Revealed (The Found Book 1)

by Caitlyn O'Leary

  Nate ran his hand through his short cropped brown hair. “Sarah, you have to remember, they aren’t specifically targeting you and Kali. They would target anyone who appeared twenty years ago. This isn’t because of the person you are.”

  “Nate, you’re not making me feel better. Just tell me, okay.”

  Kali watched the big man struggle for words for the first time. It was clear he somehow wanted to soften the blow for Sarah. “Tell her Nate, she’s tougher than she looks.”

  “Okay. We still don’t have a bead on the group that took Kali. They were obviously concerned with where she came from, it’s why they tortured her for so long.”

  “You were tortured? My God, it wasn’t in the papers, not that starvation isn’t torture. Are you okay?” Sarah jumped from her bed, and Kali was wrapped in warm arms.

  “It’s okay, I’m okay now. It was tough for a while.”

  “Anyway, like I said, we don’t know what group it is. We’re still trying to track them down. We have another team searching for them. The organization that kidnapped Mai and was targeting you wanted you for a breeding program. They think they can make super babies. Based on you, Mai, Alfred, Niko and Kali it’s obvious the found are extraordinary, and this organization has people bidding to use your ovum and sperm to mix with theirs to create what they consider a superior race.

  “They’re fucking Nazi’s,” Sarah spat out. “You wouldn’t think they’d want my black eggs.”

  “Mai’s Vietnamese. This group isn’t the racist group. The splinter group out of Idaho wanted you all dead because you were different. They intended to blow up your hospital,” Nate said.

  “Dammit, did you have to tell her that?”

  Sarah looked at her in shock, then turned to Nate. “Truly, there was a third group wanting us dead?”

  “But we got them all, they’re no longer a threat,” he said encouragingly.

  “Just how many people hate us, or are after us? And why now?”

  “I think it’s because you have all started to become known in your fields.”

  “Except for me,” Kali joked.

  “Dammit Kali, would you please stop with that shit?” Nate said forcefully.

  “What are you talking about?” Sarah demanded. “You are amazing, I’ve been keeping track of you for years. You graduated three years early. Now they are planning on making you a principal in one of the largest school districts in Chicago. You would be the youngest principal ever. I’d say you are outstanding in the educational field.”

  Kali stopped to really think about what Sarah was saying, and realized she was probably right.

  “So Nate, do you think there are even more groups?”

  “No, Sarah, I think that’s it,” Nate assured her. Lie, definitely a lie, Kali felt it clear as day. She watched the relief spread across Sarah’s face. Nate gave her a quick glance, and she realized he might know she was able to pick up on people’s feelings. She didn’t feel any distress, just a little amusement. She really was growing to love Noah’s teammates.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Don’t you dare lie to me Nate. He hasn’t called in and neither has Riley. None of you know where they are.” Kali was livid. She was a grown woman who deserved the truth. This was the man she loved, the man she was going to marry, and he was in trouble.

  “This isn’t uncommon, Kali. Things happen in the field, and we all end up going off the grid for a while, it’s the nature of our work.”

  “When you’re in the fucking jungle. Not when you’re in Dallas.” She was no longer livid, she was past furious, and moved on to terrified. She watched as Kota packed his duffel, and Sierra’s fingers flew over two keyboards damn near simultaneously.

  “I’m going with you.” Everybody stopped and looked at her.

  “I beg your pardon, Ma’am?” It was probably the most words Dakota Blackthorne had spoken to her since he had apologized at their first meeting.

  “I’m going with you. You need to find him. Don’t you want to use all possible tools?”

  Kota looked at Nate.

  “Of course we do Kali it goes without saying,” Nate assured her.

  “I’ve got a lead on them. One of the partners of the Rixitron Corporation just filed a flight plan to Cancun. For all intents and purposes it looks like a holiday,” Sierra said as she continued to scan her monitors.

  “There you go Kota, you and I are going on a fun trip to Cancun together.”

  “Kali, you’re not going anywhere.” Kota watched the byplay between her and Nate, as he continued to pack his duffel bag.

