Page 34 of Thaddeus

“Then why’d you leave me?”

“I had to.”

“That makes no sense. You had to leave the man who loved you, who was going to ask you to marry him, who would’ve broken his neck to make sure you were happy for the rest of your life? You had to leave that man?”

“Yes.”

“Goddamn it, Emerson. Why?” I shouted.

“Because Autumn was taken!” she screamed, her body vibrating with so much hurt it nearly brought me to my knees. “My sister was taken, Thaddeus. You were gone and my sister was gone and I had no choice but to leave and help my parents.”

“You left me. Left. You didn’t call me. You didn’t leave a note. You fucking left. Did it ever occur to you, I’d want to know? I’d want to help find her? I’d want to be there for you and your parents?”

“Yes,” she admitted.

“Then why didn’t you let me help you?”

“I had to protect you.”

“Come again? Protect me? From who? I could’ve helped. I was a goddamned Navy SEAL, Emerson. I didn’t need you to protect me from anyone.”

“That’s why, Thaddeus. That’s why I had to protect you. I knew you’d help. I knew you’d give up everything to help me. I couldn’t let you do that.” She stopped shouting at me, then when she spoke again she did it whispering. “I knew that and I couldn’t let you give up your dreams for me.”

Gutted.

Completely and totally gutted.

Emerson

When I was growing up my dad used to tell my sister and me that FEAR had two meanings: Forget Everything And Run or Face Everything And Rise. I’d lived my life choosing the latter. I’d never allowed fear of the unknown to stop me.

Never. Not ever had fear slowed me down.

But right now, seeing the murderous look on Thaddeus’ face, I wanted to tuck tail and run. I wanted to forget my past, forget my crusade, forget everything and run for the hills and never look back.

I didn’t want to face the repercussions of my actions. I didn’t want to talk about Autumn. I didn’t want to face the fact that I’d more than likely never see her again. I didn’t want to hear Thad’s hurt or righteous anger.

I wanted all of this to be over. It was too much. My house was built upon sand and the tide had finally rolled in and it was crumbling.

“Agápi mou—”

“Don’t, Thaddeus. Don’t say that. I’m not your love and I haven’t been for a very long time.”

“What happened to Autumn?” His tone had softened and I hated it.

“If I told you I didn’t want to talk about this, would you leave it alone?”

“No.”

“The past is the past. There’s nothing more to say. Your team is waiting for me to answer questions about Jefferson.”

I was being callous and I knew it. But dealing with a pissed-off Thad Bench was easier than a gentle one. I wanted him angry with me, it would make it easier when the time came for me to leave.

“Who’s David Duncan?”

I wanted to talk about David less than I wanted to talk about my sister.

“He was a Canadian sex trafficker. I met him while he was in New York on business. We had a whirlwind weekend romance. He asked me to go back to Canada with him and I agreed. I spent six months with him in Vancouver. When I had what I needed from him, I ended things and moved on.”