Page 126 of The Vow

“No,” I croaked.

I thought about going to the house to find out. At first, it wasn’t an option because of my injuries, and then I was afraid. What if I went there and it put them at risk? I knew whatever information Damon was giving the authorities, he wouldn’t reveal anything to harm the people he cared about.

“We’re going to find him, Rob?—”

“Please, don’t,” I begged, not wanting a promise we both knew he couldn’t make.

There was a sound at the door, and we both turned as Dare poked his head into my cabin. “Rob.” My other brother’s face was pulled taut. “There’s someone in the garage here to see you.”

My heart catapulted against the front of my chest, and then I was moving. Rushing by him as he called after me, “Robyn!” But I was already gone.

Down the hall that had never felt so long. Up the elevator that had never moved so slowly. Through doors that never felt so heavy to open.

And then I was in the main part of the garage, rushing through the maze of motorcycles to the open bay door at the front.

“Hello, Robbie,” Pat drawled, and I skidded to a stop as soon as I saw him.

A cry lurched from my chest. Not that I wasn’t happy to see the scarred Irishman, but I thought…hoped.What had I thought? That the FBI would just let the man sitting atop their Most Wanted list and their former agent walk away after less than two weeks in custody?

I could blame the concussion for such a stupid thought, but it was all my heart’s doing.

“Hi.”

“How are you doing?”

My throat bobbed. “I’m okay…but not good.”

He nodded, his worn face creasing like he knew exactly what I meant.

“I don’t understand, Pat. How could he do this?” My lungs emptied.

“Oh Robbie.” His head swayed. “I think you do understand.”

I nodded, starting to feel the burn behind my eyes. “I don’t want to. I don’t want to understand why this was the only choice—to leave me without him.”

The ground started to tilt and sway underneath me, and I along with it.

“Dammit, Robbie.” Pat reached for my shoulders and steadied me. “You all right?”

Slowly, my eyes found his, and I shook my head, feeling the strangest sensation of heat leaking from the corners of my eyes.

Pat’s expression softened. “Oh, Robbie. He watched you live in the shadows for over a decade, fighting for justice. You think he could live with himself for resigning you to a future on the run as a fugitive?”

“Shouldn’t that have been my choice?” I could barely form the words.

“Wasn’t it?” he asked, and I flinched. “Did you tell him your happiest memories were the ones with your adopted family? Their kids? No matter what you think of him, Damon’s not the man to ask you to turn your backs on them.”

My tongue swelled into a useless lump in my mouth.

“Plus, you aren’t the only one who’s been hiding all thistime,” he rumbled. “Damon was ready to face the consequences of his choices for a future with you.”

“And what future is that now? Life without parole in federal prison?”

“Here.”

I blinked and saw Pat’s hand extended with an envelope. There was no writing on the outside, but there was only one person it could be from.

Taking it, my heartbeats slowed to the faintest gait as I lifted the flap and pulled out the folded sheet of paper.

---