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“Why didn’t you come to us or send for us? Or at least your sister?” But hearing her story, he thought he understood now.
“I needed time. I’m still coming to grips with what I am. Or was. I don’t know who I’m supposed to be or where I’m going. I’m ashamed, even though my head knows I did what I had to do to survive.”
“You’re afraid to face Jacee.”
“Yes.” More tears. “She has a wonderful life and a new mate. I’m a disaster. The last thing I want to do is burden her with the stain that has been my life.”
Moving forward, he took the seat opposite her. He leaned toward her, but sensed she wouldn’t want to be touched, so he refrained from taking her hand. He hoped his voice and expression conveyed his deepest sincerity.
“Believe me when I say nobody was more broken than me when Jacee and I met. I was a drug addict, fighting too many demons to list, and I’m still working on both of those.”
Faith’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes, though I wish it wasn’t true. To top it off, I was very sick, and it wasn’t a sure thing I was going to live. But you know what? Your sister has the biggest, most giving heart of anyone I’ve ever known. She is love personified. You can trust her, Faith.”
The young woman was silent for a time, dabbing her eyes and shredding the tissue. Finally she looked up. “Give me some more time. A few more days. Then I’ll either come see my sister or send for her.”
“You’re asking me to keep a secret from my mate.” He hated that, with his whole heart.
; “Please,” she begged. “Just a little more time. I give you my word it won’t be much longer. I want to have a plan for my life when I speak with her. I don’t want to appear so . . . broken.”
“She won’t think that of you. Even I can see you’re stronger than you realize.” She waited for his verdict, and he relented. “But okay. A few days, no more. Then either you reveal yourself, or I’ll drag her over here myself.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m glad you’re here, recovering. This is going to make her so happy,” he said softly. “I happen to know her deepest sorrow was losing you, and getting you back is going to be her greatest joy.”
“I disagree, wolf.” She smiled. “Somehow, I believe I’m looking at my sister’s greatest joy.”
Fourteen
Friday came, and all was in place. Micah hoped.
Tyler swore that Parker was coming to see him in the afternoon, around one o’clock. The staff at the hospital had moved Tyler to a new room on a different floor, and placed John inside it with him as a guard. Tyler’s old floor as well as the unit where he was supposed to have been moved was cleared of patients, though the doors to the rooms would be closed so their emptiness wouldn’t be evident.
Noah and the doctors would move around as normal.
Nick and Jax would be working the video monitors and would trigger the cell door when Parker stepped inside. Micah and the other Pack members would hide at intervals throughout the two floors, in the restrooms and in the stairwells, close by but out of sight. They couldn’t risk tipping off the creature.
Before lunch, Micah told Jacee good-bye and found he was sort of relieved she wasn’t going to be around now that the op was imminent. She would be in town, protected by one Pack member and one powerful Fae. That seemed a better option than being anywhere near Parker’s brand of crazy.
It was almost over. The one blight on his sunny days was the secret. Jacee knew he was acting funny, but she couldn’t put her finger on what was going on. He could read her like a book, and he could tell she was trying to figure him out. It was really starting to make him sweat. He hoped Faith didn’t wait much longer, because he couldn’t stand keeping something this huge from his mate.
“We’re going,” Jacee told Micah, leaning in for a kiss, which he gladly gave.
“Don’t forget to check in. Text me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I will.”
“I mean it.”
“’Bye!”
She trotted out the door, and he shook his head. Women. It was so funny-strange: he’d never thought he’d share his life and space with one and deal with all the day-to-day mundane things like “Check in when you’re out shopping so I’ll know you’re safe.” But now? Yeah. Lucky bastard.
With Jacee gone, he went to meet his team. They had some time yet, but it was best to be prepared in case Parker was early. The team would get into position and wait, all day if need be. Sometimes the job could be really boring.
