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The only one.
Nicole let out a long sigh. “I’d like to be alone with my friend of many years, a man who I knew in my heart was trustworthy.”
“Thanks, Nicky. I trust you, too,” Jaris said.
“We don’t give a fuck what you think, Simmons,” Reed snapped. “I won’t leave you alone with Nicole. Not now. Not ever.”
Nicole shook head. “God, you’re killing me, Reed. Why can’t you trust me?”
“I do trust you, Chicago. It’s him I don’t trust.”
“You don’t trust me. I know Jaris. I’ve known him much longer than I’ve known you. A lifetime compared to our time together.”
“Baby, you—”
“Don’t. It’s too hard. All of this is too hard. It’s also not fair to me. I want to talk to my friend alone. Can you give me that?”
“Yes,” Reed said reluctantly. “Just breakfast. Sawyer and I will be right behind you and then we’ll sit at another table.”
“Dylan’s proof is clear. It’s safe for me to be with Jaris.” She folded her arms over her chest. Sawyer could almost feel her heartache as she was plainly pulling away from them. His own heart was ripping apart. “I want you to stop trying to protect me.”
“Have I missed something?” Jaris asked, glancing back and forth from Sawyer and Reed. Then he looked at Nicole. “If I were in these guys’ position, I would feel the same way, Nicky. Why not let them come with us?”
“Because I don’t want them to.” Her words were like a knife to Sawyer’s heart and by the look on Reed’s face, they were to him, too.
Sawyer loved his brother and loved Nicole. They shared a bond that could heal their pulverizing pain. Somehow he had to find a way for them to open up their hearts, really open them up, to see how much they all needed each other.
She looked back and forth from him and Reed. “You’ve done so much for me. I’ll never forget you. I promise. But it’s time for me to go.”
“Don’t push us away. We’re going to Chicago with you.” Reed’s rage boiled to the surface. Was he finally realizing what was going to happen if he didn’t change course with Nicole?
“I wish you wouldn’t, but if I can’t stop you then I guess I can’t. Do what you must.”
“I don’t understand,” Reed said, the confusion evident on his face.
“That’s the problem, cowboy.” Nicole sighed. “Because I do understand.” Then she left the sheriff’s office with Jaris.
As the door slammed shut between Sawyer and the woman of his dreams, he realized she wasn’t just headed to Blue’s Diner for a private meal with her former partner. She was headed for Chicago and for a life without him and Reed.
* * * *
“What the fuck just happened?” Reed marched to the door. No way was he letting Nicole go without him.
“Wait,” Sawyer said.
“I’m not waiting and leaving her with that fucking partner of hers.” He felt every muscle tighten in his body.
Sawyer nodded. “Me either, but you and I need to talk for a second. Then we can head out. We’re only steps away from her right now. If anything happens, which I strongly doubt, she and Jaris can handle it until we get there.”
“She’s in danger, bro. Have you forgotten about the insider?”
“Of course not. Give me a sec.”
“The insider may not be Jaris, but that means Henry is the only suspect we have left. And we don’t know where he is.” Reed hated seeing Nicole leave. When that door had closed, it was like losing his parents all over again. He couldn’t let that happen. Not with her.
“That’s just it, Reed. We need to trust Nicole. She was right about Jaris. She’s probably right about Henry, too.”
“Then who is it?”
