Page 100 of Toy No More

It’sallbecometooreal. The day I’ve been dreading. The day I’ve been looking toward. Finally, everything is about to be over.

There are so many people around me. Federal agents and police nearly fill the massive room to the brim. Some agents sit by the computers used for coordination and surveillance. A few are going through paperwork and instructing others. An entire SWAT team is standing by, assembled, and ready in their full riot gear. And in the middle of all of it is…me.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into?

Apollo hasn’t contacted me in a few days. That’s good. It should be good. I told him not to. But I can’t help myself from getting more and more anxious about it. I don’t want him to get hurt in this. I would’ve asked him to stay at home today if it wouldn’t risk raising Jasper’s suspicion. He’s already on edge and ready to strike at any threat.

If anything is to happen to me…at least Apollo needs to be okay.

“Your family arrived at the safe location. They’re okay,” Agent Evans says, stepping into my view. I glance at her in surprise, not having heard her come close. She’s wearing a bulky bulletproof vest and proper uniform for the field, not her usual long jacket and wide-legged pants.

I smile faintly. “Thank you.”

Skyler was so confused when I told them last night. I couldn’t say much, only that something big is happening and they need to be taken someplace else for their well-being.

Marci looked like she understood. Without asking for details, she took it as I thought she would and accepted that I was doing this to keep them safe. Still…guilt sloshes around my stomach. I’m ripping Skyler away from the only life he’s ever known. His friends, the school he likes, the carers he’s familiar with… He struggles so much with trusting new people and getting used to unfamiliar things. This change will be tough for him.

All because of me. Because I chose the easy way a long time ago. Now, my family has to suffer through the consequences of it.

“You look worried. We’ve gone through the plan already. It usually settles people,” Evans says, leaning against the table with her cup of coffee in hand. “It’s going to work. But for that, weneedyou to act normal.”

I let out a tired chuckle.Act normal, huh?“I know,” I say, looking down at my trembling hands. “Don’t worry about me. I can pretend well enough. Just…giving myself the permission to freak out before putting the mask on and stepping toward my death, if that’s okay?”

Evans smirks and tilts her head. I’ve grown to like her, in a weird way, since dealing with her and the others. “You’re not stepping toward death, Kobe. Everything’s in place. We have what we need to put Jasper away for life. You gaining us access to his computer and all his stored data was a godsend. It quite literally couldn’t have gone better. This is the final step. All we need from you is to get him into the right position for us to arrest him. If you find a way to get him alone, preferably in the car, it would be perfect. Otherwise, we’ll have to raid the Dollhouse, and that carries risks. Still, we’re prepared for that possibility. Trust me.”

I gulp, glancing across the room and at the people in it. “I already told you…he doesn’t usually tell me things in advance.”

“That’s why you’re wearing the wire,” she says, leaning in to tap my chest gently. Instead of mirroring her easygoing attitude, I nervously shift in the chair.

Yeah, I was trying to forget about that.I don’t like it at all.

“Is it really necessary?” I ask, swallowing hard.

She draws her brows together, and I wonder how many people she’s had to talk down like this before. “We need a way to communicate, to hear what’s happening. If things go awry, it’s going to save your life. Just go about your job as always. If an opportunity presents itself, take it. If not, you know what will happen.”

I nod while nervously glancing toward the clock on the wall. Speaking of, I should start heading out.

“You go,” she says, noticing where my eyes went. “Don’t want to be late. You can do this, Mr. Saber. Justice will win today. We both need to make sure of it.”

What a naïve sentiment. Or maybe she simply has the faith required to really make it happen.

The supervisory special agent, a tall, brooding man who leads the operation, catches my movement as I stand and gives me a firm nod. Flashing Agent Evans a half-hopeful smile, I turn to walk away. “And Mr. Saber,” she says, making me pause and meet her eyes, “if something were to happen, our agreement stands. Theywillbe taken care of and safe.”

The chill that grips my heart is eased a little by her words. My smile becomes more genuine.

“Thank you.”

It’s almost like I’m walking into the Dollhouse for the first time again. The same anxious energy tickles at the walls of my stomach and my mind is as sharpened and on edge as it was that day. Only now, there is much more at stake.

I pause by the doors and study the men and women working there. The thought of them being caught off guard by an armed, geared unit barging in makes me uneasy, but it needs to be done. The dolls won’t be prosecuted. Prostitution isn’t illegal, and there’s no proof they know of the side hustles of their boss. But it will leave them without a job. I only hope no one’s life is going to be affected too negatively.

Can’t think like that,I tell myself, shaking my head.

This is a good thing. It’s the bad guys getting what’s coming to them. I need to rewire my brain to think like a regular person again. After all, I’m gonna be one of the law-obeying citizens after this is over. That will take some getting used to. I haven’t even let myself contemplate that. I’ll be back to a life of struggle and hard work.

The right thing. It’s the right thing.

My eyes land on that bed I saw the first time I came in here. Apollo was on it. Such an otherworldly beauty, and yet I couldn’t help but see the pain behind it. It wasn’t that long ago, but now it feels like another lifetime.

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