Chapter 7
"Zoey, honey wake up." Leo gently shook her shoulders. "Zoey, I need for you to wake-up."
Zoey stretched and turned over, gradually opening her eyes. "What is it, Uncle Leo?" It was then she caught sight of the armed agents behind him. Her eyes widened as her heart rate jumped.
"What's going on? Is it Mom and Dad? Has something happened to them?" She sat up, her body tensing as she sensed something was really wrong.
Leo spoke softly. He knew how this would affect the youngest daughter. "Zoey, listen to me. Please. As far as we know your mom and dad are okay."
"As far as we know? What are you talking about Uncle Leo?"
"Zoey, honey. There's been a problem and we need to leave the floor."
"No! I'm going to see Dad." She pushed herself off the bed but Leo quickly grabbed her shoulders and sat her back on the bed.
"You can't. Zoey, there's no easy way to tell you this. They're being held as hostages in their room by what appears to be Chechen rebels. The same people who bombed the embassy. And Ron wants both of us off the floor and in a secured location."
"NO! I'm not leaving them!" Tears began to fall down her face, making Leo's heart ache that much more.
Leo's shoulder sagged. "I know how you feel honey but we have to follow Ron's directions right now. He doesn't need any distractions while he deals with these people. Your parent's lives are at stake and Ron has to have his full attention devoted to them."
"Oh Uncle Leo, what if they…"
"Shhh. Nothing is going to happen to them. Ron will bring them back to you. To us." He pulled Zoey in a tight hug and then stood up. "Come on. Ron has a safe place for us to stay."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Not really, sweetheart. This is for the best. I'll be with you and no matter what happens I'll be here for you. Do you understand me?"
Nodding, Zoey stood up and hugged Leo one more time. "Come on. Ron will take good care of them." Her voice didn't exude the confidence she thought it did. Leo knew how she felt. His heart was aching as well.
As they reached the door and began to turn the opposite direction from the President's room, Zoey looked down the hall and noted the agents with machine guns and body armor gathered in the hallway outside her parents' door. 'Oh God,' she thought as she proceeded down the hall with Leo. 'Please God, let them be okay. Let them come back to us.'
As the elevator door closed, Zoey slumped into Leo's supporting arms, her tears turning into sobs of fear. The two armed agents in the elevator with them looked as if their heart was being torn out. They resolved to so anything they could to bring her parents back to her. And bring them back alive.