“No. You need to—”
A whiplash of energy hit Reid in the chest. He materialized in the upstairs living room of the beach house. His breastbone stung. A mere tap of Dalir’s power. The ancient could cause much worse. During urban warfare training, he’d try to hack into their minds. If he succeeded, he’d mercilessly slash into their thoughts. Distort their memories. The result brought them painfully to their knees.
Mace and West sat on the couch, leaning over their laptops on the coffee table. They stopped typing. Colby quit pacing and looked from his computer tablet. Their gazes reflected the question they all wanted to know. Thane wouldn’t tolerate the guys worrying about him or losing faith in Dalir. He lived by mission first, and that included keeping the team focused on solving the problem.
“He’s at The Drift. He’ll be back as soon as he’s healed up. Give me a sit rep.”
“You’re not going to like it.” West sat up. “Xenia Allen is gone.”
“She’s in hiding now? Why?”
“No. I mean she’s really gone. She doesn’t exist. No birth records, work history. Even her husband’s life has changed. He’s living in Modesto married to some other woman with two kids. From his Facebook page he’s a hell of a lot happier, too.”
Mace shook his head. “Our missions have disappeared a few things, but someone’s life? That’s a big switch.”
“I’m not crying over it.” Colby laid the tablet on a glass side table. “I saw with my own eyes what her fucked up agenda caused. If she’s gone, the pandemic never happened, and the world’s a better place.”
Or worse.
“West, keep digging. Make sure her existence is really wiped out. Colby, find Jeff Miller. I want to know who he’s connected to in this time. West, look into all the research the Xenia Allen we know conducted. Just because she’s not around doesn’t mean it’s over. Someone else could have the same agenda and the pandemic could pop up all over again.”
Colby crossed his arms. “Are we headed back to the future?”
“Not yet. Until Dalir gives us the all clear, we’re staying put.” And the way the ancient was acting, who knew when that would happen. Or when Thane would return.
Find her.
Like he had time to worry about Celine. With all that had happened, why was Thane worried about a woman he’d just met? He snagged his keys from a bowl on the side table. But he’d promised. As a team, if they couldn’t trust each other to keep their word, they had nothing. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours. I need to check on something.”
Reid followed Celine into the Cuban restaurant and got in line behind her at the host stand.
He’d tracked her down at her store near the beach. She’d moved to the mall sometime in the future. How screwed up was that? If she would have stayed put, Thane wouldn’t have taken a bullet for her.
She requested a table for two, and the hostess led her to one by the window.
Bitterness rose in his throat. Great. She was out on a date. Now he had to watch some guy make a move on the girl who’d caused his best friend to get shot.
“Table or booth?” the hostess asked.
“Table.” He plastered on a smile that always got the job done. “If you don’t mind, I’d love to sit over there.”
The cute forty-something hostess smiled back. They walked past potted miniature palms nested in corners and hollowed out niches on the way to the table.
She sat him in the center of the intimate space decorated with photos and nostalgic posters of Cuba on yellow and blue walls. A strategic spot with the perfect eye line to Celine’s table.
Celine ordered wine. As she waited, she scrolled and tapped on the screen of her cell.
Reid flipped to the camera app on his phone and laid it on the table. He’d take a picture of the happy couple. Once Thane saw the truth, he’d put this nonsense behind him, and they could get back on task.
More patrons filed in for dinner, but she remained alone.
The server brought him a beer and his appetizer of fried plantains. He randomly ordered a chicken dish from the menu.
In between sips from her glass, Celine glanced wistfully at the door.
Was the dude standing her up? Why did some guys do that? Just cancel or don’t make the date at all if you’re not sure you’re interested. Shit. Thane wouldn’t want him to let her hang. He should probably go talk to her. Make her feel better. Strictly platonic to ease the sting.
He scooted his chair back from the table.
The door to the restaurant jingled open.
Reid’s heart jolted.
Lauren strode in, embodying sophistication in a blue, tailored pantsuit and pumps.