Page 7 of Saving Wyatt

Look at Victor Lombardi. Dare's boyfriend had killed him to protect Dare, and no one knew he was gone. My team and I were very good at what we did. We didn't leave loose threads. We didn’t leave evidence. If we wanted to get rid of someone, there was never a trace leading back to us. This was clearly Salieri trying to shake the ground from beneath us, but I couldn’t tell anyone that. And I wasn't going to let that man get to me. I wasn't going to allow him to throw me off my game.

"Of course." Dakota rushed to get up and walked to the door while his dad was less quick to see me out.

"You know the drill, Goodman. Don't try to run."

I sighed and shook my head. I didn’t know why my friend wouldn’t believe me. He was being a professional, I guess, but did he have to talk to me like a common criminal?

Maybe he thought I’d done this. I should’ve been mad at him for not cutting the bad fruit from the tree sooner, for not knowing what was happening right under his nose, but I guess that wouldn’t help my case much.

I let Camille out first, and I followed behind her until we came up to a row of unoccupied chairs and she slammed her briefcase down.

"What the fuck, Wyatt? I told you not to say anything, and you practically admitted you would’ve killed the son of a bitch, only better."

I shrugged. "It's not a secret I was a Navy SEAL, Camille. I've done worse things."

Camille frowned and searched around us before she pouted. "Yes, but that's different. It's an assumption. Top secret stuff. This... You're a civilian now. You can't say shit like that. Especially not to the police."

I put my hands up and apologized when I caught a familiar figure entering the station.

"Warren?" I asked.

He rushed to me and stopped short of giving me a hug, choosing instead to grab my shoulder and shake me gently. "Are you okay? I just found out. I came as soon as I could."

"I'm okay," I said, and Camille huffed.

"Yeah. Only 'cause you have me here. You would have gotten yourself life in prison if there was no one to stop you in there," she said.

Warren turned to her, and I didn't miss the glint in his eyes as he scanned her top to bottom appreciatively. By the time she realized he was checking her out, he'd already composed himself.

"Hi," he said. "I don't believe we've met."

They shook hands, and Camille went off on my inability to shut up, making Warren laugh.

I groaned but took it. There was nothing else I could do in this situation. Especially with my brother flirting instead of showing his concern for me.

I couldn't blame him. I'd probably flirt too if Camille was my type. Though she was a bit too young and a bit too woman for me. I hated how easy it was for my brother to exist in this world. How easy it was for most people, and yet I was scared of my own shadow. So scared, in fact, I'd lost the One. The One who had loved me and cherished me for a decade.

Gosh, I'm pathetic.

It was probably for the best anyway. Dare dumping me. He deserved better than a guy who always looked behind his back even in the privacy of his own home in case anyone found out he was queer.

I'd spent so long being angry at him, but how could I blame him for not wanting to be a secret? No one should be a secret. And no one should put their dreams and goals on hold for someone like me.

"Do you need a ride? We can drop you off somewhere if you need," Warren asked.

Camille put her hands up. "I drove here. I'm okay," she said, and it was then Warren turned back to me.

"Can you go or are you waiting for something?"

I looked behind me, at Hank staring at me, and huffed. "We can go. It's okay," I said and took the lead walking outside.

The sun had risen while I'd been interrogated, and the sudden light and winter breeze took me by surprise.

I walked toward my brother's car in a straight line, but suddenly it wasn't so straight anymore and everything went blurry. My stomach growled.

I felt uneasy and unsteady, and just as I was about to collapse on the ground, I felt a strong pair of arms catch me and embrace me.

"Whoa there. Wyatt! Are you okay?" Warren asked, and I turned in the direction of his voice.