I slam my fist against the wall, the impact jarring up my arm. Pain flares, but I welcome it. It’s better than the emptiness spreading through my chest. “She was never truly mine,” I say, the words tasting like ash. “I knew that. But it doesn’t feel good. It feels wrong. Like I’m abandoning her.”
Kane’s grip loosens slightly, but he stays close, his voice steady. “You’re not abandoning her. You kept her alive. You got her this far. That is what matters. She’s going to be okay. And you will be too. Eventually.”
I slide down the wall until I’m sitting on the floor, head in my hands. The carpet is rough and smells like old cigarettes and cleaner. My hands are shaking. I’ve faced down enemy fire, lost brothers in the field, buried friends, but nothing has ever hurt like this. The thought of Riley out there without me, scared and alone, makes me want to tear the world apart.
Kane sits down across from me, his back against the other wall. “She’s strong, man. Stronger than you think. And she knows you care. That has to count for something.”
I don’t answer. I just sit there, staring at the closed door, the rage slowly cooling into a deep, aching emptiness. Riley’s gone. And I don’t know how I’m supposed to live with that.
27
Riley
The two agents guide me out of the motel room and into the waiting black SUV, their hands firm on my arms like I’m something fragile that might break if they let go too soon. The cold night air hits my face, sharp and biting, carrying the faint scent of rain-soaked asphalt and distant city lights. I can still feel the warmth of Mason’s arms around me, the steady beat of his heart against my cheek, but that warmth is already fading, replaced by a hollow ache that settles deep in my chest. I knew this moment was coming. I knew they would take me away. But knowing doesn’t make it hurt any less.
I climb into the backseat, the leather cold and smooth under my palms. The door closes with a heavy, final thud that makes me flinch. One of the agents slides in besideme, the other takes the wheel. The engine rumbles to life, a low vibration that travels through the seat and into my bones. I press my forehead against the cool window, staring out at the blurred lights of the motel as we pull away. My heart feels like it’s shattering into a thousand tiny pieces. I’ll never see my father again. Never hug him or bake him his favorite cinnamon rolls on Sunday mornings. Never laugh with my friends over coffee or walk through the park near my old apartment. And Mason… I’ll never see Mason again.
Tears slip down my cheeks, hot and silent. I wish I’d never walked into that alley behind the bakery that night. I wish I had closed early or taken a different route home. I wish I’d never seen that man’s face, never heard the sharp crack of the gunshot, never watched the life drain from another person’s eyes. If I hadn’t seen it, none of this would be happening. I’d still be in my little shop, flour on my apron, dreaming about silly romantic stories instead of living in one that’s turned into a nightmare. However, Mason’s worth it all. Right? He is. I love him. I didn’t realize I loved him until the moment we had to say goodbye. A single tear slips down my cheek and I brush it away.
The SUV heads into Seattle, the city lights growing brighter and more chaotic as we get closer. Neon signsblur past the windows in streaks of pink and blue and green, reflecting off the wet streets. Horns honk in the distance, tires hiss on damp pavement, and the low hum of the engine fills the silence inside the car. I’m not really paying attention to any of it. My mind is stuck on the cabin. On Mason’s rough hands washing my hair in the shower. On the way he held me like I was the most precious thing in the world. On the way he kissed me like he never wanted to stop. I memorize every detail, every touch, every word he ever said to me, because I know this is the end. Once they put me in WITSEC, I’ll disappear. A new name. A new life. A new everything. And Mason will be gone forever.
The SUV slows and stops in front of a dimly lit bar on a quiet side street. The neon sign above the door flickers weakly, casting a sickly red glow across the wet sidewalk. I blink, confused, my heart still aching too much to make sense of why we would stop here. The agent beside me opens the door and steps out. Cold air rushes in, carrying the smell of stale beer, cigarette smoke, and something sharper, something that makes my stomach twist with sudden dread.
The door on the other side of the SUV opens. A man steps out from the shadows of the bar entrance. My blood turns to ice in my veins.
It’s him.
The man from the alley. The one who pulled the trigger. The one whose cold eyes locked with mine right before he killed that poor man. He’s standing there, tall and calm, his face half hidden in shadow but unmistakable. The same sharp jaw. The same dead expression. The same monster who ruined my life.
I start hyperventilating, my chest tightening so fast I can’t draw a full breath. The air feels too thin, too heavy, like the world is closing in around me. My hands shake uncontrollably as I press them against the seat, trying to push myself away, but there’s nowhere to go. The agent beside me grabs my arm, his grip bruising as he drags me out of the car.
“No,” I gasp, my voice breaking into a sob. “No, please, it’s him! He’s the one who?—”
The killer steps forward, his lips curling into a cold, satisfied smile. His hand closes around my other arm, fingers digging in hard enough to leave marks. The scent of his cologne hits me, sharp and chemical, mixing with the stench of the bar and my own terror. I struggle, kicking and twisting, but it’s useless. He’s too strong. The world spins around me, the neon lights blurring into streaks of red and black. My heart pounds so hard it feels like itmight explode. All I can think about is Mason. His arms. His voice. The way he promised he would keep me safe.
But he’s not here.
And this time, no one’s coming to save me.
28
Mason
The truck rumbles down the dark highway, headlights cutting through the thin fog that clings to the road like a shroud. Kane sits in the passenger seat, his jaw tight, one hand resting on the dashboard as he stares out at the passing trees. The engine’s low growl fills the cab, mixing with the faint hiss of tires on wet asphalt and the occasional gust of wind that rocks the vehicle. The heater blows warm air that smells like old leather and the faint trace of Riley’s vanilla scent that still clings to my jacket from when I held her. Every breath I take brings her back to me, and it feels like a knife twisting deeper in my chest.
I grip the steering wheel tighter, knuckles white against the worn leather. My mind keeps turning over the same questions, restless and ugly. How did the Morettis knowshe was in Montana? Why did we need to move her so fast from my personal hunting cabin? Nobody should have known about that place. It was off the books. The thought of her out there right now, scared and alone with strangers, makes my stomach churn. I can still feel the way she trembled in my arms when I said goodbye. The salt of her tears on my lips. The way she whispered my name like it was the last thing she wanted to say.
Kane shifts in his seat, the leather creaking under his weight. He glances over at me, his expression grim in the glow of the dashboard lights. “You okay, man?”
I don’t answer right away. The road stretches ahead, dark and empty, the yellow lines blurring slightly in the fog. I exhale slowly, the air fogging the inside of the windshield for a second before the defroster clears it. “How did the Morettis know she was in Montana?” I ask. “Why did we need to move her? I had her at my personal hunting cabin. Nobody should’ve known about that place. It’s off grid. Secure.”
Kane rubs a hand over his face, the stubble rasping against his palm. He lets out a long breath, the sound heavy in the quiet cab. “Yeah. You think someone on the inside is dirty?”
The question hangs between us like smoke. I feel my jaw clench so hard my teeth ache. The idea’s been gnawingat me since the call from Stevens, but hearing Kane say it out loud makes it real. Someone betrayed us. Someone with access. Someone who knew exactly where I’d taken her. The thought makes my blood run hot with rage. If I find out who it was, I won’t stop until they pay for every second of fear Riley has felt.
“I’m not sure,” I say finally, my voice tight. “But something doesn’t feel right. The timing. The urgency. Stevens pushing for the handoff so fast. I had her safe. Really safe. And now she’s gone.”
Kane nods, his eyes narrowing as he stares out at the road. “We’ll figure it out. Jax and Colt are already digging. If there’s a leak, we’ll find it.”
