I strain to listen for any voices, but all is quiet. I shift and click on the email but stay on my knees, hidden in case anyone comes in. I don’t want to run the risk having anyone catch me, so I press print and wait until the two pages came out. I fold and tuck the papers into my back pocket. I collect the file for Keith and click out of the e-mail back to the inbox.
Once I finally get a moment alone in my room, I pull out the papers. I take a deep breath and scan the email.
Logan, how would you like us to deal with this?
Holy shit!
My father is reaching out to Frank about knowing I am alive and being protected by the U.S. Army in a safe house somewhere in the States. He’s not angry they’ve had me for so long without telling him. He just wants to see me.Wants to hold his daughter he thought was dead.Tears slip down my face as I read. My father pours his heart out to Frank, begging him to let him see me.
I read Cole’s reply.
Frank, I just did. See below.
My eyes scan his words back to my father. I’m confused. Why is Cole telling him that he doesn’t deserve to see me? There are answers to be had before he willeverlet him see me.
My back hits the wall then my butt sinks to the ground, hard. Things don’t make sense. Why would my father reach out to Frank? How did he find out I was here? Why hasn’t Cole told me about the email? And why would Cole want to risk his life to get answers from The American?
After a long time on the floor, I finally stand. I know what I need to do.
Later, I try to act normal with everyone up on the hill, but I can feel Keith watching me. I know he knows something is bothering me. He tried to pry it out of me on the drive home, but I was too blown away by Cole’s idea about letting himself be taken by The American again to let him get it out of me.
Derek is my target tonight. He has a weak spot for me, and I intend to use it. I wait for the meteor shower to start, then slowly make my way over to where Derek is standing.
“Pretty neat, huh?” Derek whispers as little bursts of light travel across the sky. “Amazing to think they’re two million years old.”
Here it goes.
“Derek, I have a problem.” His gaze drops to mine. “And I think only you can help me.”
“Oh?”
“Can we speak privately?”
He studies my face, seeing I am indeed struggling with something, then glances over at Keith. “Savi needs to go back to the house.”
“I can take her,” Keith says, rising out of his chair.
“It’s cool. I’ll take her. I need to use the bathroom anyway.” Keith’s eyes narrow on me again, so I muster up a smile and shrug.
Derek leads the way down the path as I follow, sorting what I want to ask in my mind. I stop him at the stairs, not wanting to go inside. I don’t trust anyone overhearing, and knowing the guys can lip-read off the cameras, I am even more cautious.
Derek leans against the railing and tucks his gloved hands into his coat pockets. “What’s going on, Savannah?”
I rub my mitts together more out of nerves than the cold. “I know you and Cole have a stressful past, but I also know that when it comes down to it, you would be there to help him out, right?”
He shrugs. “Yeah, I guess.”
“What if I told you I know something bad is going to happen to Cole, and only I could stop it? Would you help me?”
He rubs his chin, sensing he’s not going to like what I have to say. “I’m listening.”
“I came across something that wasn’t intended for my eyes, but…whatever, I read it.”
“Ah, shit,” he sighs, “what was it?”
“An email from my father to Frank. He wants to see me.” Derek stops moving. “Cole emailed him back, saying that the only way he’d let my father see me again is if he got some answers.” I pause and glance up at him. “Derek, I can get these answers. I think my father is being blackmailed by the people who kidnapped me. I need to see him and help him. We haven’t always had the greatest relationship, but he’s still my father. I need you to fly me to New York and get me to him.”
Derek’s face is unreadable. His gaze drops to the ground then he leans back, rests against the railing, and lets out a long breath.