Chapter 27
Summer
School the next day is ominous. I get some studying done, but my focus is elsewhere.
Gabby sticks close to us between classes, and I’m jumpy as hell.
Seb, always a bright light, looks like his usual self, but I know him well enough to see the stress around his eyes and stiff posture.
Alex, Bay, and E are also quiet. Holly and Jaxon are watching us quizzically but seem to read the room and not ask questions. It’s an endless day.
We head to my house again after school with Ceres accompanying us so Troy can update us on the FBI. They're discussing witness protection, and it seems likely, but it hasn’t been approved yet.
After dinner, everyone heads home, Alex and E following Bay to his house since he’s alone in his vehicle. Troy tells those of us who are going into WITSEC to pack what we want to take with us, but no personal items will be allowed.
I really want to talk to Sarah about all this, but it may not be safe to do so. Going into my room, I grab a suitcase from the closet and start putting clothes inside. It doesn’t seem real. The labyrinthine of this situation is hard. I plop onto the floor as tears quietly fall.
Zander finds me on the floor surrounded by clothes and quickly joins me. “Darling, this will work out. I truly believe that. Your safety is the most important thing in the world to me.”
Sniffing and wiping my tears away, I take a deep breath. “I know, and I understand why we’re doing this. It’s just not fair. What am I going to do without you, Sarah, Sue, and Jake? And then there are the guys not coming. I feel like a sinking ship without a lifeboat.”
“I don’t want to be separated from you either, having just found you, but you will come back when this is over, and I’ll be here waiting.”
“Do you know anyone who has ever done this?”
“Not personally, no, but Troy does. He helped get a few people into WITSEC for Eddie shortly after we retired from the Army.”
“This is crazy. What do I bring?”
“Clothes, shoes, toiletries. Nothing that can connect you with here or Virginia. Unfortunately, Jake’s hoodie and all your pictures will have to stay. I will take good care of everything for you.”
“Okay,” I nod. Zander helps me fold and pack up what I can take before leaving to make ice cream sundaes.
You can do this, Summer, I keep repeating to myself.
This situation isn’t as bad as the accident, and it’s temporary.
This is just another move. A move with people who are important to me.
Having a few of my newfound family with me is better than starting over alone. Focus on the positive.
Seb calls as I’m finishing up. “Sunshine, I feel like I’m in the twilight zone. Are you packed?”
“Yeah, just finished. What did you pack?”
“Clothes mostly. Troy went through my stuff and pulled out my basketball hoodie and a few pics I had hidden. This sucks.”
“You don’t have to come, Hurry. This is an enormous deal.”
“I’m coming, Sunshine. You guys aren’t going anywhere without me. Did you pack Jake’s cologne or any of your medicinal stuff?”
“No, I never thought of that. Do you think it would be okay to take that?”
“I don’t see why not. There’s nothing inherently personal about it.”
“That makes me feel a little better,” I reply as I get up to grab the cologne and a few dried herbs and creams to add to the suitcase.
“Gotta go, Sunshine. Troy is calling me. We’re having a movie night together. Call me later if you want.”
“Bye, Hurry.” Wheeling my suitcase out to the end of the bed, I grab my laptop and notes, wandering across the hall to Nick’s room.
He’s sitting on top of the bed with his laptop open on his lap.
I see his duffel bag lying beside him, mostly full and zipped up.
“You don’t want to go over to the condo tonight and spend time with Troy? ” I ask.
He shakes his head no, looking up at me. “Zander is making sundaes for us. Want to come out to the living room?”
Nick closes his laptop, sets it on the bed, and gets up, walking over to me.
He kisses my head, then pulls me out to the living room.
I squeeze his hand and let go before going into the kitchen to help Zander carry the sundaes.
“These look amazing,” I tell him. There are at least 3 scoops of ice cream in each bowl, with whipped cream and chocolate sauce covering them.
He even has small bowls of sprinkles, chocolate chips, and strawberries set out.
I grab the small bowls and spoons and set them on the coffee table before going back for the ice cream sundaes.
Zander also adds a tray of drinks and a tray of salty snacks, then we all settle on the couch.
