Spite.
That's accurate.
I look past him to where Colt is standing with CJ. Even from here, I can read the tension in Colt’s shoulders, the rigid set of his spine. He's being taken apart professionally, and there's nothing I can do about it.
He went rogue for me. Violated orders. Risked his career. Saved my life.
And now he's paying for it while I stand here getting my blood pressure taken like any of this matters.
"Ms. Brooks." A new voice. Female, professional, carrying a badge. "I'm Special Agent Holbrook, FBI. I need to ask you some questions."
The medic protests. "She needs medical treatment first?—"
"She needs to give her statement while the details are fresh." Agent Holbrook's expression is sympathetic but firm. "It won't take long."
I walk her through everything. The staged kidnapping. Tyler's debt. The trust fund. The warehouse. Colt’s extraction. The ranch house. The two assaults. Shooting Tyler.
She takes notes without judgment, asks clarifying questions, and records everything on a digital device that will probably end up in a federal databasesomewhere.
"And the Guardian operative—Frost—he acted alone throughout?" She's watching me carefully when she asks this.
"Yes."
"No authorization from Guardian HRS?"
"He was on leave. He overheard cartel members talking in a bar and followed them."
"That was fortunate."
"That was brave." I meet her eyes. "He saved my life when nobody else could have gotten there in time."
Something flickers in Agent Holbrook's expression. Understanding, maybe. "Your statement corroborates his version of events. That'll help."
"Will he lose his job?"
"That's not my jurisdiction. But off the record?" She leans in slightly. "Guardian HRS values results. Twelve dead cartel enforcers and a rescued hostage are good results, unauthorized or not."
It's not much reassurance, but it's something.
Agent Holbrook closes her tablet. "The witness protection coordinator will be here within the hour. I understand this is overwhelming, but the cartel's still active and they've already demonstrated they're willing to commit significant resources to recovering you."
"I'm not a product." The words come out harder than I intend. "I'm not inventory or an asset or something to be recovered. I'm a person."
"I know." Her voice softens. "And we're going to keep you safe. New identity, new location, full support until the threat is neutralized."
"How long?"
"Minimum two years. Possibly longer depending on cartel activity."
Two years?
Minimum?
Two years of being someone else. Somewhere else. No contact with anyone from before.
Including Colt?
"Your brother will face federal charges," Agent Holbrook continues. "Human trafficking, conspiracy, fraud. He's cooperating, which will help his sentencing, but he's looking at a minimum of fifteen years."
