Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
WYATT
I step into the motel room and the sight of her hits me like a bullet to the chest. Junie sits on the edge of the bed, hands tied in front of her, eyes red from crying.
She looks small and broken under the cheap fluorescent light.
Two federal agents guard over her like she might possibly outrun them.
My blood boils at the sight of them. “Untie her.”
The two men look at Agent Michaels for permission, and I feel my anger thicken. “I said fucking untie her.”
Agent Michaels nods to the two men, and the men rush to untie Junie’s wrists. She rubs them as soon as she’s free. Yet she doesn’t move.
My heart hurts for her. It hurts so bad I can barely breathe.
She’s scared. She’s exhausted. She’s trying so hard to be strong even while she’s falling apart.
I want to pull her into my arms and tell her it’s over.
I want to carry her out of this place and never let her go again.
But she sold me out. She gave my name to these people.
She handed me over to the men who wanted me.
I can’t forget that. I understand why she did it.
I understand the fear that drove her. I understand she was trying to save her brother.
But the betrayal still cuts deep. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to trust her again.
Not the way I did before. Not completely. But I need to hear her story.
I made a deal with Agent Michaels from the FBI before we left Haven 7.
The FBI has been looking for me for years.
They need my help. I’m the only hacker who has ever been of any use to them.
They have tried to recruit me before, but I always stayed in the shadows.
This time they came to me with an offer I couldn’t refuse.
They’re willing to give me anything. Protection.
Resources. A clean slate. All I asked for in return was for them to release Caleb and Junie Bellis into the care and protection of Haven 7.
No questions. No extradition. No interference.
They agreed. The deal’s done. Now I just have to get her out of here.
Agent Michaels pushes a few buttons on his phone. Then he looks at me. “Caleb will be delivered to Haven 7 within the hour.”
I glance at Junie and more tears stream down her face.
“What is going on?” she asks slowly.
I don’t answer her. Her eyes bore into mine.
They’re full of pain and regret and something that looks a lot like love.
It breaks me a little more. I step forward, ignoring everyone else completely.
She stands up slowly, limping toward me.
I catch her before she can fall. I pull her into my arms and hold her tight, lifting her off the ground.
She buries her face in my neck and sobs.
I press my face into her hair, breathing her in.
She smells like fear and tears and the faint trace of the shampoo from my shower.
“You’re safe,” I whisper. “It’s over. I’ve got you.”
She clings to me, crying harder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to leave. I had to. For my brother. Can you ever forgive me?”
I hold her tighter, not answering her yet.
I nod at Agent Michaels and carry Junie out of the motel and into the truck. The drive back up the mountain is quiet. She stays in my arms the whole way, head on my shoulder. When we reach the cabin, I carry her inside and lock the door behind us.
She’s home.
She’s safe.
She’s mine.
But I’m not sure I can trust her the way I did before.
The betrayal still sits there, sharp and heavy.
I understand why she did it. I understand the love she has for her brother.
I understand the fear that drove her. But it still hurts.
It still makes me wonder if she’d ever do it again.
If the next time something bad happens, she’ll choose someone else over me.
I set her down gently on the bed and kneel in front of her. I check her over for any new injuries. She’s okay. Shaken, but okay. I clean the tears from her face with my thumb. She looks at me with those big brown eyes, full of love and guilt and hope.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers again. “I never wanted to hurt you. I was so scared for Caleb. I didn’t know what else to do. I should have come to you. I know you can never trust me again… and, uh… I don’t blame you.” More tears. “I owe you everything, and I don’t deserve it.”
I nod. I don’t know what to say. The words feel stuck in my throat. I love her. I love her so much it hurts.
I pull her into my arms again and hold her close. She clings to me like I’m the only thing keeping her together. I stroke her back and kiss her hair. I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know if I can trust her completely again. But I know one thing for certain.
I will protect her. I will keep her safe. I will fight for her. Even if I’m not sure I can love her the way I did before.