Chapter 12
TWELVE
JUNIE
I wake up slowly, wrapped in the warmth of Wyatt’s body and the steady rhythm of his breathing.
His arm is draped heavily across my waist, holding me close against his chest like he does every night now.
For a moment I let myself pretend this is real.
That this is my life. That I belong here with him.
That I’m not about to destroy everything.
My heart aches as I look at him. He’s still asleep, his face relaxed in a way it rarely is when he’s awake.
His dark hair is messy, his jaw shadowed with stubble, his broad chest rising and falling under my cheek.
I love him. I love him so much it hurts.
I love the way he takes care of me without asking for anything in return.
I love the way he watches me like I’m the only thing in the world that matters.
I love the way he kisses me like I’m precious.
I love the way he holds me at night like he’s afraid I’ll disappear.
I love the quiet mornings and the bird watching and the way he makes me feel safe for the first time in my life.
But I’m terrified that once he finds out the truth, he won’t love me anymore. I mean, how can you love a monster? And that’s exactly what I am.
I’m terrified that when he learns why I’m really here, he’ll look at me with disgust instead of love. I’m terrified that he’ll see me as the traitor I am. I’m about to lose the only good thing I’ve ever had.
But I have to save my brother.
That’s the only thought that keeps me moving.
Caleb is the only family I have left. He protected me our whole lives.
I owe my life to him. And now those men have him.
They’re hurting him. They told me they would kill him if I didn’t do what they asked.
They told me to come to this mountain. They told me to find the hacker.
They told me to get close to him. They told me to bring them his name.
Wyatt Henry.
The man I love.
The man who saved me.
The man who’s sleeping peacefully beside me, trusting me completely.
Tears burn in my eyes. I blink them back hard. I cannot cry. Not now. Not when I have to be strong. I have to do this today. My leg is healed. Today’s the day I fulfill my mission. Today’s the day I betray the man I love to save my brother. I’m lowkey scared.
I slip out of bed as quietly as I can. Wyatt stirs slightly but doesn’t wake.
I stand there for a long moment, just looking at him.
Memorizing his face. The strong line of his jaw.
The way his lashes rest against his cheeks.
The scar on his shoulder from some old mission he hasn’t told me about yet.
I want to climb back into bed and curl up against him.
I want to tell him everything and beg him to forgive me.
But I can’t. If I do, Caleb dies. And I can’t live with that.
I dress quickly in the clothes the women brought me. Warm sweater. Comfortable leggings. Boots that fit well enough. I move as silently as possible, careful not to wake him. My leg still aches, but it holds my weight. I can do this. I have to do this.
I look at Wyatt one last time before I slip out the door. My heart breaks a little more with every step I take away from him. I love him. I love him so much. But love doesn’t save my brother. Only I can do that.
The mountain air is cold when I step outside.
The sun is just starting to rise, painting the snow in soft pinks and oranges.
I move carefully along the path, staying in the shadows of the trees.
I know the layout of Haven 7 now. I know where the cameras are.
I know the blind spots. I’ve been paying attention every time Wyatt took me to watch the birds. I hate myself for it.
The path is familiar after all these days.
I know exactly where to step to avoid the noisy gravel.
I know which trees block the line of sight from the main lodge.
I move slowly, my injured leg protesting with every step, but I push through the pain.
The cold bites at my cheeks and fingers, but it’s nothing compared to the cold fear in my chest. Every rustle of leaves makes me freeze.
Every distant sound makes my heart race.
I keep expecting someone to call my name.
To stop me. To ask where I’m going. But the compound’s still asleep.
The only sounds are the wind and my own ragged breathing.
I reach the gate without being seen. My heart’s pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears.
I slip through a small gap in the fence line that I noticed days ago.
The snow is deep in places, but I push through.
My leg protests, sending sharp jolts of pain up my thigh, but I ignore it.
I have to keep moving. I have to get far enough away before anyone notices I’m gone.
The walk down the mountain takes longer than I expected.
The path is slippery with ice in spots. My leg starts to throb badly.
I’m sweating despite the cold. My breath comes out in white puffs.
I stop every few minutes to catch my breath, leaning against a tree, trying not to cry.
The guilt is crushing me. I’m leaving the man I love.
I’m leaving the family that took me in. I’m leaving the only place that has ever felt like home.
But I have no choice. Caleb needs me. He’s always needed me. And I have always needed him.
I remember the night he called me. His voice was shaking.
He told me he had seen something he shouldn’t have.
He told me to run if anything happened to him.
He told me he loved me. Then the line went dead.
That was the last time I heard his voice.
I have replayed that call in my head a thousand times.
I should’ve done more. I should’ve gone to him sooner.
I should’ve protected him the way he always protected me.
The tears come then. Hot and silent. I wipe them away angrily and keep walking. I can’t break down now. I have to be strong. For Caleb. For the brother who would do anything for me.
When I finally reach the bottom, my leg is burning and my whole body is shaking from exhaustion.
I find a small gas station off the main road.
The neon sign is flickering in the early morning light.
I slip inside, trying to look normal. The clerk looks up, surprised to see someone so early.
He’s an older man with kind eyes and a worn flannel shirt.
I ask to use the phone. He hesitates but hands it over when I tell him it’s an emergency.
I dial the number they gave me. The one I have memorized. The one that connects me to the men who have my brother.
The voice on the other end is cold and familiar. “Do you have it?”
I swallow hard. “I have the name. The hacker you’re looking for is in Haven 7. His name is Wyatt Henry.”
There’s a pause. Then a low laugh. “Good girl. We’ll send someone to pick you up. Stay where you are. And remember, if you try anything, your brother dies.”
I hang up the phone and sink down onto the floor behind the counter, tears streaming down my face. I did it. I betrayed the man I love. I gave them his name. I gave them everything.
I close my eyes and pray that Caleb is still alive. That this was worth it. That Wyatt will somehow forgive me when this is all over.
But deep down I know the truth.
He’ll never forgive me.
And I’ll never forgive myself.
The clerk looks at me with concern. “Miss? Are you okay?”
I wipe my face and stand up slowly. “I’m fine. Thank you for the phone.”
I step outside and wait. The cold wind bites at my skin. I wrap my arms around myself and try to breathe. The black SUV arrives twenty minutes later. Two men get out. They don’t say much. They just open the door and motion for me to get in. I climb into the back seat, my heart heavy.
As we drive away, I look back at the mountain one last time. The place that gave me hope. The place that gave me love. The place I’m leaving behind.
I’m sorry, Wyatt.
I’m so sorry.