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“Voodoo, your husband hasn’t left his sentry post, and he won’t until you leave this room.”
“But Daisy...”
“Will be just fine,” she answered for herself.
“What she said. Besides, Bench is out there right now talking with Seven. Your sister will be protected. Now do you want to go catch this venomous Vanessa, or stay here and paint your sister’s nails?”
“Oh, shut up,” Voodoo said in mirth.
“Are you going too?” Chaos asked.
“I have to keep these four from killing her. Vanessa needs to be in jail, not resting peacefully in a vault. Now, time’s a-wastin’.”
Leaning over and kissing her sister’s cheek, she left the room and ran smack into Carter. Strong, comforting arms instinctively wrapped themselves around her. He knew he needed to release her, but this had been the most relaxed she’d been, and he didn’t want to break his hold. However, she’d stiffened at his contact, and he wasn’t sure he could handle the hurt that always remained when she pulled away.
“Sorry,” he said instead as he stepped back and gave her room.
She looked confused by his words, like she too was enjoying their bubble. As much as he wished it to be true, he had to keep focused. They’d found Vanessa.
At Byte’s suggestion, he called Vanessa and kept her talking so Byte could triangulate her location. She was outside the hospital.
“I need you to trust me on this,” Carter said as they walked into one of the waiting rooms for a private discussion.
“Okay.” He could hear the resignation in her tone, but he couldn’t dwell on it.
“Ivy and Ghost are already in their car. The plan is for the three of us to leave the hospital together. Byte will make a big production of leaving, wishing us well, yada yada.”
“I’m not sure I’m the type to make a big production.” Byte giggled at her own words. “Sorry, go on.”
“Anyway, Byte will leave with Ivy and Ghost, who will be following behind us. If, for whatever reason, Nessa doesn’t follow us, Ghost will find out where she’s staying. However, we believe Vanessa will be watching us.”
“Us?”
“Yes, Gwen, us. We have to put on a show. This is the only way to redirect her attention from Daisy.”
“What kind of show?”
“One that makes her believe we’re still in love with each other. Do you think you can fake it for a little bit?”
Voodoo bit her bottom lip. Was he going to kiss her? Could she kiss him and keep her feelings and uncertainties at bay? She wasn’t sure, but instead of admitting that, she nodded.
“Good girl. Do you think we should practice?”
“Smooth,” Byte said, and offered up her hand for a high five. Rolling his eyes, he met her open palm, then looked back at his wife. He was having his own internal debate.
Could he kiss her and then let her go? Could he accept her decision if she chose to live without him? All he could do was wait and see. They were different people. The lies they’ve believed for all those years had changed them, hardened them. Could either of them truly let down their guard and give them another chance?
He didn’t know... But what he did know was he was going to make the best out of their pretending. It might be the last time he’d have Gwen in his arms.
If I’m stupid enough to give up.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
Who is that woman clinging on to Carter?Vanessa asked herself. She’d been waiting at the hospital ever since she’d nearly been caught. She was exiting the lobby when she saw Carter exit a car with the couple from ALIAS. She knew they were the owners, but they were irrelevant to her. It was Carter who she was curious about.
How was he going to react at seeing his wife for the first time? Was he going to threaten her? Surely, he couldn’t forgive her for trying to kill him. That had been the plan when she fed him the poison. Venom wanted Carter to hate his wife. Only, it backfired when she overcompensated for his size. She’d nearly killed him. But at least her purpose had been served. He now believed his wife had tried to kill him. She never understood why he was so determined to find Gwen. Would he be as forgiving if he’d known it was Vanessa behind everything?
“No, he doesn’t love you,” Venom whispered in her ear.
