Relentless (Option Zero #2) - Christy Reece Page 0,43

she knew. He had the money and the power to make her disappear forever.

She eyed both Serena and Jazz. Oddly enough, they were silent, as if aware she needed to figure out if she could trust them. Could she? Kate Walker had given her approval of them. And though she didn’t know Kate all that well, the time she’d spent with her had been telling. She trusted the woman. Therefore, she should trust these women.

“Look.” Serena’s voice broke the tense silence. “I know you’re scared, don’t know who to trust. Telling you to trust us without giving you any real reason isn’t fair. But until we know you better, we can’t risk anything.”

Aubrey took a breath. As much as she didn’t like it, Serena had a point. The organization Serena worked for had a lot more to lose than Aubrey did.

“All right. What can I do to speed up the process?”

“Answer some questions, and let’s see where we are.”

“Okay, shoot.” She winced at the words. She had a feeling neither of these women would hesitate to do just that if they deemed it necessary.

If she thought they would be easier on her because of the near fainting spell earlier, she was mistaken. The questions came quick, so fast and furious that she had little time to think. They asked, she answered.

Why do you do what you do?

Who backed your other films?

Who do you share your research with?

What do you hope to gain by going on a rescue?

Who is involved in the making of your film? Has everyone been vetted? How were they vetted? By whom? What do they know?

Both women asked questions, but Serena took the lead, and Jazz often followed up with additional ones. It was a good routine and Aubrey got the idea they did this a lot.

Though the questions were exhaustingly thorough, she had no problem answering. Most of her team had been with her for years. She trusted them with her life. They were as dedicated as she was to shining the light on the dark vileness of human trafficking. However, they had no idea what she had uncovered about Ferante. She was the only one who knew, or at least she’d thought she was.

By the time the initial questions had been asked and answered, Aubrey had consumed two full glasses of water and felt as if she’d been drained of all energy.

“Okay, let’s take a break for a while. Jazz, why don’t you see if Pippa has lunch ready yet? And Aubrey, why don’t you go freshen up?”

Aubrey wasn’t going to argue. Not only did she need time to herself, she needed to rid herself of all the water she’d consumed. Relieved to have some privacy, Aubrey gratefully headed to the bathroom. When she looked in the mirror, she had to grimace. Not her best look. Shock and stress had bleached her face of color.

She splashed her face with water, pinched her cheeks and took a breath. Whether they knew it or not, she was through with their questions. She had some of her own and she wasn’t going to respond to any more of theirs until hers were answered.

She returned to the main cabin in time to see a flight attendant placing plates filled with sandwiches and salad on a pullout table.

Serena gave her a searching look. “Feel better?”

“Yes, but I have some—”

“Come eat. That’ll make you feel even better.”

Though her stomach knotted at the thought of putting food in it, Aubrey knew Serena was right. She hadn’t had anything to eat since lunch yesterday afternoon. Without nourishment, she couldn’t think straight.

As if an invisible barrier had been broken, Jazz gave her a genuine smile. “I think we’ve all worked up an appetite.”

They sat around the table and were silent for a few moments. The chicken salad sandwich was delicious, and Aubrey felt her normal appetite return. Within minutes, she was feeling calmer and more in control. These people weren’t out to hurt her, and if she were honest with herself, she could use their help and advice.

Munching on a carrot stick, Jazz asked, “Your bio says that you studied acting. Why did you change to documentaries? You were in a couple of movies and TV shows, weren’t you?”

“Yes. Though the movies were just bit parts. And I liked acting well enough, but it lost its magic early on.”

“How’s that?” Serena asked.

“Nothing ever felt authentic. An entertainer has to be on 24/7. Always in the public eye, always being watched. That wasn’t the kind