  “You’re not listening. I’m connected to Noah. I might not be able to find things like he does, but I sure as hell can pinpoint his location. He better not ever think about cheating on me.” Kali said, and Nate barked out a laugh.

  “I want that ability, can you teach me?” Sierra called out from the corner.

  “Ma’am this is a hot zone. I don’t need a civilian going with me, it will slow me down.” He was finally looking her in the eye, this was a very good sign. “You have no idea how bad things can get.”

  She lifted an eyebrow, and he had the good sense to backtrack. “You’re right. Of course you know how bad it can get. But things are going to move fast, and I can’t afford to be worried about you when my focus needs to be on retrieving the Lieutenant and Riley.”

  “I get it Kota, I really do. But how much of an advantage is Noah to you when you’re on missions?” Nobody spoke. “Nate, tell me the truth.” She emphasized the word truth.

  “He makes a huge difference.”

  “Then so will I. Kota, I promise, if you tell me I am becoming a liability, I’ll hole up someplace. But I think you’ll find I can help. Noah is my world, I wouldn’t put him in more danger. You have to believe me.” She watched as he looked from Sierra to Nate. It was obvious they worked as a unit.

  “Sierra, get two reservations,” Kota relented.

  “Already did.”

  * * *

  Kali had never been someplace so humid. She and Kota had a cover, they were boyfriend and girlfriend, and they had to walk down the steps from the airplane. He led the way, making sure she didn’t have a miss-step. Her throat tightened, because she knew it would be the exact thing Noah would have done.

  As soon as they landed, Kota turned on his phone. Sierra downloaded information about a compound the Rixitron executive, Abel Trent, owned on the western tip of the island. It was closely guarded. She got them reservations in the honeymoon suite at a luxury resort close to his home, and a Range Rover was waiting for them at the airport rental agency.

  “How far is it to the resort?”

  “First we’re going to one of the hotels in the city, and you’re going to the spa, Sierra has it all arranged.”

  “What? We need to get to Riley and Noah.”

  “No, I need to get some supplies, and you need go to the spa.”

  “It makes no sense, let me go with you.” He was driving through a congested part of the city filled with taxi cabs and drunken tourists.

  “Look Kali, I don’t think anyone is watching us, but in case they are, we need to make this look plausible. You going to a spa makes it plausible. You promised to follow my direction, well this is what I’m asking you to do. This is the first thing I’ve asked and you’re already giving me shit?” He cut his gaze away from the traffic to glare at her. Kali slunk in her seat. He was absolutely right.

  “I’m sorry. I wanted to help. But if you could tell me why you want me to do something, instead of dictating to me it would help.”

  “I keep forgetting you aren’t in the military. Yeah, I’ll try to remember.”

  “Here,” he handed her his phone with all of the information Sierra provided about her reservations. Then he pulled up in front of the hotel, reached over and gave her a hug. She stiffened, and he whispered her in ear. “Relax, you’re Noah’s woman. But we’re lovers, so play the part.” She hugged him got out of the car to go to the
spa.

  Four hours later, Kali sat in the lobby nervously waiting for her lover. When he arrived, she watched as women looked him up and down in appreciation and she longed for Noah. She couldn’t feel him at all. She prayed she would be able to when they got to the resort. Kali remembered how she had clearly felt him when she had been in the adjoining room and he had been angry and frustrated. She immediately recognized Noah’s energy. She’d been stunned, scared…overjoyed. Now she needed to focus, and make sure she could feel him from a distance.

  “Hey, you sure are concentrating hard on something.” She hadn’t even noticed Kota dropping into the seat next to her.

  “Are we ready to leave?”

  “Yeah. It just looked like you weren’t doing so well, so I thought we could just sit here for a few minutes.” Kali looked sideways at the man. He picked up her hand and held it. She saw him stare at the scar on her wrist, his mouth grim.

  “I really don’t remember you doing anything to hurt me, Kota,” she said in a low voice.

  “It’s not that. I just know Noah’s going to hand me my ass when he finds out you’re here.”

