Page 85 of Lethal Weakness

Well, when he puts it that way.

“Momma bird is wounded. Making our ascent now,” he speaks out loud again, and I finally see him pressing his ear.

“Who are you talking to?” I ask, gasping in pain when I try to rise to my uninjured leg.

He glances at me and his lips part, but he shuts them again like even he doesn’t know how to answer that.

“Tell them that if I don’t make it, Avery’s grandparents can’t have her. They have to get her to my parents in New York,” I beg, dragging my aching body up the trunk of the tree.

“I’m getting you back to your girl, Linden.”

“Jack, please,” I demand, gripping his shirt. “You don’t know what I saw tonight. I need to know Avery will be safe no matter what!”

His jaw locks, and he nods, but just before he presses his ear, he hesitates. “Just so we’re clear, this is pointless because I’m not letting a God damn thing happen to you,” he grits out, holding my gaze.

His dark, serious eyes don’t even blink as he finally presses on the radio in his ear. “Real and fake passports for baby bird and momma bird are in my safe with their personal files. Right next to the account information for their trusts. My plan of action for their well-being is notarized and in my personel file with my Will. If I don’t make it out of this, make sure both birds fly free and clear.” He says to whoever, watching me closely as I absorb his words. “The Scotts don’t come near them. Copy?”

Fake documents?

Baby bird? Momma bird?

Plan of action? Trusts?

He didn’t say if we don’t make it out, just if he doesn’t.

“Who are you?”

“I’m no one,” he says. “Not anymore.”

Chapter Thirty

O’Connor

Iwatch her face go from bleak to stone. She might have been blissfully unaware when I was hiding the truth from her, but now I’m being completely honest, and she is suffering because of it.

From here on out, that’s all I’ll ever be, even if the truth hurts. I can’t lie to her anymore.

“If my calculations are correct, there is at least one more wave of guards that they keep on duty that might be arriving as backup. So, we need to get to the top of this pasture, and we need to move fast.”

“Fast?” She squeaks.

“You have to trust me,” I beg, holding my hand out to her. She stares at it with trepidation, and I know asking for trust is a long shot at this point.

“Get me back to Avery.” Her delicate hand lands in mine, and I squeeze it before looping her arm over my shoulders.

“Up.” I take most of her body weight, leaving her to balance on one foot.

“I can’t do this, Jack,” she gasps, squeezing her eyes shut in pain.

“You can’t do it alone, but I’ve got you,” I assure her, tucking her snugly against my side. I start to move when I feel her attention on the side of my face, and when I look at her, we’re nearly nose-to-nose.

Her eyes are glossy with tears, and so much hurt. Fear. “You promise?”

“I promise, baby,” I whisper insistently, desperate for her trust. “I’ve got you.”

Her eyes squeeze shut, but she nods.

“I’m going to move fast; keep your foot elevated if you can.” My arm brackets around her waist, lifting her easily enough to ruck to the next tree, maintaining some cover.