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“I grabbed the phone, sat on the stairs, and waited for Winnie. I went to the place in my mind where I escaped when they did the things they did to me. My darkness.”

“Where is it now?”

I startle at the new voice, muscles going tight and Teague grunts as I burrow deeper into his safety. Caught between hiding and worry at hurting Teague even more, I still, whispering I’m sorry, I’m sorry over and over and over again.

“Fucking hell, Eddie. You couldn’t announce yourself?”

“Christophe knew I was here.”

“He’s not the one with traumatic anxiety, asshole.”

“Is that what you think? God, I’ve even got you fooled.” Christophe winks at me, a small smile tipping his lips, and dips his chin. “Eddie is our legal counsel. Client privilege is in effect so you’re safe here,” he promises.

“When Winn called the police, I left. I went to the woods, popped the SIM card from the phone and threw that into the woods.”

“And the SIM card?” the lawyer asks.

“I hid it.”

“Out there? In this weather?” He scowls and curls his lips. “It’s most likely corrupted as fuck. Useless after being exposed to dirt and the cold and rain.”

“It… I bagged it.”

“What?”

I lift my head, sitting straight and feeling brave surrounded by Teague, and stare over his shoulder at the man sitting in the same chair Winnie had occupied just the day before.

“I lived in a house where drugs were sold and consumed at a stupid volume. Small bags were literally everywhere. The card is dry.”

Eddie stares back at me, brows high, eyes wide, chin tucked. Maybe I should be offended that he’s surprised at my forethought, at my resourcefulness, but, God, I just don’t have it in me. I still have bigger things to worry about.

“Good girl,” Teague murmurs, drawing my focus back to him. His eyes are pinched, his face pale. “And where did you stash it, hummingbird?”

And just like that, the last of my secrets comes tumbling out. “In our journal. In the tree.”

Chapter 23

Treasures

TEAGUE

Her strength.

The quiet strength Truie possesses astounds me.

I’m not surprised at the steps she took to snag and safeguard information that she thought—knew—was bigger than her. And not really bothered that she didn’t spill, give it all up to me as soon as she started feeling safe with me.

No, the thing that kicks my ass is that it was here all along. First, in my pocket when I found her. I kept it safe when Hibou looked her over and tucked it back in her hand when I dropped her at Winnie’s front door. I don’t know why I did that; it wasn’t like I thought for an instant that it was hers, but she’d held it so tightly in her hand, and I couldn’t fathom taking one more thing from her after all she’d been through.

And then, it was literally a stone’s throw away. Just outside, not fifty yards from where we’re sitting right fucking now.

Christophe and Eddie rise and wordlessly leave the room, going out to find the tree, no doubt.

“I am so fucking proud of you, hummingbird.” I lift her chin so I can see her eyes. This whole thing has been a lot. “You’re stronger than anyone I know. So fucking proud of you.”

I search her eyes and swipe at the trail of tears on her cheek with the back of my fingers what little peeks out from the black cast immobilizing my wrist. I press my mouth to hers and sweep my tongue along the seam of her lips.

When Desmond was beating the shit out of me, I had a moment where I thought I’d never get to do this again. Never taste her. Never feel her sweet body pressed to mine.