Page 122 of What Remains

“And if she does?”

I inhale and hold that breath captive for a few seconds before letting it and the truth go. “Without a doubt, yes, you can.”

His jaw tightens, and the word, “Good,” cuts free from his barely parted lips.

I stagger back, because what the hell just happened? Did he just give us his nod of approval?

The weight of a thousand tomorrows is lifted from my shoulders. But I can feel the heavy hand of something new about to come my way.

“Now that I know how you feel about her . . . I need you to do something for me.”

And there it is.

“She won’t listen to me.” He quietly stares at me. “But I’m praying she’ll listen to you.” He wraps a hand over my shoulder and leans in. “And for what it’s worth, I’m fairly certain my daughter’s already entrusted you with her heart, whether she realizes it or not.”

As soon as Mya leaves, I shut the door. My forehead greets the wood, and I rest my palms on the door as I work to dial down my pulse.

I’m not ready to face Gwen yet. I’m too shook up after Wyatt filled me in on her backup plan to plead guilty and fake her death.

She doesn’t say anything. Neither do I. We just quietly exist in the same space as a storm of uncertainty gathers around us.

I’m not sure how long we stay like this, but she makes the first move. She places her hands above the waistband of my sweats at my sides.

I close my eyes. Long enough to remember why I’m here, not long enough to stop myself from wanting to forget.

“Am I hurting your back in this position?”

“No, just my heart.” It’s breaking into a million pieces at the idea of her willingness to sacrifice herself to save the teams. Even if it’s a temporary resolution, I refuse to let her plead guilty to a crime she didn’t commit. For the world to blame and hate her for a day, let alone a minute.

When she starts to pull away, I push off the door and go for her hands, tugging them back in place and keeping her flush against me.

“I won’t let you do this.” My voice shakes. “None of us will.”

“It’s just a backup plan, and only if absolutely necessary. But come on, if you were in my position, you wouldn’t do the same?”

I swallow. “Of course I would. I’m allowed to burn down my world to protect you, not the other way around.”

“Hypocrite,” she whispers.

I let go of her so I can turn around. “You’ll have to get through me, then your father, and the rest of this entire floor after that if you think you’re going to plead guilty.”

My arms tense up as my fingers itch to reach for her, but if I do, she might win me over. Make me forget the mission her father tasked me with.

“I’m not trying to upset you or my dad. This is about putting the greater good and our team above myself.”

“Sorry, there’s no version of this story that ends with you being the sacrifice.”

“This is real life, not a story.”

“Good,” I grunt. “Glad you see that, which means”—I dip my head to meet her eyes—“the good guys don’t always win, the hostage sometimes dies before we can save them, and the girl doesn’t always end up with the guy at the end.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Then don’t offer up absurd backup plans that involve you ruining your life in any way, shape, or form. I don’t even want to hear you say you’re willing to break a fingernail for us.” Her breath stutters, and I can’t be an asshole this long to her. Don’t have it in me. I reach out and cup her cheek to soften the blow as much as possible. “Do you understand me?”

She remains quiet, defiance shimmering in her eyes. “Not yet.” She lifts her chin, and I slip my hand from her cheek into her hair. “Looks like you’re going to have to do a better job at making me.” Her voice is silk. A dare wrapped in heat.

I lean in, close enough to feel her breath against my mouth, forcing myself to exhale slowly through my nose, like control is something I can still choose.