A couple of the suits paled.
Then I stepped out and let the door close behind me.
The hallway outside was empty, quiet, humming softly with power.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could fill my lungs all the way.
I took out the sat phone.
Typed a message.
Leaving D.C. tomorrow.
Coming home.
—H
A few seconds later, the reply buzzed back.
Then I’ll be waiting.
—J
Warmth cracked through my chest like sunlight breaking through clouds.
Yeah.
I was going home.
40
Julia
Three days.
That’s how long it had been since the tarmac.
Since Hawk’s hands had slid out of mine.
Since the transport had carried him away into another world.
Three days of waking up and checking my phone.
Three days of pacing my house like a ghost.
Three days of pretending to be fine at work while my thoughts kept drifting toward D.C.
The message he sent the night before kept replaying in my head.
Leaving D.C. tomorrow.
Coming home.
Every time I read it, my chest tightened in a mixture of relief and fear.
What if something changed overnight?
What if Command pulled him back in?
