone is the reason I’m still breathing.”

“Just as long as I know where your loyalties lie,” Sam said quietly.

Rio was silent for a moment. He didn’t like being questioned even as he knew why Sahe bettm had to do it. “I’m here, Sam. I’m doing the job. That should be enough loyalty for you.”

“You should bring Grace in.”

“I don’t agree.”

Sam sighed. “You can’t keep her forever, Rio.”

“No, but I can damn well make sure I don’t put her in any more danger by exposing her and doing the very thing they expect me to do, which is reunite her with her sister.”

“I’ll agree to go along. For now,” Sam said. “I want frequent updates. We made a promise to Shea, one I’m not willing to back down on. Not after all she did for Nathan and Swanny.”

“Grace helped them too,” Rio said evenly. “They wouldn’t have made it out if not for her.”

“I’m not arguing that. I just want to make sure we make it right for both of them,” Sam said.

“For now she stays with me. Now, Grace wants to talk to Shea.”

Rio could all but hear the wheels turning in Sam’s head.

“She can’t use her telepathy,” Rio said quietly, hoping Grace couldn’t hear. “She’s too damaged. But she’s desperate to talk to Shea and I promised her I’d try to make it happen.”

Sam swore. “I can’t do it. Not yet.”

“What do you mean you can’t do it?” Rio snapped.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. I sent Nathan and Shea away. At your suggestion, I might add. They haven’t checked in with me yet. They’re still traveling. As soon as I hear from them, I’ll make the call happen. You have my word.”

Rio cursed under his breath and stole another glance in Grace’s direction. She was staring at him with hope in her eyes. Hope he had to now crush.

“I need this fast,” Rio said in a low voice.

“You’ll get it. Just give me time.”

“I don’t have it.”

“Nothing I can do, man. I’ll let Shea know what’s going on the minute I hear and then I’ll arrange the call.”

Rio muttered his agreement then ended the call. Even before he turned fully to Grace, he could feel her disappointment.

“What happened?” Grace demanded, her voice quivering. “Is she all right? Why can’t I talk to her?”

Rio framed her shoulders in his hands and squeezed. “Nathan has taken her somewhere safe. Sam’s going to let her know you want to talk to her as soon as they check in. I know you want to talk to her, Grace, but your safety—the safety of both of you—is the priority here.”

She swallowed back bravely but he could see the grief and devastation in her eyes. Then she turned away and went to stand by the glass looking out to the garden. She leaned her forehead against it, closed her eyes, and then he could see the

strain ripple across her forehead.

An uneasy sensation prickled his nape. His gaze narrowed as he watched Grace. Her hands pressed against the glass and then curled into balls.

She squeezed her eyes shut, and her entire body tensed and bowed inward. She let out a small cry and then she went limp. Tears slipped down her cheeks in silver trails. She turned and slid down the glass until she sat on the floor, her legs tugged up to her chest, and she buried her face against her knees as quiet sobs shook her shoulders.

CHAPTER 18

PAIN echoed through Grace’s head, pain she was responsible for because she’d kept pushing, refusing to believe that she couldn’t carve out that path to her sister again.

“Grace.”

Her name came softly. So gentle and quiet that she almost didn’t hear it. But she felt it. Like a warm brush, soothing away some of the darkness in her mind. Calming the wild, chaotic buzzing in her head.

She barely managed to lift her head and saw Rio crouched on the floor in front of her, concern creasing his brow.

“What is it? What happened?” he asked.

She lowered her forehead to her knees once more and took in long, steadying breaths. “I can’t do it. I tried so hard but it’s just not there. Oh God, Rio, what will I do?”

“What’s not there?” he asked quietly.

“The link,” she said in frustration. She raised her head and stared fully into his eyes, despair overwhelming her. “The link I destroyed to my sister. It’s gone. All of it’s gone. I can’t focus. I can’t reach out to anyone. It’s like there’s this yawning black hole in my mind and it’s consuming me.”