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

Rio al new?

"Cut the bullshit, Sam Just tell me what he said I assume you mentioned Titan to hio they no longer unofficially existed They were disbanded and retired"

Rio snorted "That’s a pretty damn naïve assessment from someone who should daoverno 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 ured that would come out It wasn’t a shock He’d be da his past

"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 ti foryou 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 "

"If they wanted me dead, I have no doubt I’d already be six feet under Or in pieces soive them that much credit?"

"They’re the real deal, Sa GI 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’ as I knohere your loyalties lie," Sam said quietly

Rio was silent for aquestioned even as he knehy Sahe bett the job That should be enough loyalty for you"

"You should bring Grace in"

"I don’t agree"

Sahed "You can’t keep her forever, Rio"

"No, but I can daer 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 Weto back down on Not after all she did for Nathan and Swanny"

"Grace helped them too," Rio said evenly "They wouldn’t havethat I just want to ht 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 daed 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 ht add They haven’t checked in withAs 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 giveI can do,on the e the call"

Rio reement then ended the call Even before he turned fully to Grace, he could feel her disappointment

"What happened?" Grace deht? Why can’t I talk to her?"

Rio framed her shoulders in his hands and squeezed "Nathan has taken her so 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 sed 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"