Page 44 of Fearless

“I want proof.”

“As soon as he’s delivered to the hospital, I’ll provide a means for you to check on him. In the meantime, let’s begin our work.”

“No, not until I’m confident that you’re living up to your end of the bargain.”

His eyes narrowed, and a small, smug smile tugged at his mouth. “He’s on a helicopter as we speak. I could just tell them to drop him in the ocean.”

Her expression blank, she remained silent, refusing to give him any satisfaction by responding to his vile words. This was all a game to him, and she refused to play.

“Fine.” He sighed dramatically. “As soon as he arrives, I’ll give you the opportunity to hack into the hospital’s cameras so you can see for yourself that I’m a man of my word.”

He glanced over his shoulder and said, “Take her back to her room. Bring her back at three sharp.”

On the way out, she tuned everything out but her own thoughts, refusing to allow Kingsley to have any space in her head until she had to confront him again. For now, her mind was focused on only one person. The love of her life, who had been here for almost two months, and she hadn’t known.

She vaguely realized she was in her room now. The chair stopped, and behind her, Smith spoke quietly, just a whisper of sound that she might not have heard if he hadn’t breathed the words against her ear. “You are an incredibly strong woman, Serena. I’m rooting for you.”

The door closed, and her bindings clicked open. A second later, she was running to the bathroom. She made it to the toilet in time to lose everything she had consumed in the last twenty-four hours, followed by dry heaves that lasted long after every ounce of bile had left her stomach.

When she at last stood, her body still shaking, she shuffled to the sink, rinsed her mouth, and brushed her teeth. A glance in the mirror had her stopping midbrush and staring at the pale, hollow-eyed woman looking back at her. She had seen this look in her eyes once before. This was what heartbreak looked like on her.

Turning away, she ripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower. She turned on the water, not even paying attention to the temperature. Her back against the wall, she slid to the floor and then did something she had told herself she would never allow Kingsley to do.

She broke.

Ugly, savage sobs tore through her. If Sean wasn’t already dead, she feared he would be soon. How could anyone survive what he had endured? There hadn’t been an inch on his body that hadn’t looked bruised or broken. She had seen prisoners of war, ravaged and beaten beyond recognition, and had had more hope for their survival than she had for her husband.

He had lost at least twenty pounds, his nose had been broken, and his leg… What on earth had they done to his leg? It had looked like a chewed-up piece of meat barely hanging onto a bone.

Her arms wrapped around herself, Serena rocked back and forth, grieving. Her heart was broken and would never be healed. With faith and her family, she had survived the loss of Drew. But this? She wasn’t sure that even if her mom and dad were right here with her that they could help. And her faith? Yes, it was strong. But right now, all she felt was a fierce despair.

How had this happened? Sean was one of the best black ops operators in the business. Staying off grid was one of his gifts. How had Kingsley’s people found him?

Realizing she was shivering for a completely different reason, Serena pulled herself to her feet and turned off the icy-cold water. No matter what had happened, no matter if Sean was dead and her heart and soul were crushed beyond repair, she still had a job to do. She had plans in place, and if by some miracle, Sean did survive and he understood the message she’d given him, then she would need to do her job to the very best of her ability.

With each second that passed, she felt stronger and more determined. Kingsley thought he had won. Yes, he’d gotten in some good licks, but she was not defeated. If anything, she was surer than ever before that she would destroy Kingsley and the Wren Project.

By the time she left this place, Colton Kingsley would rue the day he’d ever met Serena Donavan.

Chapter Nineteen

When Smith arrived at three, she was dressed and ready. She had yet to unpack the words he’d whispered to her earlier. That would have to wait for later. Now, she was doing her very best to show an outward strength she didn’t feel. Even though she’d gotten her equilibrium back, she was well aware it was all a facade. She felt as fragile and weak as a newborn kitten, because these next few moments could well reveal what she feared the most. If she learned that Sean was indeed dead, then she was going to have to learn how to cope in a world without him. She needed every bit of her fortitude and concentration to remain on that. Deciphering obscure words from Kingsley’s employees would have to wait.

Thankfully, Smith said nothing as she sat in the chair and was immediately locked in place. He delivered her to the room where she’d met Kingsley the first time. He was waiting for her.

“I’m sure you’re anxious to check on Sean.”

She nodded. If she spoke, she was certain her voice would be hoarse from crying, and she wasn’t willing to give him the satisfaction. She already knew her eyes were swollen and red. Cosmetics could hide only so much.

He seemed disinclined to talk, not even giving her his usual fake smile or smirk. “I know you can easily hack into hospital security cameras, but I thought I’d save you the trouble.”

He clicked a button on his laptop, and the screen on the wall revealed a blurry image of darkness and movement. She was about to ask what she was seeing when she heard an engine stop, and a few seconds later, a car door slammed. There was more movement, and she caught a blurred image of Sean’s bloodied, swollen face, as if someone was carrying him in his arms and looking down at him. His eyes were closed, and she held her breath, trying with all her might to see if he was breathing.

The image of a big building appeared, and two people, one in a white coat and another in blue scrubs, rushed forward with a gurney. The camera jiggled as the man carrying Sean placed him on the stretcher and growled, “Take care of him.”

The doctor shouted at the retreating man, but he didn’t respond. An engine roared to life, and then a voice said, “Delivered as promised, boss.”

The screen went dark.