I blow out a heavy breath, hair fluttering away from my face. “I basically outlined how I fell into the story, how personal it was, explained that I tracked down sources whose names I can’t reveal but that I believe I’ve convinced all of them to come forward with this information to the FBI as well. I’ve explained that I warned all of them and that they’ve gone into hiding in anticipation of the story, that I’m the only one who knows how to get in contact with any of them right now, but that they’ll verify all the information if they need to.”
“And the audio recording?”
A smile pulls at my lips because somehow, despite being up here, the man in front of me managed to piece back together my voice recorder and salvage the interview with Barry I thought I lost when I collided with him that night.
“It’s on here, too. But that won’t go to the paper, only the FBI gets that.”
“I assume that there’s an email in there for Agent Michaelson, too?”
I nod. “He already knows I was going to meet with Barry, so he will get the interview and the story file. With what we know about the Lorells and their people within the bureau, he may not even be able to tell me what’s really been happening, because he knows he’s being watched. I’m hoping that he’ll do the right thing, that he’ll get these witnesses protected. Once he confirms that, I will get him in touch with all of them who are willing.”
Connor’s jaw beneath his thick beard grown over the past two weeks tenses, and his eyes darken with concern. “The Lorells know who would have access to this type of information, so they’re going to suspect who has been talking even without the names in the story.”
“Hence the witnesses going into hiding…”
“And exactly why you’re going to stay up here.”
I tighten my grip on the drive, the plastic biting into my palm. “We’re not going to have this argument again, Connor.”
He drops the adze and crosses his arms over his barrel chest. “We are if you’re going to keep insisting on coming with me.”
For the last few days, it’s been the same discussion that always devolves into a heated argument…that becomes even more heated angry sex.
Every time, it’s the same—I insist on going back down the mountain with him and he refuses to even consider the possibility.
“It just makes sense that I’m available in case anyone needs to talk to me right away, in case there are any questions…”
Which there will be.
Agent Michaelson will want to speak with me directly, so will the editor from The Atlantic Times. There will be hoops to jump through that I can’t while I’m locked away in this cabin up here.
“Absolutely fucking not, Raven. The whole reason I brought you up here was to protect you.” He points vaguely in the direction of the town. “If I let you march down that mountain with me with that goddamn story in your hand when you’re literally waving a fucking flag saying ‘here I am’ to the people who already have their sights on us, you’re just asking to be taken out.”
I scowl at him and cross my arms over my chest, mimicking his stance.
This is the Connor I know, that I have known for the last decade and a half. The one who loves to argue with me, who loves to be right. The one who won’t back down once he’s made a decision, even if it’s the wrong one.
“I’m not staying.”
“You are.” A low growl sounds in his chest, and he takes several steps toward me, but stops just out of reach, leaning in slightly, making his size even more evident. “I’m not going to let you undo everything I did to protect you. The whole reason we came up with this plan was to keep you safe, so I’m going to take that drive and I’m going to hike down the mountain tonight. I’m going to give it to Killian and Tony, and I’m going to explain everything to them so that they know what to do. And I know they’ll get it done. Then, I’m coming back up here, with you, until everything blows over and I get word from them that it’s safe.”
“That could be weeks, Connor.” I release an annoyed laugh. “Months. Hell, even years. And you will have to keep hiking up and down this damn mountain to get information from me each time someone needs another piece of it that isn’t already on this drive.”
His jaw hardens again, but he doesn’t say anything else, just continues to stare me down.
No matter how many times we have this argument, I never seem to win it and he never seems to offer any explanation for if he truly intends to keep me here.
Because this could take years.
The FBI will need to interview my sources, they will need to prepare indictments, they will need time to fully prosecute a massive RICO case, and those can literally take years to reach their end.
Connor can’t seriously expect me to stay here that long.
It’s irrational for him to insist I stay when going back would make all of this so much easier.
“I could just follow you…”
He smirks, shifting closer, until I can smell the sweat and sun on his tanned skin and the scent of freshly cut wood that lies all across the clearing. “I’d love to see you try, Firefly, but we both know I can hike out of here five times as fast as you could, and as soon as you lose sight of me, you’ll be lost on the goddamn mountain.”
