Page 71 of What Remains

“Just trying to get comfortable with my new rig,” I admit, finally peeling my face off the lid. “It hums differently. Wrong, you know?”

“You’ll get there,” she reassures me. “Why don’t you come hang out with the rest of us, though. Either in Easton’s room or Griffin’s. We’ve got two teams dividing and conquering, and we really don’t want you alone in here.”

“No other guests can even access this level. I’m surrounded by our team on this floor. I’m safe.”

“It’s not your safety I’m worried about.”

Fair. I stand and sidestep the chair. “Please don’t worry about me. I have enough people doing that.” I toss a hand in the air. “Even Liam just worry-texted me telling me not to do the very thing he’s doing. Worry.”

“Can you blame us?” She combs her fingers through her blonde hair. “I just . . .” Her hands drop to her sides. “This whole thing is my fault.”

Here we go again. No, no, no.

“I suggested the trip. I should have known this would happen.”

“Sure, because you could have predicted I’d be abducted by some psychopath with too much information and untraceable resources?” Guilt doesn’t belong to her, and I won’t let her try and own it. “And if anything, you should know that you actually helped me out on that island.”

She jerks her head back. “Me? How?”

“I channeled your strength to face off with that bitch.” I hate that word, but it’s more appropriate for Jezebel than a female dog. Dogs are nice, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s an insult to use that name for them. Nope, people are nine-tenths of all problems.

She folds her arms, not buying what I’m selling. “What do you mean?”

I don’t want to go back to that island and into the hangar with Jezebel, but I’ll do it if it helps alleviate any unnecessary guilt my stepmum has.

“You’re tough and smart. A total badass.” I tack on, “CIA,” in a whisper. As if that’s a secret between us. She’s probably one of the only officers at the Agency Carter will associate with. He hates that three-letter group, even if he once worked for them. “I pretended to be you for a minute. And I was able to hold my head up and confront Jezebel and not totally snap.”

Natasha steps around my big-leaf potted houseplant to get closer to me. She reaches for my wrists and squeezes her eyebrows together. “You are strong. Tougher than tough. All those things. You didn’t need to channel me.”

“Tough because I’m Dad’s daughter?”

“No, because you’re you.” She doesn’t hesitate and pulls me in for a hug. “You’re your own person, Gwen.” We’re both quiet for a bit before she asks, “Do you want to talk about what happened?”

“Nope.” That’s an easy answer. “Suppression is healthy. Scientifically proven by absolutely no one.”

She untangles our arms and gives me her best tight-eyed concerned-mum look.

“When I’m ready to relive that nightmare, you’ll be the first to know,” I add before she does another mum move and presses the issue.

Her mobile buzzes, and my shoulders sag in shameless relief for the distraction.

“It’s Ella.” She turns the screen, showing a picture of all the kids together.

“School” is already in session. Of course it is.

“She said she’s going to ask Diana to close down the indoor pool this afternoon, and have it secured so all the kids can swim.” She tucks her mobile into her back pocket. “I think she’s itching to pull Jesse away from the case to have a break, too.”

My shoulders tense up. “This triggered him, huh?”

“From what Ella’s told me, a little. But who can blame him? You even mention a chess piece and your father loses his cool.”

I shouldn’t smile, but I do.

“I did see Easton pull Jesse aside earlier, though. They had a heart-to-heart.” She sighs. “He’s a good man.”

“I know,” I say softly.

“Well . . .” She angles her head toward the door. “I’m going to check in on Ella and the kids before I get back to work in Griffin’s suite. Why don’t you join me?”