Bastien turns to Leah where she’s hovering by the door. “Get Nash ready to leave. I haven’t seen any signs of anyone heading this way, but we can’t take any risks.”
Leah nods and darts into the room. I inhale sharply as she throws her arms around me.
“This isnotyour fault,” she whispers, and my tears start to fall again.
This is absolutely, one hundred per cent my fault. I should have told them, and I didn’t.
Max grabs my hand, and I jump.
“Leah’s right,” he says, squeezing. “This isn’t your fault, sweetheart.”
Bastien nods, his fingers hovering over the location of the tracker as he hesitates. I look down and back into his face, grim determination filling me.
“Cut it out.”
All three of them turn toward me. Max starts shaking his head.
I swallow. “It’s not far from the surface. Cut it out now. It’s quicker than waiting to do whatever you need to do. I’ll be fine.”
Behind me, Luc swears. “We’re not doing that to you.”
I turn around and hold his gaze, determination stiffening my spine. “This isn’t your choice. Your family is at risk because of me. We need to act fast. So cut it out now.”
I direct my last words to Max, and he starts protesting again.
“Max.” My voice is flat. “You know this is nothing compared to what they did.” Bastien flinches next to me. “I promise that I don’t care about a little pain. So stop wasting time andcut it out!”
I’m breathing hard, ready to grab the damn scalpel myself if he doesn’t move. Max’s eyes move to Luc’s behind me before he nods.
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
Max leaves to get what he needs as Luc squeezes my arm gently. “I’ll need to hold you.”
“I don’t need a hug,” I snap back at him. “I just need this damn thing out of me.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “To stop you from moving.”
His lips twitch in a smirk, and I kind of want to hit him, even as embarrassment turns me scarlet from my head to my toes.
“Right.” I clear my throat. “Of course.”
Gingerly, I settle myself back against him. His arms wrap around me, and my breathing comes a little faster. His breath heats my neck as he turns my head to the side. His palm feels warm against my face, but his grip is firm. Bastien takes a step back and Max returns with a medical bag. He digs through it to pull out a scalpel and a needle and thread.
“I’ll go as fast as I can,” Max says to me. His brown eyes bore into mine, distress darkening them. “Just so you know, I amnoton board with this plan.”
I smile, just a little. “I’m getting that loud and clear, Doc.”
He rolls his eyes at me and pulls a stool over, motioning to Bastien.
“When I cut, hold this over the wound. I’m going to move quickly so she loses as little blood as possible.”
Bastien nods as he glances at me. “Anyone tell you you’re too brave for your own good?” he asks wryly.
Lucien gently turns my head to the left, away from the tracker. “Can’t say they have,” I manage to croak out.
Luc’s other arm wraps across my arms, and his breath warms my ear. “You know, there’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity.”
My mouth drops open as he holds me still. “Are you seriously fucking with me when Max is about to carve me open with a scalpel?”
