Chapter 14
Finn
It felt wrong driving around all afternoon in Logan’s car pretending it was just the two of us. I wanted to tell Reesa that the reason I had Logan’s car was because Bennett had installed a GPS tracker and was having us monitored at all times. If it had been up to me, I would’ve told her everything.
Although I couldn’t accept Bennett’s explanation, Logan put it in terms that were crystal clear.
“Just because someone’s a heart surgeon doesn’t mean you want them performing brain surgery on you,” he’d said.
I understood. We all have our specialty. I can help, but I needed to trust Bennett to do what I couldn’t. Stepping back this way only affirmed my decision to make the most out of my short time with Reesa.
“I can’t think of any place else to show you today,” Reesa said. “You’ve seen most of my favorite getaways.”
“When you said tour, I thought you were bringing me into town for a bunch of shops. Never had I expected winding roads to the middle of nowhere.”
“We can do that tomorrow if you’d like. I really want you to get a feel of the many things Tabiq offers. I mean, if you’re even considering moving here, you’ll want to know these things,” she said.
“Everything you’ve shown me helps. Thank you for the drive. It’s so different from the countryside back home, but there’s such beauty here, too. I’m actually shocked that the Hendersons haven’t decided to build high up on those hills. The view was spectacular there. Who owns that huge compound up on the hillside? It looks abandoned,” I asked.
I felt her light mood vanish as she looked out the passenger window. With a sigh she said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have taken you up there. It’s a piece of history best forgotten.”
“You can’t change the past, only learn from it,” I said.
She turned to me and nodded. “You are so right. As a people, we are still learning.”
I understood that Tabiq’s history was a difficult topic for the whole country, and that it weighed heavily on Reesa personally. But I wanted to know what had really happened – not only because I might be building a life here, but so I could understand Reesa better. “Tell me about that place. What happened there?”
“You could almost call it a fortress. Years ago, it housed the most powerful, evil, sadistic Tabiqian man. His greed turned my simple country into one that had almost everyone living in fear.”
“What happened to him?” I asked.
“He died, and you would think with his passing, things would return to normal, but they didn’t. If anything, they were getting worse. No one was safe. His…his daughter took over for him and she was even more cruel than her father. It was as though she was punishing the entire country for her father’s death.” It still pains me to this day that a woman would be involved in the exploitation of other women. Nothing meant more to her than money and power. Not even our own people.” I could see it was physically difficult for her to talk about it too. She continued. “I can only imagine what you’re thinking about all this.”
“That you’re a courageous, strong woman who is nothing like that and I’m sure the people of Tabiq know that,” I replied.
She shrugged. “There’s even more, but I’m not sure I should share this with you. I mean, they might not want me to,” she said.
“Who?”
“Do you remember me telling you about how much the Hendersons have done for Tabiq?”
“I do,” I replied. And I know what Bennett and Logan have added to that.
“Ziva was a hero to many of us women. She didn’t just hide to survive, but she helped others do so. She educated girls, taught them skills, and kept them safe.”
“I had no idea.” That wasn’t anything anyone had told me. “How did she end up married to Alex? They don’t sound like they would have fit together.” She saves lives, he writes mysteries.
“You can’t predict love.”
I smiled, keeping my eyes on the road. “No, you can’t.”
“I don’t have all the details, but what I do know is Alex tried to protect her and because of that, he was held captive. He refused to give them the information they were seeking. He fought them, even putting his own life in danger.”
“How did he get away?” I asked, knowing that Bennett Stone had to be involved.
“I don’t know. The compound was attacked, and the corrupt government overthrown. I know the Hendersons were involved in some way, but no one seems to be willing to talk about it. I’ve asked too. So has my brother Jasper. His wife Alissa is friends with Bennett, and she won’t divulge any information either. It seems that whatever took place, they want their name left out of it. So strange, because if it wasn’t for them, Tabiq would still be in turmoil.”
“Is it important why they did it? I mean, sometimes you want to help, just because there is a need. Not because you want credit for it,” I said. Because you can’t picture not helping.