Owen looks shell-shocked but squeaks out, “See what?”
I pull back and straighten my spine. “Do you have any idea how much the people in your life care about you? About your mission? About what you’re doing for this fucked up world we live in? For fucks’ sake, even Noell is helping, and shehatesme. But shelovesyou! You are an idiot, do you know that?”
Owen appears stunned into silence.
“You seem all self-sacrificing, thinking that you aren’t leaving anyone behind by ending up here. That everyone will be better off without you. But you’re wrong!”
I start pacing back and forth across the floor, my heels clicking frantically.
“You are fucking loved, and somehow you have no clue.” I shake my head, the anger still red-hot in my veins. “We’re all risking something for someone. Isn’t that what love is? Putting your heart on the line for someone? And all these people are risking a hell of a lot for you. So you better give me everything you know, or else I’ll be back here, and this time I’ll be behind bars right with you, and I will give you hell for the rest of your days!”
I stop my pacing and glare at him. Owen’s eyes widen, and his mouth opens and shuts.
We hold each other's gaze for a few moments until the door behind Owen opens, and the guard comes traipsing in.
“Times up,” he says, grabbing Owen’s arm and pulling him to stand.
He’s ushered to the door. Tears fill my eyes again, knowing that this may be the last time I ever see him, and I’m too much of a coward to say what I really want to.
Owen stops right before the door, and the guard lets him. He turns, tears clouding his own eyes. “Check the folder, Nova. And for what it’s worth, I may hate you for what you’ve done, but I don’t think I’ll ever stop lovingyou.”
With that, the door slams behind him. I’m left with nothing but utter silence and a heart that hurts in ways I never knew it could.
“I love you, too,” I whisper into the quiet, but it doesn’t answer me back.
Chapter 31
There’s a frenzy of people at my apartment when I return. Ella and Eagan are parked at the island counter, heads smashed together as they search through files on Eagan’s computer. Parker and Noell sit on the couch, rifling through papers that are spread haphazardly all over the coffee table.
I almost stumble when I see Evan and Jax rushing around the kitchen, chatting and cooking for everyone, along with generously filling wine glasses. Even they had come to help me?
Jax notices me first and gently places a plate of appetizers on the counter before approaching me carefully. Everyone else stops what they’re doing and watches us.
“I take it everyone knows where I was?” I ask, though I know the answer.
They all nod as Jax stops in front of me, placing a hand on each of my shoulders. His eyes pinch together.
“I won’t ask if you’re ok. I know you’re not,” he says.
I suck in a shaky breath and let my forehead fall to his chest. He pulls me into a hug.
“How much do you know?” I ask into the softness of his tight T-shirt.
“We told them everything,” Ella says, coming over to stand next to us. “They showed up and saw us all here and wouldn’t stop asking questions. They worked most of it out on their own anyway.”
“Are you mad?” Jax asks softly, pushing me away so he can look at me.
I shake my head. “I’m relieved, actually.”
Jax gives me a cautious smile. “We’ve got you, Barbie.”
I roll my eyes at the nickname, but my heart swells. If anyone can help Owen, it’s these people. Those I trust with my life. The thought of Declan not being here, though, has my mouth pulling down into a frown.
Jax grabs my chin and pulls my attention back to him. Worry lines form around his beautiful eyes.
I step back and wave my hand at him. “I’ll be fine.”
God, how I wish that were true, but mercifully, Jax lets it drop.
