Keith opens the door to Dr. Roberts’s office.
I feel the tension in the room and a rush of goose bumps breaks out making me shiver.
Daniel’s arm is wrapped around Sue. Her eyes are glossy and her hands are clenched into fists.
Oh God, I look around at everyone’s face feeling the haunting prickle that’s dancing along the back of my neck.
June holds out her hand for me to sit next to her. I do, nearly falling over my shaky feet.
Abigail joins us a moment later dabbing her eyes with a tissue. Doctor Roberts gives her shoulder a quick squeeze. Everyone is painfully quiet as Daniel gives Keith a nod to begin.
“Fifty-four hours ago team Blackstone entered the house known to be The American’s main place of residence.” He clears his throat as mine closes over. “Things didn’t go according to plan. They had to abort the mission. While attempting to retreat they came under fire. Everyone got out, except Cole.”
Everything stops. Time; movement; brain waves; breathing; heartbeat—you name it, it just stops. I barely hear his next words, but they eventually find me. “We do know he’s alive.”
“How?” Sue cries out, reaching for her husband, who grips her hand tightly.
“We’ve received confirmation from Washington that the satellite camera picked up an image of Cole being transported to an unknown location by The American and the Cartels.”
My lungs beg me to take a deep breath. Finally I do, letting out a horrible sob.
Abigail leans over rubbing my back as I fall forward onto my thighs.
“We don’t know all the details, but the guys are in pretty bad shape and have been ordered to return to the house once they’ve been checked out by the medic in Washington.”
“They-they left him there?” I whisper feeling the heat from the tears that course down my cheeks.
Keith looks at me pressing his lips together.
“Frank is now in charge,” Daniel says in an eerie voice, “since Cole isn’t able—” He stops himself, taking a deep breath. “They’re coming home, that’s an order from Frank. They don’t have a choice, Savannah.”
“Yes they do!” I shout through my tears. “What about Cole? What if they—” My hand covers my mouth. Another loud sob escapes as I stand, feeling sick and light headed. “Please make them go back,” I beg. I turn to Keith crying out every word. “Please, please, Keith, please, make them go back and find him. I want him back, he needs to come back!”
“I’m sorry, Savannah, it’s out of my control.” Keith’s eyes plead with me to understand.
I start to back up toward the door. I feel claustrophobic—the walls closing in and the ceiling lowering. I need to get away. Everyone is watching me. Some stand and approach, but I hold up a hand warning them off. I just want Cole back. I bump into Derek who’s now standing in my path. I hear Sue say to Daniel that I should calm down. How can I calm down when they are telling me that Cole is being held captive, not when the father of our baby is being held against his will…no, I need to get out of here…Now.
The look I give Derek makes him move aside. Doctor Roberts calls out for me but I hear nothing but the door handle turning. I move without thinking up to my room, punching the keypad on the wall and dropping onto the pillows in Sue’s private library. I curl up, passing out immediately. My thoughts quickly return to when I was held safe and sound in his arms. Yes, it’s only a dream, but I’ll take what I can get.
Sue finds me some time later with Keith's help. She slowly lowers herself to the floor.
I’m awake, facing away from her. I ache too much to move.
She lies behind me wrapping her arm around my mid-section holding my hand in hers.
I sob, desperately needing a mother and she sobs, desperately needing a child to hold.
She holds on while we both go through a roller coaster of emotions. We both fall asleep and wake several hours later feeling drained, and in need of some water.
We decide to go for a walk, neither wanting to be alone.
Keith and Daniel are working away in Cole’s office.
Not wanting to disturb them, we head outside for some fresh air. We don’t talk about anything important just mindless jabber when the pain becomes too much. I’m really thankful for Sue needing me as much as I need her. She’s is fast becoming my rock. Thank God for her and Abigail. I don’t know what I would do without them.
I flinch when she does. We hear it before we see it, the noise of the rotor makes my heart pound. I turn to see the black helicopter flying low over the mountains behind us. As it descends, it kicks up snow, making it swirl around us. I squeeze her hand knowing how hard this is going to be.