This time, Byte’s smirk had Voodoo flopping down on the sofa. Of course, she wanted him back. Before she thought he was trying to kill her, she’d been happy... No, more than happy... complete. That just pissed her off. She should’ve been complete without a man. She shouldn’t have fallen apart by his betrayal.
“I think it’s too late,” Voodoo finally admitted.
“Because you don’t love him anymore?”
Voodoo didn’t answer because she wasn’t sure she’d ever stopped loving him, despite what she had believed.
“Right. So it’s because you’re not sure if he loves you anymore.”
Byte asked a question she had been asking herself. Not only had he slept with Vanessa, but he had a relationship with her.
“Look, I’m not as socially inept as you want to believe,” Byte said and then chuckled when Voodoo snorted.
“But... As I was saying, I haven’t had a relationship... ever, but even I know he cares for you. He’s even said he loves you. Of course, that was before we knew about Vanessa, but he still said it. Plus, I don’t have to remind you how he reacted to Seven.”
“That’s jealousy, not love. Anyway, I can’t worry about him. I want to go see Daisy. I’m scared for her, Byte. She’s been identified.”
“I know and I’m watching the dark web for anything being said about her. Right now, it’s mostly disbelief, especially since they believe she’d worked with the CIA. I’m sure Ghost is already working on something.”
“I can’t lose her, Byte.”
“And you won’t. I can promise you that. If Ghost and Ivy don’t have a plan when we go downstairs, I’ll make sure she is well hidden.”
Voodoo hugged her friend, wiped away her stray tears, and stood up. “I guess we better go and see what the plan is. One way or another, I will protect my sister, even if it means my life.”
“It won’t come down to that. Lets go, but I still think we need a plan on how to get you and Carter back together.”
“You mean, Cowardly Carter, or my favorite, Cockwad Carter.”
Giggling, Byte finally responded. “I don’t think he’s any of those. If anything, I kinda feel sorry for him... even after learning about him and Vanessa. He was sure you were trying to kill him, while at the same time, you believed he was trying to end your life. Both of you have been duped. The question is, why? I get why Vanessa would want you out of the picture, but poisoning Carter, that doesn’t make sense.”
“Maybe he knows why. I guess we better go back and see what they have to say. Byte, thank you. For years I didn’t trust anyone. Then little by little, I let my walls down, first by trusting Ivy and then you and Ghost. I’ve made a life here... a good one. I’m afraid it will all go away.”
“Not happening. I trust very few people. Like you, it was with Ivy first. She has such a way of pulling you in. It must be from all those years undercover, but she can read a person. It’s kinda creepy.”
Both ladies were laughing when they opened the door to a very somber conference room.
Instead of sitting, the two stood at the door, Byte wearing a huge smile and Voodoo pleading for help.
“What’s the plan?” Voodoo asked.
“We’re going to take you to your sister. If Vanessa is there, we’ll handle it, but the important thing is to get Chaos out of Texas.”
“Thank you,” Voodoo earnestly told the group.
“Don’t thank us too soon. We’re going to offer her a job in London. It will take her away from you,” Ivy said.
“As long as she’s safe, I don’t care where she lives.”
“Besides, I can always get a plane for Voodoo to go see her sister,” Byte reminded the group.
Bench guffawed. He had no doubt Byte had several already at her disposal.
“Then let’s go. It’s been too long already,” Voodoo said as she turned to exit the door.
“Gwen?”
Voodoo didn’t mean to stiffen at Carter’s plea, but she had, and he’d seen it.