Page 162 of Trapped Truth

“Can I make a quick phone call first? I promised to ring someone back today.”

Axel waves for me to go ahead, unlocking the storage compartment to get our helmets. I find a quiet corner between two armoured vehicles to dial Jude’s number.

“I’ve been waiting to hear from you all day.” He answers on the first ring.

“I’m sorry.” I heave out a tired breath. “It’s been hectic here.”

“So I’ve heard. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, the bullet hit my Kevlar. Just a little bruised and sore.”

“That was some risky move you pulled.”

“We needed to do something.” I shrug, even though he can’t see it. “I did what had to be done.”

“It was very brave, Ember. Though I think you scared a year off Hudson’s life with that shit.” He chuckles. “Thank you for bringing them home in one piece. Brooklyn was worried sick.”

“Nothing to do with me. Without Kade, we wouldn’t have gotten all those captives out alive.”

“He’s always gotta be the hero. I’m not surprised.”

“They’re all alive, some more than others. Madden will go on trial for his crimes, and every single woman will get their day in court. Including Angela. It feels good to know we gave that to them.”

“You should be proud,” he praises.

“I am. I just wish it didn’t take losing so many lives to make it here.”

“Nothing comes without cost in this business.” His gravelly tone is resolute to the harshness of our world. “As long as you stay with Sabre, the trade-off between life and death is a daily reality.”

“Maybe I won’t stay. I don’t know.”

“Is that your choice?” Jude questions.

Watching Axel fiddle with his precious baby, I gulp the lump expanding in my throat. “I let 768 in, and… I’m still here. I’m the one in control. And now I think I might want something different than this.”

When he eventually replies, I can hear the smile in his voice.

“How do you feel about that?”

Tucked in the bowels of the building that welcomed me home all that time ago, working for the company that gave me purpose, meaning, a reason for surviving… and gifted me the men who’ve given me a reason to wake up every day, my answer comes easily.

“For the first time, I feel whole.”

CHAPTER 27

EMBER

FOOTPRINTS - IKE DWECK

“You should’ve called me a week ago, Hyland Wesson!”

Behind the wheel, our resident enforcer winces at the bollocking he’s receiving via the SUV’s handsfree. Turns out, Willow is a real ballbreaker when she’s mad. After hearing this conversation, I definitely don’t want to upset her.

“I had to take Jayce and Luke home, attend the first court hearing, plus we’re still searching for a new home…”

“But you didn’t have a spare five minutes for me?” Frustration saturates her accusation. “I was terrified!”

“I’ve been running him ragged, Willow.” Warner tries to help, massaging his leg in the passenger seat. “You can blame me too.”