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I became determined to be everything Dana and I needed. I increased our security after that happened and practiced self-defense online whenever I could.
I’m terrified, and I don’t even know what I’m scared of because I don’t remember most of it.
The bed bows as Jack rolls onto his side, wrapping his arm across my body and tucking his leg over mine. The warmth of his breath on my forehead comforts me.
As scary as everything else was, and as uncertain as our future is right now, I know I am safe with him. But he doesn’t see the same things I see.
He doesn’t know what I have to do to release everyone who works under Zane without consequence. He doesn’t know about all the pieces I’ve put in place over the years. He won’t accept my final move, the last thing I will need to do in order to free everyone.
And he doesn’t know I’m only one piece away from making it all happen. It’s a piece that’s hidden among my lost memories from my time in Maxwell’s captivity.
If I was functioning well enough to contact Zane without giving up his location, I think there’s a chance I tagged Maxwell’s servers. It’s what I would have done if I was thinking clearly.
Remembering all of the codes I needed just to make the connection to Dana was a huge feat. I must have been on my game and driven to get free.
I want to be able to give everything to Jack. I want to be his entirely, but I can’t go along with their mission. My actions will protect him too, and the only clear end I see is the one I have planned out.
Jack, Logan, and Maxwell have some similarities. They are tactical, operational. They will go to war, fight, and there will be a lot of damage on both sides. The possibility of a happy ending is slim. Then they will fight again another day. All while Dana and I remain trapped and more lives are ruined or lost.
Over the last ten years, I have obtained a mountain of documents, evidence, video, bank accounts, and verifiable lists of people who are in Maxwell’s pockets. I have almost everything I need. Well, everything digital, anyway. But it’s enough.
Almost.
If I can confirm I planted the code, I will be able to sever Maxwell’s connection to everyone from Zane down. Then I’ll cut off his head and let him bleed out while his allies tear him apart to save themselves. There will be minimal casualties on Jack’s side, and Dana will have the freedom we always daydreamed about.
“You okay? You’re shivering.” Jack breaks me out of my thoughts, and I wonder how long he’s been awake beside me.
“I’m good. Can I get a little bit of that blanket?” I smile up at him as he reaches behind him to grab the soft cover that fell off during the night.
“Anything for you.” His words are comforting, but I know they’re not entirely true.
In the end, I know he won’t be able to give me everything I’m going to need.
I know he won’t be able to let me go.
Tears well in my eyes, and I bury my face in his shoulder before my regret becomes obvious. Those thoughts are better pushed far below the surface.
I have a plan, and success requires I stick to every step and keep my emotions out of it.
And that is what I will do.
Even if it kills me—again.
CHAPTER20
JACK
“What do you mean she doesn’t remember?” Logan is frozen in his seat behind his desk.
He’s been still as a statue since I started speaking five minutes ago.
“You were right. She was tortured. She has scars all over her back to prove it, but she doesn’t remember any of it. Whatever he did to her, it was bad enough that she’s blocked it out. She doesn’t even remember how she was able to contact Dana and Zane to get her out of there.”
Logan swears under his breath, then leans back in his chair, dragging his hand down his face in disbelief. “Do you think you can help her remember?”
I expected his question but not his reaction. Any piece of information that will get us close to Maxwell is top priority, but etched across Logan’s face is something else.
“I’m not sure. I don’t know what her triggers are, how to open a path to her memories. We might need to work around it. Logan, I know our priority is the mission, but—”
