"Sawyer, wait!"
He didn't wait. Sawyer kept on going until he reached the barn. He quickly ushered Stefan inside then searched the stalls until he spotted Stefan's horse. He grabbed the saddle hanging over the half wall and slung it onto the back of the horse.
"What are you doing?" Stefan asked.
"I'm getting you out of here."
"I'm not leaving."
"Stefan—"
"Where in the hell have you been?"
"Stefan, we don't have time for this, Get on the damn horse." When he went to reach for Stefan to put him on the horse, Stefan took a step back.
"I told you, I'm not going anywhere."
"God!" Sawyer clenched his hands. "I forgot how damn infuriating you can be at times."
And now was really not the time.
He waved his hand toward the fight still going on outside. "It's World War Three out there right now, Stef. Do you honestly want to be out in that?"
Stefan took another step back. "I don't have a choice."
Sawyer's heart skipped a beat, and not in a good way. "Stefan."
"This is what we do, Sawyer. You know that." Stefan took another step back.
"Wait." Sawyer held out his hand to keep Stefan where he was. "Fuck!"
Stefan stared intently.
Sawyer reached up to make sure his mask and hood were still in place. "Okay, if I go out there and end this, will you promise to stay here, out of sight?"
"I'll make a compromise with you. If you promise to stick around afterward so we can talk, I'll go up on the roof of the building across the way. I can use my sniper rifle from there."
"Done," Sawyer answered instantly, although he had no intention of sticking around. It didn't sit well with him to lie to Stefan, but he couldn't stay. He couldn't stand to see the disgust he knew would be on Stefan's face if the man ever learned what had been done to him.
"Let me see your face." Stefan stepped closer. "I want to see your—"
Sawyer held his breath when Stefan frowned. His gaze was intent as it roamed over Sawyer's chest. "Did you get bigger?"
"I probably put on a few pounds." And grew a few inches taller.
Stefan sucked in a shaky breath. "You look good."
Sawyer knew Stefan wouldn't be saying that if he knew what he really looked like under his disguise. He pulled the saddle of the horse and set it back on the half wall then turned toward the door. "Come on, we need to get you to that roof."
"Did you miss me at all?" Stefan's words were whispered with such pain that he couldn't help but look back at the guy.
"Yeah, Stef, I missed you." Each day had felt as if he had a hole in his heart.
"Sawyer."
Sawyer continued out the door despite the frustration he could hear in Stefan's voice. He couldn't face the questions in Stefan's eyes right now. His heart was already broken just knowing they could never be together. He didn't need it to shatter. He kind of needed it to keep beating. It was one of the things the mechs had left alone.
"Would you stop walking away from me?" Stefan was right on his heels. "I want to know where you've been."
