Page 22 of The Comeback Road
He shot me a look of disbelief and cracked a smile. “Don’t bullshit a bullshitter.”
“Anymore.”
“You’re our best option, what we found…It runs deep.” His smile turned into a deep frown, and I could see the worry written into every line. I could feel the desperation coming off of him in waves, no matter how hard he tried to mask it.
“I’m not trained for field operations.”
“There’s kids involved in this, Lex…Kids.” He shuddered, and a choked sound came out. I once again felt the bile rise in the back of my throat at the implication, knowing what it all meant. “There’s a small team I trust. I’ve brought only independent contractors in, but the best of the best. Your only job will be to get into their system once we gain access and get whatever information you can. You’re our best option at bypassing any security system they might have in place. Considering how they seem to be one step ahead of us, I can only imagine. Every time we get close, each place is completely cleared out or burned to the ground, and we are coming up empty.”
I knew there was no way I’d turn him down. I’d never be able to live with myself. “Okay, when do the others arrive?”
“You’re the last. We were waiting on you.”
Chapter Twenty
Lexie
August 27th
Magnolia: It’s been a few weeks, how are things?
Magnolia:Lex?
Me:Sorry, such a busy time. Will call you tomorrow. Hope all is ok!
September 10th
Magnolia:Will you call me?
Magnolia:You never called.
October 14th
Magnolia: Will you be home for Thanksgiving?
Magnolia:I take that as a no.
December 1st
Magnolia:What about Christmas?
Me:I can’t, soon I promise, soon.
Magnolia:Wow, she lives.
Magnolia:Hello?
Chapter Twenty-One
Jace
I left Magnolia’s house in a haze, feeling like I could hardly breathe after the words Lexie had tossed my way. I had no rebuttal, and I knew nothing I could say would make it better because she wasright. Everything Lexie said was right.
The air felt thick—too thick, like I was choking on the world that surrounded me, knowing that my life from then on out would continue without her. Without her sass, her laugh, her fierceness for those she loved. Without her light.
My starlight.
Gone.
