Page 108 of A Drop of Anguish
The last time, I basically drugged him to get through the barrier. And he followed me anyway, which almost resulted in his death.
“We could make decisions together, instead of always against each other. I know you don’t want me to be in danger. You feel like it’s your job to protect me. But you told me once that you value my will. You know I cannot sit by and let the same authorities that failed my sister’s investigation face my enemy for me. I don’t trust them to do it right. I have to do something.”
Again with that heartbreaking look. His wide, terrified eyes search my expression. My big, powerful protector that’s utterly desperate to keep me safe.
“You make that face a lot these days,” I whisper.
“What face?”
“The one that looks like someone killed your favorite puppy.”
His brows furrow. “What?”
“You look sad. Like—completely devastated.”
He takes in a long breath. “I’m fucking terrified, Candice.”
I curl into him and wrap my arms around his waist.
“I’m so scared I’m going to lose you. I can’t—I won’t survive it.”
That sounds a little melodramatic, but I assume it’s not a helpful comment, so I keep it to myself. He’s afraid. He’s allowed to be.
“I know,” I whisper.
“You don’t, but that’s okay. I understand this is something you have to do,” he says. “There is a sting operation being formed now, getting ready to move in on the location we pinpoint by tracking the card. You’re right not to trust them entirely. I’m afraid they’ll be too slow or that the game runners will not show up.”
My heart clenches. They’ll get away like they have so many times before.
“But they seem to want you as badly as we want them,” he says with a resigned sigh.
I let a beat of silence pass before I respond. “So, there is a higher likelihood that they will be there if we… play along.”
He holds up a finger. “Only long enough for the authorities to arrive. They do the bulk of the work. We are the bait, and you never leave my side. I will demolish anything and everything, kill anyone, to get you out alive if something goes against this plan. Do you understand?”
I swallow and nod, heart racing.
He leans into my neck and breaths me in one last time before he pushes his body up, taking me along with him. He holds me like a bride. Or a damsel in distress.
I cling to him, wondering what exactly he’s doing now.
“What’s going on?” a voice calls.
I twist in Jarron’s arms to find Manuela in the hall, her eyes wide with curiosity. Any fear she had before is safely tucked away.
“Get ready,” Jarron says dramatically. “We’re going to war.”
“What?” She puts her hand on her hips.
“And go get Thompson,” Jarron calls over his shoulder. “If he wants to be my ally, now is the time to prove himself.”
Jarron strolls away from the gawking Manuela with me still in his arms, out of Elite Hall.
42
This Isn’t Like Before
“You can put me down, you know?”