I add chocolate chips to my sundae before snuggling into my corner seat, grabbing the throw to cover my lap. Zander sits beside me before turning on an action movie.
Once we finish our sundaes, he pulls me closer, putting his arm around my shoulders. I haven’t really snuggled with Zander before, but I understand the need to do so tonight.
We stay up fairly late in the living room while I try to study. After taking my pill and doing my nighttime routine in the bathroom, I get a hug from Zander before he retires to his room.
Knowing it will take a bit of time for the pill to kick in, I ask Nick to join me in my room until I fall asleep.
He settles on top of my bed and turns the tv on low while I get under the covers. “I’m scared, Nick,” I confess, snuggling into his side.
“I know. We’ll be okay,” he replies, putting his arm around me and pulling me even closer. “Sleep, Shortie.”
Nick
As I’m sitting in the guest bed talking online with Fawx, a message pops up.
No one should be able to enter our secure chat.
I ask if he sees the message too, and he does.
I let him trace it to its source before opening it.
After he's confirmed it’s from the hacker Patrick is using, I open it.
The first thing I see is a photo of Shortie.
There’s a man I don’t recognize in the background with a gun pointed at her.
Patrick: Nick, did you think I wouldn’t find out about witness protection? That won’t save you or the girl. Come home to me, and I’ll leave her alone. You and I have unfinished business.
Fuck. I’m going to Tennessee, and there’s a damn leak in the local FBI office. Maybe I can get some answers first.
Nick: What am I missing?
Patrick: I thought you were smarter than this, son.
Nick: Answer and I’ll come.
Patrick: I arranged for Beth to get hooked on drugs again. I made sure Ben’s letters reached Summer.
Patrick: I am Lily’s father. I had the results switched so that John was listed as the father, hoping he could get the money. I would have left Summer alone if he had won, but at least she suffered because of the case.
Patrick: See you soon.
Fuck. He’s been manipulating so much I didn’t know about.
Fawx is still online with me, so I remind him about the promise he made to watch out for Summer and help her if she needs him.
He offers to monitor Tennessee and me too, which I appreciate.
Logging off, I get up and grab my bag. I go into Z’s office and write a letter to Summer and Troy and leave them on the island.
Deciding it’s best to wake Z, I quietly open his door and slip inside with my duffel bag.
He’s immediately awake when the door clicks. “Nick,” he says, turning on the bedside lamp.
I press my finger to my lips and go into his closet, and he follows. Closing the door, I turn on the light. He sees my duffel bag, and understanding dawns. “What happened?”
“He reached out through a chat room. If I go to him, Summer will be safe. He knows about WITSEC. He made sure Beth overdosed, was helping Ben get the letters out, and is Lily’s father, not John. The trial was a setup to get money.”
Zander stands there, stunned for a minute, sighing wearily, then nods. “What do you need?”
“Cash and a burner phone.”
He opens the safe room and hands me a wad of cash, a phone, and an extra charger. “Are you sure you want to do this, Nick?”
“No choice, Z. She comes first, always.”
“Thank you for keeping her safe. I’m sorry, Nick,” he replies. He genuinely looks upset.
Nodding, I put the phone in my pocket, splitting the cash between myself and the duffel bag.
“I knew I'd have to deal with him again. Keep vigilant for a while yet. Let Ceres stay with Summer. If nothing happens after a few weeks, then you should be fine. It was always me he wanted revenge on. I wrote letters to Summer and Troy. They’re on the island.”
Z pulls me into a hug. “I know about the new deal with the FBI you and Troy arranged. Stay safe and stay alive until you can return home. Do you have a plan?”
“Figure out who his boss is, then kill him.”
“Timeframe?”
“Probably months. He won’t trust me now.”
“Reach out to any of us if you need help. I meant it, Nick. You’re being heroic enough; no need to push it further. Promise me.”
“I will, but most likely you won’t hear from me at all until it’s over.” Checking my watch, I see it’s time to leave. “I have a cab to catch at the end of the driveway. Keep her safe.” I walk out of the closet and out the front door. Time to start my old life again.