Beckett watched the whole scene unfold in shock, not sure what to make of it. It seemed only Emily was at ease with her daughter’s abilities. Of course, she knew Elaina better than anyone in that room.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Camila said while Elaina opened her eyes.
Beckett shifted to the side to better view Elaina as Emily offered her daughter an alternative explanation, “Maybe you just feel connected to her because of your vision.”
“Honestly, it’s starting to feel like we’re all connected,” Oliver spoke up, voicing exactly what Beckett was beginning to believe.
“If you’re not ready for others to know, I understand.” Elaina let go of Camila’s arm and stepped back. Emily wrapped her arms around her. “Most people wouldn’t believe you anyway.” She peered around the room, remaining comfortably within the safety of her mother’s embrace. “But they will.” Her shoulders fell on a sigh. “Mom, my head doesn’t hurt anymore. The headache is gone.”
“Well, that’s something to celebrate,” Emily said, her eyes glistening as if she might cry at the news.
“But I’d like to go to bed,” Elaina told her while squinting at Camila with that searching-for-a-memory look of hers Beckett had grown to know.
“I saved you a room with a queen bed instead of bunk beds,” Carter said. “Griffin can show you where it is.”
“Of course.” Griffin stepped away from where he’d remained by Gray and swiped a hand along his jawline.
“Elaina?” Camila tipped her head and stepped forward when Emily released her hold of her daughter.
“Yeah?” Elaina asked in an almost wistful tone.
“Do you know anything else . . .” Camila let her voice trail off.
“Not yet, but I think being here will help me,” Elaina said with confidence. “I think being near you will help me,” she added, and Emily shot Beckett a puzzled, slightly worried look. “Goodnight.” She tossed a hand in the air, doing a three-sixty to make sure she waved to everyone, and then Emily quietly followed her and Griffin from the room.
“That was interesting,” Oliver muttered a few moments later, setting his hands on his hips while focusing on Carter.
“Her head was pretty bad when she arrived at the airport,” Gray shared, speaking for the first time since returning with Emily and Elaina. He certainly had Beckett’s attention. “The closer we got here, the less pain she was in.”
And now her headache is gone. Beckett shifted toward Camila, who looked like she’d seen a ghost. Quite the contrast to the cool and confident woman he’d first met a little over an hour ago. Is Elaina better because of you? Why?
“I don’t know why,” Camila said, responding to the question no one had vocalized, but Beckett had definitely been thinking.
But knowing Elaina, Beckett had a feeling they’d all soon find out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Mason’s at Martín’s home.” Mya tossed her phone onto the bottom bunk, walked to the small window, and peeked through the dusty blinds. “He didn’t waste time . . . must’ve flown overnight.” Mya stepped back and faced Sydney, wiping the dust on her hot-pink yoga pants. “Martín knows Miguel’s cousin is poking around Tulum, right?”
“Yeah, Martín will be on the lookout.” Sydney released her knee and went for the other one, stretching out her muscles. “But we just ran five miles to de-stress, and one text from Mason has your face looking all contorted.” Contorted? Is that a thing?
“He’s just frustrating me. Pissed about what happened.” Mya leaned her back against the window in their bedroom and crossed her arms. “I know, I know. He kind of has a right to be.” She shrugged. “Buuuut, he wouldn’t be in Mexico now with the assistance of Martín’s team to dismantle those human trafficking networks had I not been . . .” She freed her locked arms and used air quotes when finishing her sentence, “‘Reckless.’”
Sydney let go of her other knee only to bend her leg backward, holding the side of the bunk bed so she didn’t wobble and fall. Her balance was off today. “Everything happens for a reason, remember? You’ve been saying as much since we were sipping mimosas on the beach on Sunday.”
“True. But if I respond to his texts, I won’t be so ladylike right now. So, I need to let him cool down. And well, I should too before I talk to him again.”
“He just cares about you,” Sydney reminded her.
“Martín’s going to wait to make any moves against the cartel until we’ve completed our op here. Unless Hector causes problems before then,” Sydney said, sharing what Carter had told her in private last night before she’d called her son.
“Which is why I don’t get Mason’s need to be in Mexico right now. He’s not needed yet.” Mya exaggerated her frown this time. “He just wants to be closer to me since he has orders not to come to Chile, I’m sure of it.”
Sydney smiled at Mya’s dramatics, then let go of her leg when the door behind her opened. Camila had slept in their room last night for a handful of hours, and she was gone before Sydney and Mya had risen for a run. She’d already showered and changed in that time too.
“You were up earlier than us,” Mya commented as Camila shut the door behind her and went to her luggage alongside the bunk beds across from Sydney.
Camila grabbed what looked like a journal from her bag before facing them. “Deus ajuda a quem cedo madruga.”
Sydney could only translate the first word, so she waited for her to share what she’d said.
“God helps those who wake up early.” Camila clutched the black leather-bound book to her chest and tipped her lips into a friendly smile.
“Then I’m getting up even earlier from now on.” Mya sat on one of the beds, careful not to hit her head in the process. “I need all the help I can get.”
“Don’t we all.” Camila turned her attention to Sydney. “Does running help clear your head? I’m one of those women that if you see me running, that means someone is chasing me,” she added with a light laugh.
Did it help me? Not today. No, her cyclone of thoughts whirled around uncontrollably on her run.
“Girl, you and me both,” Mya responded before Sydney had a chance. “This one dragged me along to de-stress.”
“I don’t think it worked for you,” Camila commented, her tone level. Her dark eyes were ringed with brown eyeliner and dark mascara, making them stand out even more. God, the woman was stunning. How did she and Carter never . . .
Carter was once married, Sydney remembered. So, there was that. But still.
“So, Carter’s really like a brother to you?” Mya asked, sharing Sydney’s brain.
“Is Carter attractive? Yes, I do have eyes.” Camila angled her head, her gaze lifting to the ceiling as if in thought. “But we are too much alike.” She balled one hand in front of her, focusing back on the room again. “Not the fiery, passionate kind of arguing that results in hot sex. No, no. We fight like siblings. Especially when he tries to boss me around. Warns me not to do anything dangerous.” She freed her fist into an open palm. “Men.” She shrugged. “You know how they can be.”