Page 49 of Ghost Among Lies

"She was raped. I only got my heart broken. There's no comparison."

Beckett leaned back in the wooden chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "I never said there was, but you just found out your best friend betrayed you in the worst way possible. You haven't had time to process that, and now, you find out Sloane had a baby, and you're about to meet the child from that deception. I would be worried if it didn't fuck with your head in some way."

"What did you say you did for the FBI?"

Beckett snickered. "I never said, but don't worry, I wasn't a profiler. Just a boring old agent who learned to read people early on in my career." Beckett uncrossed his arms and leaned forward until his elbow rested on the table. "Listen. No one’s saying you need to be one hundred percent okay with everything that's going on, and none of us are going to judge you for having your own feelings about the matter. I do want you to remember this. Yes, that baby's part Toby, but he's also a hell of a lot Sloane's. You just have to decide which way you want to look at it."

"Glass half empty or glass half full."

Beckett leaned back again with a huge smile on his face. "Now you're getting it."

It was my choice. I could dwell on the negative. Dwell on the heinous acts committed against her. Or I could try and follow Sloane's lead. If she could move past what happened and accept Benjamin, was I going to allow it to tear us apart again?

Hell fucking no.

"You made up your mind." Beckett didn't ask a question. He made a statement because he knew I had. He must've been damn good at his job.

"I've got a plane to catch."

"You sure do." Beckett pointed behind me. "I packed you a bag. Figured you might need it."

I glanced over my shoulder and then back at Beckett. "Thanks. I owe you one."

"Nope. Your love for Sloane is enough for me."

I rapped my knuckles once on the wood and stood up. I didn't say anything in response to that until I was at the door. "These women are lucky to have you."

"They are lucky to have us. Now, get the hell out of here before Lilith decides to leave your ass behind."

I didn't need to be told twice. I got the feeling Beckett wasn't joking. Sloane said an hour, but patience was never her thing, and if the rest of them were ready to leave earlier, they would.

My assumption was right. I barely made it to the plane in time. Anita was standing at the steps ready to close the door. She gave me a chin lift on my way by.

I glanced around the small cabin and found Sloane sitting in the back. "I thought maybe you changed your mind," she whispered as soon as I took the seat next to her. "Where did you go?"

I heard the unvoiced question. Why hadn't I met her like I agreed to?

"To your old quarters. I needed a few minutes to get my head on straight."

Sloane stared at me. A dozen questions reflected in her eyes. Even after all these years and the million ways she changed, I could read her every thought. "And?"

I pried her fingers from where she had a death grip on the armrest and brought her hand up to my lips. I took a moment to place several light kisses along her knuckles. "I love you, and nothing will ever change that. I will follow your lead and support whatever decision you make in regard to Benjamin."

"I know that, but I want your feelings on the matter. We're in this together. That means your feelings matter as well."

"I won't lie to you and say this isn't hard for me. You deserve the truth, and yes, I'm going to struggle knowing that child is Toby's. But more importantly, he's yours. I forgot that for a minute and needed the reminder."

"I'm scared," Sloane admitted. "When I was pregnant, I resented the baby because it was further proof that I lost you. I was happy to give him up for adoption. What if my feelings haven't changed? What kind of person does that make me?"

I cupped the side of her neck. "A human one. Your feelings back then were valid. You were young and dealing with a trauma. But the fact that you couldn't terminate the pregnancy is proof enough that you care for the child. Remember that the first time you see him."

"My gut’s telling me I need to protect him."

I smiled at her. "See, you're already thinking like a mother. You've got this. And I'll be right by your side, reminding you should you need it."

Sloane dropped her eyes down to her lap for a moment, then back up at me. "I need to tell you something, and I'm not sure how you're going to react."

The worry in her tone put me on edge. I braced myself for whatever confession she was about to lay in my lap.