I couldn’t agree more and leave her with her last words hanging over us. I pray for her safety when she gets off the train and that she doesn’t tell anyone or she’s liable to meet Richard sooner than she intends.
As soon as I step off the train and enter the terminal, Nate is waiting for me.
“Where are Archer and Ryley?” I ask after we shake hands.
“Evan is in the car. There’s no parking in this damn city. Ryley is already with Cara.”
“How’d you get here so fast?”
“Private jet.”
“Lucky bastard,” I mutter under my breath.
I think it’s funny that Nate, who I know from being in the service, trainings, and hanging out with his brother, was sent in to get me when it should’ve been Evan.
“We have about a two and half hour drive to where Cara is so we need to get going.”
One thing you can always count on when you’re with a SEAL is fast moving feet. Archer’s strides are long and quick as he dodges the people coming toward us. Outside, Evan is standing next to a car with its hood up.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I exclaim, throwing my hands up in the air. I want to get to my wife, and knowing that she’s only a couple of hours away and the car is broken down frustrates the hell out of me. Why? Why me?
/> “Ready?” Nate hollers to Evan who nods and slams the hood down.
“What the—”
“He was parked illegally. He had to do something or he would’ve gotten a ticket.”
“Wow, I’m impressed.” I climb into the back while Nate gets in the front. I barely have time to buckle my seatbelt before Archer has us weaving in an out of traffic. Again, I find myself staring out the window at the passing cities as they turn into the sprawling land.
“I can’t imagine breaking down out here,” Evan says while we’re in the middle of nowhere.
“Where are we heading?” I’m so excited to see Penny that I hadn’t even asked where we’re going.
“Vermont. The town’s called Pittsfield. Cara says there’s nothing there except a gas station, general store, a few restaurants, and some bed and breakfast places.”
“And that’s where Penny and Claire are?”
“Yes.” Nate looks out the window instead of at me, clearly hiding something.
“What else?”
He shakes his head. “When we get to the hotel, Cara is going to get Penny and bring her to meet Ryley. We’re going to wait in the next room. Well, you and I are. Evan will go in so she knows you guys are alive.”
“Cara said I was supposed to meet Rask at the train station, not you. What changed?” I know Evan would never compromise me, or us for that matter, but I’m not sure of Nate. Did he sell his brother and the rest of our team to the highest bidder?
“Rask went with Ryley and Cara. Nate and I needed to pick up some supplies in Boston and it’s easier to get them when I’m with him.”
I guess that makes sense, and I’m happy I didn’t come right out and accuse Nate of being a traitor.
“I want to see my wife.”
“We know you do, but we have to trust Cara. Things are sensitive and with Frannie close by, she doesn’t want to take any chances. Cara is already on thin ice for calling in favors.”
“How is Penny? Did she say? And Claire?” I’m starting to grow antsy and feel like Evan isn’t driving fast enough for my liking. Nate stalls, looking out the window without giving me an answer.
“Is she married?”
The silence that fills the car is enough to shatter my heart into a billion pieces. A lone tear falls before I wipe it away angrily. My wife is fucking married—illegally, but according to my death certificate legally. And even though I had suspected it, having it confirmed in not so many words feels like my life is being shredded all over again.