Just as he was about to say something, his phone rang.
After glancing at the screen, Dave walked over to the side with his phone.
“Hello?”
“Dave, where are you guys?” Mike asked. “We've been waiting for you to come since an hour ago.”
Dave lowered his volume and replied, “Something happened. Give us a while. I'll inform you of the right details half an hour later.”
“What about the operation?”
“Don't do anything until we're there.”
“All right, I got it.”
Before Dave ended the call, he thought about something. “Right. How are things on Boss' side?”
“He's out.”
Dave's brows snapped together. He knew that more delay meant that they would let the golden opportunity slip them by, so after a while of hesitating, he uttered, “Try to drag this on a little longer. Also, pay attention to whether or not he's meeting someone. If he does, tell me right away.”
“Of course. I understand.”
“That's all,” Dave said and ended the call.
He did not outright mention Natasha's name, for Mike and the others knew who Natasha was. Once they saw her, they would realize who Dave was talking about. However, if Natasha did not end up meeting Boss, he would save them much trouble by not mentioning her name from the beginning.
With that settled, Dave turned to look at Spencer again.
At that moment, Spencer took out a black bag and opened it on the bed. Dave saw the thin needles kept inside and how Spencer hovered his hand over them all until he reached out to one of the needles. After taking that needle out, he inserted it into Kenneth's body.
Dave watched quietly at the side. Soon, Kenneth started reacting to the needle.
His fingers twitched. Then it was his eyes.
Dave scurried over, and just as he reached Kenneth, Kenneth opened his eyes.
“Kenneth,” Dave called out.
Kenneth frowned from the pain pounding in his head, and he narrowed his eyes when he saw Dave and Spencer. “Why are you both here?”
Spencer kept the needle and replied, “To rescue you.”
Kenneth did not dwell on Spencer's words. After giving him a once-over, Kenneth sat upright.
When Kenneth took in Dave's expression, a spark of realization flashed past his eyes. “What time is it now?”
Dave raised his arm to check the time. “Almost one.”
Kenneth's body visibly stiffened, and he widened his eyes at Dave. “One?”
Dave nodded in response.
Kenneth parted his lips, wanting to say something when he realized what was amiss. He scanned his surroundings and noticed that everything in the room was the same as before.
So that wasn't a dream. It was real. What happened between Natasha and me was real too.
Looking back at Spencer, he asked, “Where's Nat?”
Spencer turned to Dave at that, wondering if they should spill the beans to Kenneth.
Simultaneously, Kenneth cast his gaze at Dave.
With two pairs of eyes fixed on him, Dave took a deep breath and schooled his features into a somber look.
Kenneth knew him well, and he knew that something had to have transpired for Dave to bear a look like that on his face.
“What happened?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
The signals in his body and his memories before he fell asleep told him something had to have occurred.
Dave looked at Kenneth before lowering his gaze when he realized he could not voice those words out loud. He turned to Spencer and threw the hot potato at him. “You tell him about it.”
At that, Dave looked away.
Kenneth's eyes flicked toward Spencer, but this time, there was a look of impatience in them. “What happened to Nat? Did she get another episode?”
Right as Spencer was contemplating what words to use for his explanation, Thalia, who was outside the room, could not hold herself back anymore. She darted in and revealed, “She went out. She said she had something to do, and I said I'd accompany her for it, but she knocked me out.”
Kenneth's face contorted into a frown.
He knew well what Thalia's words meant.
In the next second, he raised his head to look at the two other men.
“When did this happen?” he asked.
“About... half an hour ago.”
Kenneth scrunched up his forehead in response and tightened his fists that were resting on his sides.
He needed not speculate much, for the answer was clear—he knew what Natasha had gone to do.
Her initiative and her passion for that day were a gesture of farewell to him.
Kenneth smacked his fist on the bed. He then rose to his feet and said, “Dave, I don't care how many people you need to mobilize, but you have to get her back. You have to.”
Thalia fearfully shut her eyes when Kenneth stood up, although Kenneth was still wearing a pair of pants.
He walked to the side to put on his clothes before heading outside.
Dave went after him as he said, “Nothing beats the simplest way no matter how many people we mobilize. I've already assigned the men to keep an eye on Boss' side. If she appears, we'll find out immediately, and we'll be able to bring her back. Mike and the rest know what she looks like. They won't let Boss take her away.”
Kenneth glanced at Dave.
Indeed, Dave's method was the simplest way. Kenneth himself was too caught up in the matter to keep a clear mind.
“All right, let's go.”
Dave gave him a bob of his head in response.
Back in the room, Spencer walked over to Thalia and said, “He's gone.”
It was then Thalia opened her eyes again and let out a relieved sigh when she saw that no one else was in the room anymore.
“What's wrong? Are you really feeling shy?”
“I'm not. I'm just being polite.”
Spencer curled his lips. “Go back to your room and get some rest first. We'll talk about this again when we're back.”
“Can't you take me along?” Thalia asked.
Spencer was quiet for a while. “We need someone to be at home. What if she's just out to settle some matters and will be back soon?”
“You know that's highly unlikely.”
“But we have the three kids at home, don't we? No matter how safe this place is, we still need someone to stay behind to protect them,” Spencer pointed out.
Thalia hung her head in disappointment. “All right. You're right. I can't just leave them alone here.”
“Be good, okay?”
His words took away the gloominess she felt.
When she raised her head again, her eyes were bright. “Okay, I'll be good. Stay safe, all right?”
Her response and her smile made Spencer feel the urge to flee.
Every time he noticed Thalia watching him, the guilt in his heart would grow exponentially, turning into a mountain that weighed down on his chest and stopped him from taking in another breath.
“Mm.”
Right before he was about to leave, Thalia suddenly leaned over to him and gave him a peck on the lips. “A lucky kiss for you.”
Her eyes were still twinkling as if stars were hiding in them.
Spencer said nothing to that. He only nodded and continued his way out.
Thalia took two steps forward and cried out to his retreating figure, “Remember to bring Natasha back!”
Spencer left without sparing her another glance, but Thalia knew he had heard her.
It was a good thing that things between Spencer and her had improved, but the very thought of Natasha made Thalia furrow her eyebrows.
Like the rest of them, Thalia could guess where Natasha had headed to. Natasha had gone to do what she wished to do earlier.
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