Flash Burned (Burned 2)

Plus, the retreat had oodles of high-end security. Dr. Stevens was a stickler for both patient confidentiality and safety. In fact, she’d mentioned the requirements were stringent for her to maintain her accreditations.

I tried to latch on to that, find a comfort level that didn’t have me freaking out too much. Even Mr. Conaway had said I was safe here.

Hmm. How would he know that for sure?

I shook my head. Now the cloak-and-dagger was getting to me.

My panic escalated as I returned to the living room and watched more breaking news. In Casterelli’s case, the reporter actually mentioned a potential connection to the bombing of 10,000 Lux.

Was that some sort of FBI squeeze play? Or was my mind running ridiculously rampant?

“Shit,” I murmured.

“Oh, Ari,” Gretchen said as she sat next to me. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I should know better than to have this on when they’re talking about the hotel.”

She was aware that both Kyle and I had worked at the Lux. Naturally, she had no idea of my association with Dane, but I had told her my injuries were a result of the explosion.

“It’s okay. I’m interested in how this all pans out. Who’s behind it and what’s going to be done about it.”

For mention of the Lux to come about now … I could only speculate that perhaps Dane and whoever he’d partnered with—it had to be the FBI—were closing in on the remaining two corrupt members.

Anticipation gripped me so that I had to spend extra time on the treadmill later to burn off nervous energy. Then I showered in my private bathroom and headed toward the door, wanting to join Gretchen, Hannah, and Kyle for dinner.

Then it finally happened.

The cell rang.

I started. Nearly dropped the damn thing.

My hand suddenly shook, but I flipped the phone open.

“Yes?” I simply said, not sure I should give my name, say it was me on the line—or ask if it was Dane calling.

“Have your friend drive you to the house.”

Amano!

I couldn’t breathe.

He said, “Eight o’clock.”

The line went dead.

I stared at the phone, my heart pounding.

Amano was alive, too!

Or perhaps he was the only one. And Mr. Conaway wanted me to hear the truth from my former, trusted bodyguard.

Fuck.

I was too keyed up to eat but didn’t want to draw anyone’s attention. Or skip a meal now that I was back to keeping food down and had returned to my normal weight.

While the ladies engaged in a rousing game of Scrabble, I once again asked Kyle to take me home.

His gaze narrowed. “Why?”

“Please?” I asked anxiously.