Maya glanced at them as she stood. “Believe it or not, there are still entire communities living untouched with all modern conveniences. They don’t share nicely, mind you, but on the black market one can get just about anything.” She nodded toward the cabin. “Let’s go.”
“You sure about this?” Ariel whispered.
“She knows Julie. This is what we prayed about for two weeks. It’s our only hope.” Layla hugged her sister to her side, noticing that she was shaking. She couldn’t blame her. They were both unnerved. Tired. Leery about everyone and everything. But this was the first promising thing to happen to them since they’d left home.
Someone opened the door as they stepped onto the small porch, and Maya ushered Layla and Ariel inside.
Ariel gripped Layla’s hand tightly as they faced a tall, broad dark-skinned man.
“Jay, this is Layla and Ariel.”
The man hesitated, his brow furrowed, but then he smiled, flashing white teeth as he held out a hand to Layla first. “Nice to meet you both.”
Layla shook his hand, trying not to stare at him. It wasn’t so much that she had met very few men in her life. It was that he was so damn big. And handsome. And his smile took her breath away. She immediately knew she could trust him, as irrational as that may be.
“Don’t be fooled by his size,” Maya joked. “Jay is a giant teddy bear.”
“Hey, now. Stop telling people that. You’re ruining my reputation.”
Maya shoved at his biceps playfully and rolled her eyes. “Dude, your reputation is as a giant teddy bear.”
He laughed, a deep sound that calmed Layla somehow. She loved the way his eyes wrinkled at the same time. Yeah, she liked him.
Maya hurried over to a kitchen area in the one-room cabin, opened her pack, and started filling it with what looked like homemade protein bars. She filled her canteen from the faucet and turned back around. “I have to get back out there, but you’ll be in good hands here.”
“What?” Ariel’s voice squeaked. “You’re leaving us here?”
Jay took a step back, rubbing his palms on his thighs.
Layla pulled her sister in closer. “What happens next?” she asked Maya.
“Someone will come and transport you to our main facility. This is one of our outposts. It’s too far to walk to the closest compound.”
Layla nodded. “Okay.” She glanced around, remembering Maya had said this cabin was a false front. There was more underground, though for the life of her, Layla couldn’t see where the entrance to anything underground might be.
“Is anyone else here right now?” Maya asked Jay.
“No, but Gatlin, Ledger, and Nile will be here before dark.”
Maya lifted a brow. “They have anyone with them?”
Jay shrugged. “Not sure. Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone leave here until I’m certain I trust them.”
Maya glanced at Layla and Ariel and then back at Jay.
He gave her another nod. “Nothing happens to any woman on my watch. You know that, Maya.” His voice was soft, but it had an edge of disappointment that she would doubt him.
“You’re right. Sorry.” She rolled her shoulders as if her muscles were tight. “I haven’t slept enough lately.”
“Why don’t you stay for the day? Catch up on your rest.”
She shook her head and put her pack back on.
Jay reached out and gently grabbed her wrist. “I know you want to save the world, but you can’t do that if you’re not at a hundred percent, Maya. You need sleep and fuel. If you’re not at your best, you’ll get caught.”
“I know,” she muttered. “I’m good. Don’t worry about me.” With that, she opened the door and stepped outside.
When the door closed behind her, Layla drew in a deep breath. “Is she okay?” she asked, staring out the small window at Maya’s retreat.