"Do you normally make-out with the people you're hired to kill? It doesn't strike me as very professional."
"Put the gun down," Gabriel panted, not answering her.
"Why on earth would I do that?"
"Because you're not going to shoot me," Gabriel rep...
*The following chapter contains violence. Reader discretion is advised.*
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Each of the four days that had passed since they arrived at the beach house had been picturesque: tall, wispy beach grass swaying in the salty breeze; the gentle rhythmic crashing of waves on the shore; the defined line on the horizon where ocean met sky. It was the perfect environment for reflection and relaxation.
Unfortunately, the tension inside the house was inescapable, as everyone anxiously awaited a breakthrough with Huxley's files. The bags under Rin and Levi's eyes were evidence of what everyone in the group already knew - they were giving it everything they had, working as many hours as they could each day until they collapsed. All the rest of the group could do was wait.
Rin and Levi weren't in the worst shape though. Luis was still experiencing nausea and vomiting from the chemo. But Carter was struggling the most. They had no way of getting him his medication, which meant he was going through withdrawal. He was barely eating even though he was weak, barely sleeping even though he was exhausted, and regularly having crying spells and panic attacks.
Carmen had taken Carter under her wing, singing Spanish lullabies to him to get him to sleep, making his favorite foods to get him to eat, and soothing him when he cried. But Levi was still the best by far at helping Carter with his panic attacks. Whenever they happened, Levi would drop everything he was doing to go to Carter, holding him and speaking to him quietly until he fell asleep. Then Levi would go straight back to work as if nothing had happened.
Seeing Levi comfort Carter impressed Gabriel, but it also made him more concerned about Ash. Carter was clearly in a tremendous amount of pain, but at least he had been working through it. Ash had buried everything so deep that Gabriel was worried about how much damage she had already done to herself. He wished he could do something besides staring out at the waves worrying about her.
"Mijo, tienes que dejar de lamentarte (You have to stop moping)," his mama said as she walked past Gabriel, who was perched in his usual spot next to the window. "We will find her. Positive thinking. Why don't you go see if anyone wants coffee or tea?"
Gabriel got up immediately, grateful for something to do. He stopped by Rin's room first, which was where she and Levi had been working. When he entered, only Rin was present, her body slumped over the keyboard as she typed frantically.
"Do you want coffee?" Gabriel asked.
"Can I have it intravenously?" she muttered without looking up.
"I'm going to take that as a yes. Where is Levi?"
"He went for a walk. Helps him wake up when he's getting sleepy."
"You might want to consider doing that too," Gabriel suggested.
"I'll take five when he gets back," she answered dismissively.
Gabriel nodded, then left Rin's room to go into the room he was sharing with Kyle. Gabriel still found Kyle annoying - he had so many positive qualities Gabriel didn't and was arguably a much better choice for Ash than him - but his kindness and sincerity made him practically impossible to dislike.
