Page 62 of Secret
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
"What the fuck were you thinking, Kase?" Bryon paced the floor of the small motel room he'd gotten so that they could talk without worrying about anyone hearing or having bugged Kasey's house, which was a huge possibility since Noam seemed to have known before Kasey had admitted it to him.
"I know, I was trying to work it out. I didn't expect to fall in love with him. I don't date. You know that, Bry. There was just something about him. I was going to quit the team, but the jobs kept coming in and—"
"And you can't bring yourself to quit when there are children who need help. You don't have to explain to me. I get it, but I don't know how to clean this mess up now, Kase. I don't know how to save you." Bryon fisted his hands at his side. "I can send you out of the country, help you start over."
"No, I already told you, I won't run. If I have to face this, so be it, but I won't be a coward and run. I don't regret a single thing I've done. I'm not ashamed of what I do. I won't run and look like I'm scared, even if I am." Kasey sat on the queen-sized bed, trying to figure out how to deal with the mess he caused. "I'm more worried about the team. I don't want any of you to go down with me."
"The team is on hold for now. Until we know what is going on and that it's safe, we aren't doing anything other than research. All stings are cancelled until further notice." Bryon wiped his hand over his chin. "What have you told him about us?"
"Nothing. He knows I'm friends with Matt and Xander, but that's through Faith. He has no clue that they work with the team. He knows I know Beau, but I've never said we were good friends or anything. Again, he thinks I know him through Faith. He knows about you, but only because I told him I lived with you after the halfway house. I told him you're like a big brother to me."
Bryon smiled. "I didn't know you thought that."
Kasey shrugged. "It never came up, but I owe you everything. I don't want to think what would have happened to me all those years ago if you hadn't been there for me."
"You would have made it. You're strong."
"I was a pissed off, angry man back then. I probably would have ended up back in prison."
"Well, don't think you haven't gotten yourself back there now. There's a good chance you will be looking at a jail cell soon after all this shit." Bryon shook his head. "Fuck, it was never supposed to end up like this. I've done all I can to protect the team."
Kasey stood. "This isn't your fault. This is all on me. I knew not to get close to him. I'm the one who put the team at risk, put everything we've done at risk. I'm taking full responsibility for all of it. I won't contact anyone after I leave here tonight. I'll cut myself off from the team. I'm not going to risk any of you."
"What I don't get is why he let you go? Why didn't he arrest you right then?"
Kasey had asked himself the same question repeatedly. "I don't know. It makes no sense to me unless he was so upset because of our personal relationship that he needed time to accept it all. I have no doubt he will do what is right and take me in. I'm waiting for him to show up at my home or call me to meet him. I'm just glad I had a chance to warn you, to make sure I have a chance to sign everything over to Faith so someone can benefit from what I have."
"You're giving everything to Faith?" Bryon stared at him.
"Who else is there? The team has more money than they need. If Matt and Xander sell my house and take the money and save it for Faith's college or whatever she decides to do, then that's best. I don't have anyone to give it to."
"Fuck, I can't believe you're even having to think about this shit." Bryon pulled a chair out from the small table in the corner and sat down. "I was so happy for you finally finding someone. I hate that it's backfired on you. You shouldn't have to face this. You out of anyone deserves a happy life."
"It's my own fault. I should have quit the team as soon as I knew it was going to get serious with Noam or walked away from Noam when I found out what he did for a living, especially because he was working cases we were tied to."
"So now what are you going to do?" Bryon asked.
"Wait. What else can I do? I don't think he'll make me wait long. I figure he'll take tonight and accept it all, think it over, then tomorrow, he'll show up and have me arrested or at least file papers so a warrant is issued. I've got some paperwork to sort, some personal things to handle. I want as much ready as I can get so you guys don't have to deal with all the fallout." Kasey sat down across from Bryon. "Promise me you'll be careful. Don't come to the jail, don't come to my trial, don't do anything to make them look at you. I know they might already because of our friendship and past, but don't give them any reason to dig deeper."
"Carter has us covered. If it wasn't for that damn camera, you'd still be safe too."
"We knew technology would be our downfall one day." Kasey sighed. "Thank you for everything, Bry. You saved me."
Bryon shook his head. "I just gave you a place to go, a place to get your shit together. You did it all on your own. I'm going to miss you, Kase. I won't let you sit in there and rot. I'm going to get you the best defense team. We'll fight this all we can. Don't think we're just cutting ties with you."
"Thanks, but I don't want anyone tied to me. Seriously, there is no point in us all going down. If any of us were going to get caught, I was probably the best one. I mean most of you have families, jobs, ties that connect you to the community. I don't. Let me take the fall. Let them blame me. It's easiest. It keeps you safe." He couldn't stand the thought of any of them in trouble.
"Fuck, Kase, I hate this. I hate there is nothing I can do. Are you sure you won't leave town?"
"No. Even as scared as I am, running feels wrong. I'm facing up to what I've done. I knew from day one this might happen. We all take the risk. I'm not running and hiding like I did something wrong, because in my eyes it's not wrong. These pedophiles deserve everything we did to them. Running somehow feels like I'm saying I did wrong."
"I'm scared for you."
"I'll be okay, Bry. Tell everyone I love them and that I am proud to have fought beside them. Don't quit what you're doing. Lay low for a bit, but don't stop. You are making a difference."
Tears filled Bryon's eyes.
