Page 127 of Second Chance Savior

Owen broke first. But only to laugh. “Whatever you’ve got, Agent Somerton, the FBI would’ve made a move if they had anything concrete. You know what we call ourselves. So what? That means nothing. You’re trying to write a check you can’t cash. You want us to hush up the fact that an FBI agent in Stanford’s field office was working for Stillwater. That the same man tried to murder a fellow agent and the lieutenant governor today. But we’re not so easily bought.”

“Then consider it a mutual understanding. A partnership, even. We could keep you involved in the hunt for Stillwater.”

I shared a glance with Trace. Dipped my head. He was ourleader, and whatever call he made, I’d follow it. Owen did the same.

“We don’t want maybes,” Trace said. “We want a guarantee. When it’s time to take down Stillwater, we’ll be a part of it.”

Brynn turned to Charlie. “Lieutenant Governor? Are you on board?”

“If the Protectors are okay with this, so am I.”

Brynn held out her hand to Trace, and he shook it. Agent Somerton grinned. “I look forward to working with you.”

While Brynn went to confer with Owen about the prisoner transfer, and Trace went to fill in Aiden, I pulled up a chair beside Charlie.

“I’ve barely spoken to you in hours.” I studied the bandage at her forehead. “How’s your head?”

“I’ll get through it.” She set her phone down, sighing. “There’s still so much I need to do. The governor’s apoplectic. He wants me back in Denver first thing in the morning. No more delays or excuses.”

I put my hand on her arm. “But you told him no. Right?”

Her mouth opened. Eyes darting to the side. “I’m going to ask Brynn to drive me back. Tonight.”

I sat back in the chair like the wind had just been knocked out of me. “I know it’s difficult to handle what happened today, but you can’t keep avoiding it. Avoidingme.”

“That’s not it. I’ve been away from work for a week and a half. I’ve been trying to catch up remotely, but I don’t even have my clothes. I haven’t seen Cleo. Or dealt with any of the regular parts of my life.”

“Then I’ll drive you. I’ll help you deal with things in Denver.”

She pushed back her chair and got up. “No, that’s not any better. It’s time for me to go home, River.”

Home. Another kick to the chest.

“So you’re leaving? Just like that? And this.” I stood and gestured between the two of us. “This is ending, with barely even a goodbye?”

“Only because I’m barely holding together! I have been workingso hardnot to fall apart in front of everyone.” She hid her face with her trembling hands.

“Charlie. It’s just us now. Sweetheart.Talkto me.”

Slowly, she lowered her hands. She blinked, and two tears painted lines down her cheeks.

“I thought I was going to die today. I thought of everyone who matters to me. Everything I’ll miss. But the one regret that cut me deepest wasyou.” She took a ragged breath. “I told myself I was okay with this ending. It has to end. But I also can’t face losing you again, even if that makes me weak. It’s going to… River, it’s going to break me.”

Hell. The pain in her expression was already breaking me.

I cupped her face. Brushed her tears with my thumbs. “Then why are you walking away from me right now?”

“Agent Torres almost died today too. I have responsibilities. There’s so much more at stake than my broken heart.”

“My heart’s on the line too. I told you I love you. Over and over again. You don’t believe me?”

“I believe you, but it’s not enough. We both know the reasons?—”

“Yeah, we do. One of them is my brother. He called earlier today, and we talked. I didn’t even need to tell him about you and me, because he guessed. He said he’s always known how I felt about you. Ross and I have things we need to figure out, but when it comes to you, my brother and I are okay. He wants us to be happy.”

Relief opened up her features before she closed off again. “It’s not just Ross. It’s everything else. Our jobs. Our commitments.”

“Then fuck all of that.”

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