Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
I felt bad about not saying goodbye, but I knew Owen especially would insist on coming, and that couldn’t happen. I’d just gotten him back. I would not risk his safety again.
Darius sent his plane for us, and we’d been in the air about an hour when Owen called.
“You need to come back in one piece so I can kill you myself!” Owen yelled over the line.
I smiled but made sure he couldn’t hear it in my voice. “You and I both know there was no way I’d let you come with me. I can’t focus with you beside me. Your safety would be the only thing I cared about, and I could get hurt.”
“You could get hurt now,” he said, his voice cracking. “I don’t see why you couldn’t just send someone to—”
“We both know why,” I replied gently. “Whoever this turns out to be won’t stop coming for me until I’m dead. You’ll always be in danger, and I’ll always be in danger until we get this sorted out.”
“Yes, but—”
“You want us to start a life. That’s what you said.”
“I want that more than anything,” he rasped.
“Then it has to be done this way. There’s no alternative.”
He was quiet for a long moment, where I felt like my entire future was being decided.
“Owen…please don’t leave me or think of me going as some kind of test of trust that I’ve failed or—”
“I’m not going to leave you,” he stressed. “I will never leave you. And you’re the most trustworthy man I know.”
“Okay,” I said, realizing I’d been holding my breath. “I just… I want to start with you when this is over, and I don’t want anything to jeopardize that.”
“Then come back safe and as fast as you can.”
“I will. I promise.”
He sucked in a breath, and I was sure he wanted to say more, to make me swear to return, but he was smart and knew there were no guarantees. “I love you, Jared Colter. I have loved you and wanted you since I was eighteen years old. Don’t mess with my plans for our future or our happily ever after.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” I vowed. “And I love you back.”
“Good,” he said and hung up.
I smiled wistfully to myself. I couldn’t wait to get back to Owen.
“Aww, look at you all happy and healthy and finally jumping in with both feet,” Dante praised me indulgently. “I’m so proud of you.”
“That didn’t sound patronizing at all.”
He laughed. “I mean it, though. Good for you.”
I exhaled sharply. “Thank you, and I know you know, but…I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“Well, don’t thank me yet,” he said, getting comfortable in his chair. “We still have this one last thing to do.”
Yes, we did.
When we landed at a private airstrip in Hong Kong, neither of us was surprised to find Darius there waiting, standing beside a Range Rover. His pilot, Bilal Shiraz, who had been alone on the plane with us, no flight attendant, gave his boss a wave as we descended the stairs to the tarmac.
I walked over and hugged him, Dante right behind me. It felt like three friends just getting together, not the revenge scenario this was.
“How did you get away?” I asked him.
“Oh, I’m not alone. Lee’s here as well. He’ll fly out with me back to Boston when we’re done.”
“But he let you come alone to meet us? Unprotected?”
“Well, I told him you two would look after me, but he sent Ceaton along anyway.”
Dante nodded. “He doesn’t trust us.”
“He doesn’t trust anyone. Don’t get your feelings hurt.”
“Where is Ceaton?” I asked.
“I have no idea. He’s around here somewhere with his McMillan Tac-50, keeping an eye on me.”
Darius asked Dante if he wanted to fly home with him afterward, which Dante did.
“That would be fantastic,” Dante said tiredly. “My husband admitted last night that if all was well with Jared, he wants me home. You know he loves you, Jared, but—”
“He loves me now,” I reminded him. “When you got fucked over and we all had to go radio silent on him for all those years, he wasn’t crazy about me or Darius then.”
“That’s water under the bridge. He gets it.”
“What did he call it?” Darius smiled at him. “Spook stuff?”
“Yeah.”
We were all quiet a moment before Darius handed us earpieces so we could stay connected even if we got separated.
“Listen,” Darius began, meeting my gaze. “I’ve alerted the station chief here, and if you determine that whoever’s behind this would be better in CIA custody than dead, we can make that alternative happen.”
“You’re talking about extraordinary rendition. Moving whoever this is to a black site and putting them in a hole.”
“They’ll be questioned, I’m sure,” Dante said. “I mean, whoever this is, they’re in bed with Tommy Yu, who could be indicted right now on a slew of charges. If you want this person prosecuted instead of dead, Darius is giving you that out.”