  “Yeah, probably.” Every time Kota did something to pretend they were a couple it made her long for Noah. Please let him be okay.

  “Can you really help find him?” He was scanning the people in the lobby.

  “If I didn’t think I could, I wouldn’t have insisted on coming. I don’t want to be a liability. I want him safe and sound. This isn’t an ego thing or a girlfriend thing.”

  “Good,” he said, squeezing her hand. “Let’s move on out.”

  * * *

  When they checked into the resort, Kali noticed Kota had an extra suitcase, but the thought immediately fled her mind when she heard the desk clerk checking them into the honeymoon suite. Dammit, it was something she hadn’t considered and she should have.

  Kota was easily able to manage their luggage and still hold her hand all the way up to their room. In no way was he coming on to her, but the whole situation made her feel awkward and weary.

  She stumbled. Her cheek exploded in pain.

  “Kali.”

  Blinking she saw Kota was holding her against the corridor wall. Had he hit her?

  “Kota, what happened?” She’d been walking down the hall and the pain came out of nowhere, like a fist to the side of her head.

  “You tell me. Let’s get into the room first.” He picked up the one new suitcase, and wrapped his arm around her, leaving the other bags in the middle of the hallway. He moved quickly down the corridor to their room and got her to the bed.

  “Let me get our other suitcases. I’ll be right back.” He rushed out of the room, and Kali jumped off the bed and went to the bathroom to examine her face. She was flushed. Did she see a little bit of a red mark? She couldn’t tell. It felt like she had been hit. Hit. Noah. She’d been thinking about him, trying to tune into him, and he’d been hit. She grabbed Kota by the front of his shirt as he came through the door.

  “It was Noah, he was being hit, it’s what I felt.”

  “Use your inside voice Kali.”

  She realized she had been practically yelling.

  Kota closed the door and gently pushed her onto the bed, crouching in front of her. “Okay, you could actually feel Noah?” She could see the excitement in his eyes, and it matched her own.

  “Yes. I could. He’s in trouble, he was being hit.”

  “It’s okay Kali, its good news. He’s alive. He’s conscious, those are two good things.” Kali looked into Kota’s dark eyes, and realized the man was right.

  “We’ve got to get to him.” Kota got up, pulled out his laptop and phone, and had Sierra on the line, while booting up the laptop. Kali sat on the bed, leaned against the headboard and closed her eyes. Tuning out Kota’s voice, she focused on Noah.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  He needed to give Riley another day. He knew there wasn’t a chance in hell he would fail to find and hide the woman and child. The parents had done a good job of keeping them safe on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, but they didn’t understand the resources the Rixitron Corporation had at their disposal. What truly baffled him is why Seth Natani would have gone on a long term undercover assignment when his woman was pregnant, it made no sense. Seth was found, Noah expected him to have better protective instincts where his woman and child were concerned.

  “Are you paying attention to us?”

  Spittle dripped down the side of Noah’s face. He didn’t blink, he just stared forward at the beige wall.

  “Tell us where Sarah Johnson is. Tell us what you were looking for when we found you in our offices. Who got away?”

  Noah grunted in agony as he was kicked in exactly the same place as before, toppling him forward. He was unable to break his fall because his hands were tied behind his back. At least his chin hit carpet, it could be worse, remembering a time in Eastern Europe.

  “What the fuck are you smiling about?” Another kick.

  “Fuck.” Noah’s rib cracked. Not good.

  “Not smiling now, are you asshole? Tell us who got away.”

  Noah stayed down. One more kick and he knew he’d pass out, it’s what he needed. He needed to buy time. He felt the toe of the boot prodding the spot they just kicked.

  “Ahhhh…”

  “Tell us. Where is Sarah Johnson?”

  One more kick you asshole. Come on. This pain could stop anytime now as far as he was concerned. One more kick.

  He pressed in harder. “What did you find in the office?”

  “Nothing.” Dammit, he hadn’t meant to say anything. The man pushed in more, Noah was seeing stars. Good.

  Noah?

