My gaze ripped across the crowd to Darya. She smiled defiantly back. My hands curled into fists. I had no idea how she’d found out about it, but she’d clearly told the media about the kidnapping attempt.
The Venkatesans looked ready to rush in and rescue Veena, and Cooley took a step toward her, too, but hesitated. Being on camera was a bad idea in our line of work. I wanted to get Veena out of there myself, but someone beat us all to it.
Nate pushed through the group and put an arm around Veena’s shoulders. “That’s enough for now. VV’s had a big day, and she’s going to celebrate her win. Thanks for the support, everyone.”
Nate pulled Veena past the reporter, whose cameraman never took his lens off of her shocked face. I threw a hurried goodbye at Connor and rushed to Veena’s side, where her parents joined us.
Her father hugged her. “I’m sorry, sweetu. I don’t know how they found out.”
“It was bound to get out. I just wasn’t expecting questions about it right then.” Veena’s voice was calm, but her excited smile was long gone. “Thanks for the rescue, Nate.”
“Least I could do,” he said. “Enjoy a night off with your folks. You earned it.” He fist-bumped her and took off.
“Do you want to come back to our room and order in dinner?” her mom asked. “I brought treats, rava laddu I made for you at home.”
“Thanks so much, Mom, but I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll get some sleep. When do you leave tomorrow? Let’s have breakfast.”
Ms. Venkatesan looked disappointed but agreed.
Veena put her arms around her parents. “I love you guys. Thank you for being here. And for letting me stay.”
“We love you, too, anbe,” her father said. “We are so proud of you.”
I hung back until Veena broke their embrace.
“Ready, Nic?” Tears shone in her eyes.
We trudged toward the hotel with Cooley and a few guys from his team following at a distance.
“You did great,” I said.
“Thanks. I was feeling pretty good about it.” She glanced at me. “But now, when the media talks about me, instead of an Olympic champ, I’ll be an Olympic-sized victim.”
I wished I could say it wasn’t true, but she was probably right. A story this big wasn’t going to die quickly, if ever.
Bart drove us back to VMA the next afternoon, while Cooley and his team followed close behind in their van. Kovitch was already in Vail, catching some sleep before the night shift.
Veena hadn’t slept well. She tossed and turned all night from what I could tell. She seemed happier after breakfast with her parents, during which I sat at a nearby table to give them privacy, but now she stared moodily out of the car window at the mountains, chin in hand. She wasn’t even listening to music.
I texted Mom to tell her I missed her. After seeing Veena with her parents, I felt guilty for not calling more often. She didn’t respond, but she was at work.
Connor texted while I had my phone out. Lesson later? Or dinner?
Dinner? The possibilities were delicious.
I didn’t know what to make of the sweet and sexy ski patroller. I was equal parts suspicious of him and attracted to him. He seemed like a good guy, and someone I wanted to get to know better. But even if he turned out to be my soulmate, we were all leaving for the Olympics in two weeks, and after that, this job would be over. What was the point of letting myself feel anything for him?
Veena was another story. She was a client; I hadn’t expected to feel anything about her other than a sense of obligation. But she’d become like a younger sister. Despite our professional relationship, she had my back as much as I had hers. I wasn’t so sure about Connor. Something was off about him. Like I knew in my gut that something was off with Darya.
I’d told myself to be cautious with Connor a half-dozen times—but I didn’t seem to be listening. Every time I saw him, I couldn’t wait for the next. Even now, my thumbs were ready to answer yes.
Veena glanced at his text and nudged me, her eyebrows dancing. She pulled out her phone and texted furiously. A minute later, I got her text.
Will you hook up with him?
Grateful she didn’t say anything in front of Bart, I texted back quickly.
No. None of your business.
She pouted, and I could tell I’d hear about it later. I shoved my phone back in my pocket, cutting off any more questions.
Bart pulled off the interstate and followed the narrow, winding streets to VMA. The mountain looked busier than usual for a weekday. I’d heard that fresh powder brought on bouts of calling in sick at work around the Denver area.
We turned into the school, and Veena cursed vegetables. I followed her gaze to a TV truck parked out front.
“I’ll take you around to the back entrance,” Bart said. He used the car’s voice command system to text Cooley where to meet us. Then he caught my eye in the rearview mirror. “The chief wants to see you later.”
So much for dinner with Connor.
With a small storm cloud gathering over her head, Veena grabbed her backpack and shoved her water bottle into the mesh side pocket. I hustled her inside. Cooley and two others from his team stayed close. Once I checked out her room, Veena disappeared into the bathroom. She didn’t come out for fifteen minutes, and when she did, her eyes were red-rimmed.
The camera crew left when Muth asked them to, but at dinner I heard TV crew and threats whispered from student to student, their eyes on Veena. They stared at me, too, and I got the sense that, if they’d ever believed it to begin with, they’d put two and two together that I wasn’t some rich kid there to learn to ski.
“Screw ’em,” Ali said at dinner while munching on
