Page 9 (1/2)

She held out her hand, shaking her head like a child throwing a temper tantrum

“No This isn’t possible” Hyperventilating, she sank her fingers into the ground, gripping the blades of grass in her fists to stay grounded “You hate e this?” Her voice cracked, and she rocked back and forth

“Darling, David Copperfield hie this,” Carey said

“I’m real, Vannah” Clark walked over and kneeled in f

ront of her “You have to believe aze penetrated as he peered into her soul, the same way he always had He reached out and caressed her face with the backs of his knuckles His touch was slightly below normal teainst her skin Her chest tightened

“Oh God It’s really you”

“Yes” He nodded “I hate to rush this along, but you both need to leave here now” The urgency in his tone was a h her shock

“Danger?” Was this why he came back?

“Fill her in, Carey There are things happening” Clark frowned “I have to go”

She pushed off froht The word “danger” had triggered her training There was no time for fear or shock

Clark disappeared before her eyes and her jaw dropped I kneas a ghost, but… Jesus She rotated her body and stared at Carey, barely able to contain her fury He’d set this up She was sure of it

“What the fuck is going on?”

“Coet a drink”

“Youto walk off with you like that didn’t just happen to go have drinks as if we’re BFF’s out for lunch” She balled her fists, digging her fingernails into her skin as she tried to rein in her anger The nonchalance he displayed had her spoiling for a fight

“It’s about your kidnappers”