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I look over my shoulder to make sure no one is coming, then jab my finger at the piece of paper again. “Have these answers to me by tonight. Once I connect to Maxwell’s team and Zane, it’ll alert everyone left on base. From what I’ve heard, most of the guys are leaving on some mission today. Everyone left will pile into the observation area to take us out once I’m done. Link mentioned something the other day about gas deployment as part of your defense procedures. It’s on this list. I think I can lock them in, reroute the gas meant for the comms room into the observation room, and knock everyone out. Once I’m finished, we’ll just walk out of here, but only on one condition.” I stop to lead Hunter along, and he follows like I knew he would.
“What’s that?”
“I want Maxwell’s word that he’ll release us. Zane, me, and Dana. We’re done after this. There are no more contracts. Nothing. And he promises never to go after Jack again.”
“I—I’ll tell him.” The apprehension in his voice tells me he doesn’t believe I’ll get what I’m asking for.
I already know I won’t.
Maxwell won’t let me go. He won’t let Zane go free, and he definitely won’t stop until Jack is dead, but I need him to believe that I think he will.
I need him to think I’m still that naive girl who went into his dog cage, but I’m not. Now, I’m the fighter who came out of it, and when he underestimates me this time, I’ll see to it that it’s the last thing he ever does.
“Good. Get that information to me tonight. Once those questions are answered, I’ll tell you when we’ll contact Maxwell. Now I need to talk to Logan.”
I turn away from Hunter, closing the distance to Logan’s closed office door.
As I reach out to knock, Hunter grabs my arm, spinning me in place, and I bump into the door.
“Why?” His defenses go up. I’m not surprised.
Everything is rushing to the end for him, and I understand the pressure he’s under.
“We had words last night. I’d like to smooth over any tension, to keep him off my back, and I need some information from him to be able to work for Maxwell tomorrow.”
As Hunter opens his mouth to object, Logan’s muffled voice calls out from behind the door. Hunter freezes in place, panic clearly plastered across his face.
In his surprise, he loosens his grip on my arm, and I use the limited freedom to spin around and open the door, exposing both of us to the two men in the room.
Jack looks surprised to see me, but not half as surprised as Logan sounds. “Jessa?”
“Yeah, hi. Um…” Then I realize I really don’t know what I wanted to lead with, so I buy myself some time by taking a step into the office, and Hunter watches me from the door. “I want to speak with you, Logan. Your guy, he said you were busy, but I’d like to talk to you.”
I turn to Hunter, who relaxes his nerves but stays still near his only point of exit.
“Sure, come in. It’s okay, Hunter. We’ve got it from here.” Both Logan and Jack stand to welcome me, and Jack goes for a second chair as Hunter cautiously steps back to the door.
The worry that Hunter could listen from outside the door hits me. I’m going to need Jack to leave in order to make sure Hunter isn’t eavesdropping.
“I mean alone, Jack. I’d like to speak with Logan alone.”
Jack’s expression falls at my request.
I know he wants to be here for me, and he doesn’t realize that right now, I need him to be out there, in the hall, for me.
“I’ll wait outside. We still need to discuss the team’s departure.” He finishes with Logan as he recovers and replaces his shock with a smile. Moving past me, he gently offers his support. As he touches my hand, goosebumps run up my arm.
I reassure him that it won’t take long, then I turn to take a seat across from Logan.
A negative silence fills the room.
If there is something more quiet than quiet, this is it. Logan is still. Only his eyes move as he studies my face, and I decide to jump right in so I don’t give anything away.
“I want you to know I understand why you did what you did.” He moves to speak, but I’m not done. Raising my hand gently, I ask for his attention, and, closing his mouth and leaning back in his chair, he grants it. “This doesn’t mean I accept it, but after talking to Jack about it this morning, I understand your intention, and I know you were not planning to follow through?”
I allow my voice to end in a partial question, and he responds.
“You’re correct. Jessa, I am sorry. There was no other way.”