  “Tell us where Sarah is.” He was pressing and twisting with his toe. Noah let out a gasp. Blackness was beginning to edge around his vision.

  Noah can you hear me?

  “Are you listening? We want to know where Sarah is. Who was with you? Where did he go?”

  Are you all right Noah? We’re coming to get you.

  “Tell us what we want to know!”

  “Fuck you!” One last kick.

  Noah! No!

  Darkness.

  * * *

  “Riley isn’t with him. He’s in New Mexico.” Kota gave her a strange look, and then he got on the phone to talk to Sierra. She hurt and could barely make it from the bed to the bathroom. Luckily Kota was looking at the laptop and talking on the phone so he didn’t notice.

  She desperately wanted them to go after Noah…now! But she saw how determined Noah was that this woman and child be protected. How could she not put their needs first? When she could finally stand up straight and breathe she went back into the room and listened to the conversation. Sierra was on speaker along with Nate.

  “How about Noah, does Kali have a bead on his location?”

  “I’m here Nate.”

  “Are you okay Kali? You don’t sound so good.” Sierra’s voice came through the line.

  “Are you hurt? What’s wrong Kali? What happened?” Sarah’s questions were clipped and to the point.

  “I’m not hurt. I’m just feeling the effects of Noah’s pain. He was beaten.”

  “Ah fuck,” Nate and Kota said in unison.

  “Kali, Kota told me you said Riley was in New Mexico. I can’t figure out why he didn’t call in. It doesn’t make any fucking sense,” Sierra sounded completely frustrated.

  “All I know is there is a woman and a baby Riley is supposed to protect, and they are on a reservation in New Mexico. Noah keeps thinking he has to hold on for just another day.” Kali heard her voice break. “What does it mean? Does he mean he gets to die tomorrow?”

  “Oh honey, no. He’s stalling before he kicks ass and breaks out.”

  “He’s in bad shape, Sierra,” Kali said to the voice on the phone trying to reassure her. “I think they broke his ribs when they were kicking him.”

  “Ah fuck,” Nate and Kota said again.

  “Kal
i, how are you feeling this? Are you really so connected you can feel it when he is being kicked?’

  “Yes,” Kali answered Sarah.

  “Kota, is Kali looking physically well or is she manifesting symptoms?”

  Dammit. Kota immediately came around the desk, and pulled her arm away from around her waist.

  “Sarah, she’s wincing when I move her arm, and she’s hunched over.”

  “Kali, are you just psychically feeling his pain, or do you think you have sustained injuries?”

  Kali had been afraid to lift her shirt in the bathroom. She did so now, and she and Kota looked at her side, and she twisted around to view her lower back.

  “Sarah, there is a distinct red mark in the shape of a boot on her lower back. She’s lightly bruised.”

  “Palpitate the area.”

  Kali let out a hiss as Kota probed the area. It hurt. But not nearly to the extent she had felt when she was connected to Noah, and she explained it to everyone.

  “Jesus Kali, it’s amazing,” Nate said.

  “It’s scary,” Sarah said. “But we can use this to our advantage. Kota, let’s try to determine how badly Noah has been hurt, and where. Have Kali lay down on her good side.” Sarah walked him through the quick examination, and she agreed it was likely Noah’s liver and kidneys were fine, but he probably had bruised, fractured or broken ribs.

  “He’s had worse, and still managed to fight his way out of more dangerous places than some mansion in Cancun,” Kota assured Kali as he pulled down her T-Shirt. He went over to his kit and got her some ibuprofen.

  “Take these, and try to get some rest.”

  “Are you kidding? We need to go and get him.”

  “Kali, one, its daylight, it’s not the right time to go. Two, you’re not going. Three, I’ve got some reinforcements who will be here in a couple of hours. Then we’ll be going.”

  “Who are the reinforcements?”

  “I’d rather not say.”

  “Mercenaries? You’re trusting mercenaries? Are you out of your mind?”

  “Kali, do I have to remind you again?” This time Kota sounded angry, and Kali couldn’t blame him. What the hell did she know?