Ava’s POV
“I told him I’d come back.”
The words sat heavily in the room.
Gage crouched in front of me.
“You couldn’t.”
“I know.”
“The aftershocks hit.”
“I know.”
“Dr. Snyder died.”
“I know, Gage.”
His mouth closed.
I wasn’t blaming myself.
Not exactly.
But somewhere in the chaos of Venezuela, a scared little boy had held my hand and begged me not to leave.
I’d promised to return.
Then everything had gone to hell.
Now, roughly two months later, somebody had kidnapped Mario to force me back in front of that child.
That part I couldn’t understand.
“If he remembers me,” I said, “why not just ask?”
Morgan gave me a look.
“People who kidnap drivers generally aren't big on polite invitations.”
“You know what I mean.”
True did.
“If the boy asked for you, someone around him d
