My hand locks around his wrist and I decide that I’m prepared to stand my ground, prepared to drag him back to the van if I have to, when he sets his right hand down on mine.
“I love you, Leland. And I love you enough that when you tell me to trust you, I do. And even though I know every single day that a simple mistake could destroy our lives, I still put that trust in you.”
“I trust you too,” I say, not wanting him to think I don’t. “I just… can’t lose you.”
Jackson’s warm brown eyes hold mine. “You’re not alone anymore, so please stop fighting like you are.”
“I’m a better fighter alone. I don’t have to stress over the health of anyone else. I can just?—”
“Put your life at more risk without someone to watch your back?”
I shake my head, wanting to tell him that I’m not, but honestly… I know he’s right. I know going out alone is riskier, but I’m willing to do it to keep the man I love safe.
He lifts his arm that I’m still holding on to and gives the back of my hand a soft kiss. “Let’s go.”
I allow him to pull me after him. Cassel, still in my ear, directs us to the window to move in through.
As we walk, I try to explain the current issue to Jackson. “There are two men still in the building. One is Teo and the other is a third party… a man who knows who I am. He’s the one who killed everyone in the building. He… he told me he did all of this… for me.”
Jackson’s head snaps back to look at me. “Excuse me, what?”
“Just… don’t trust either of them.”
“I only trust you.”
“Definitely not Tavish.”
“Definitely not Tavish,” he concurs.
“Take a left here,” Cassel says in my ear. “Also, listening in on your heartfelt nonsense was kind of icky.”
“Right?” I ask.
“You’re not supposed to agree,” he teases. “Wait, stop. Turn there. Left. Go back a door. There.”
“It’s locked. Jackson, watch my back and I’ll see if I can pick it.”
“Got it,” he says as I pull my lockpick set out. It takes a bit, but I finally get it unlocked and push the door open, revealing Cam sitting on the floor. His eyes get impossibly wide when he sees that it’s us.
“Please, help me, please,” he begs, rushing forward.
“It’s okay. Come on,” Jackson says as he pulls him in close. The second we step into the hallway, I hear someone coming and shove them back, but when the person moves around the corner, I realize that it’s Sophia.
“Move,” I order.
“But Cam?—”
“Jackson has him,” I say as Jackson pulls Cam out. Sophia runs to him, throwing her arms around him and clutching him tightly.
“Oh fuck. Oh fuck,” she whispers. “I promised never to draw you into this again, and yet here we are.”
I’m sure he doesn’t remember the first time he was drawn into this as an innocent child, but he’s definitely not going to forget this time.
“Keep moving,” I say, but we make it out without running into anyone else. When we reach the van, the others are already inside waiting for us. Jackson rushes to the driver’s seat, and as I’m sliding the side door closed, I can see something at the estate. It’s too far from here to make out details, so I lift the rifle I’d taken from the man and peer through the scope, where I seethe man in black drag a body out from the building and toss it onto the ground.
When I follow the body down, I see that it’s Teo.
“Hey, Cassel.”
