Hostile Ground (The Arsenal #7) - Cara Carnes Page 0,124
the hell were you doing?”
“I-I…I’m training.”
“Training?” Kristof’s shocked inquiry thundered within the small space as his gaze cut to the water. “Waterboarding?”
Son of a bitch. Addy sat back on her heels and sighed heavily. She, Rhea, and the other women had all expressed some concerns about Bree’s behavior, which had spiraled since Zoey’s kidnapping.
“Don’t be mad.” Bree sniffled as she peered up at Addy. The fear and guilt rolling across her face cracked Addy’s anger.
She drew her friend into a hug and kissed her forehead. She should’ve confronted Bree about everyone’s worries before she went to Russia.
“Thank you,” Kristof said as he took the clothes Olaf held out. “How did you find her?”
Bree tightened within Addy’s arms. Addy looked up as Olaf signed.
“I came over to thank her for the new games she put on my tablet. The door was cracked open, so I came in. I heard a scream and ran toward it. I thought she’d fallen down. She was dipping her head into the water over and over and I tried to pull her away, but it was like she didn’t know I was here.” Worry creased Olaf’s brow as he looked down at Bree. “Is she okay?”
No, but she would be. Addy sighed heavily and strengthened the hug. Bree wasn’t a trained operative. She and Rhea had been dragged into The Arsenal’s world when Peter had tried to torture and rape Mary to gain access to HERA. But he’d also been after the geniuses behind the weaponry and chemical compounds used in the system’s drones.
Bree was the mastermind behind not only the weaponry, but also the power source. The brilliant, self-contained, regenerating power Bree had created would be wanted by every country, dictator, terrorist, and drug lord in the world if they knew it existed. They could power entire facilities and remain entirely off grid.
“I should’ve known.” All her friend’s demands to be trained on weapons and martial arts made sense now. Beneath the tough, determined exterior Bree exhibited, a terrified and introverted scientist lurked.
Addy sat on her ass and shifted her legs so that Bree was drawn closer. “It wasn’t easy coming here, having your world turned upside down. You went from a scientist no one knew to an Arsenal back office asset. One of the most important ones.”
“It was harder on you,” Bree argued. “You and Mary and Vi. Y’all brought Rhea and I here to keep us safe. And you have. But…”
“But it wasn’t always an easy road to get there,” Addy said. “We’ve had a lot of scares along the way.”
Bree nodded. “I-I just want to be ready for when it happens to me.”
Addy tightened. “That shit isn’t ever happening to you, Bree.”
“Don’t say that. You know it could. Look at Z-Zoey.”
Addy ran her hands down Bree’s short hair. She’s shaved the blonde mass completely off when Zoey’s kidnappers had shaved her head. She hadn’t wanted her new friend to be the only “cue ball” at the compound.
Bree needed help—more help than Addy could provide. She’d have to talk with Mary. No, Jesse.
Zoey.
Or she could put her big girl britches on and chat with Doctor Sinclair herself. Yeah, that’d be the best decision for Bree and the others. Their troubles had likely fed Bree’s compulsion or anxiety or whatever the fuck this was.
“We’re going to get you sorted,” Addy promised. “Why don’t we get you dressed, then we’ll head over to the mess hall and eat. Then we’ll go visit Sinclair.”
Bree tightened. “I don’t need her.”
“Maybe not,” Addy said. “But I do. It’d help to have a friend going through the process with me.”
“You’re going to see her?” Bree’s eyes widened.
“A good operative knows when to ask for help, or when to tap someone else in. I learned that from Jesse. Mary. Everyone at Warrior’s Path.”
“I guess you’re right. She’s just so busy all the time. I hate bothering her.” Marshall was well aware of Sinclair’s need for help, but therapists of her caliber were few and far between—especially if you added the imperative veteran component to the mix. Whoever they found had to be able to handle the operatives and the vets they helped through Warriors Path. That was a tall order to place. But Marshall would find someone.
“Now you sound like Ellie,” Addy teased. “She’s got a couple new people starting in a few days. One conversation today to get the ball rolling. You chat today, I’ll chat tomorrow. How’s