Page 125 of The Twilight Theft

Actually, the important part was that I didn’t have to listen to the Reynolds siblings cussing me out for running into the Bishop office like a lovesick fool.

Scarlett had shut up after I pointed out the time she ran off after Noah in Venice. But only for a half-second.

Noah, shaking his head, crossed to the windows of Wyatt’s office, opened one, and threw all of my connections to the outside world away.

Will was going to be pissed. He’d have to replace a lot of stuff for me.

“I told you not to let them keep their tech. Her whole team was listening in.” Noah returned to the center of the room and helped me up. Why was he suddenly pretending to be a good guy? He’d sent Vanessa to take me out at the antiques shop. “Jayce, have a seat on the couch. If you move, Enzo has permission to shoot you.” He glowered at Enzo. “In the leg only.”

“She claims she was here about Wyatt.” Enzo’s lip curled and his fingers flexed on the gun. Not good. “We should question her more vigorously. I think she’s lying.”

Definitely lying. Scarlett had fed me the line, which was better than the complete blank I had in my brain when Enzo lifted me by my hair.

“Hypocritical, don’t you think?” Drew stood next to the other men, far too comfortable with them. Hewason my side, right? “Craig told me we’re building something that will heal, and yet you use violence to reach that end.”

Enzo took a half-step toward Drew, but Noah put up his hand.

Noah said, “You’re Drew, right? The one who was working with Jayce tonight?”

“I am.”

“Craig speaks highly of you.” Noah had always been intense and still was, but he had a peace about him I didn’t remember. As though he’d truly found some higher calling. Or believed he had. “He’s told you what we’re about?”

“A little.” Drew tucked one hand in his pocket. Was he genuinely working with them? The panic in his eyes when he spotted me said no, but everything about him now said yes. “And I want in.”

Noah looked at Craig, who nodded, then back at Drew. “Have you lost someone?”

“My parents died in a car accident just over two years ago.” Drew’s lips tightened and he swallowed hard. Was that true? He seemed like he was fighting to control his emotions—but he wasalwaysin control. Unless he was playing them? “Could the phoenix have saved them, too?”

Liana approached Drew, rubbing a hand down the length of his arm. “It can save everyone.”

Noah turned to me. “It could have saved your Olympic dream, Jayce. Saved Tanner’s leg.”

I felt my body lean forward, as though something deep inside of me wanted what they were talking about, despite my brain knowing it was insane. “What?”

“Everything we’re doing”—Noah came closer and knelt in front of me—“is to create a world without suffering. Where disease no longer limits humanity’s potential. Where the sick and injured are healed in moments, not over years.”

“That’s not possible.” If my leg had healed properly, I could have followed the path I was supposed to be on. My mother wouldn’t have abandoned me for my sister. I wouldn’t have done all those awful things. If there was no disease, Coach McInnis would be alive.

Noah placed a hand on my left knee. “It is.”

But it wouldn’t have changed who my mother really was. I wouldn’t have met the Reynolds team. I looked at Drew. I wouldn’t have met him. Tanner was a great guy, but I hadn’t felt the same way about him as I did about Drew.

Oh my god, was I in love with Drew Donovan?

And why was I only realizing that when I was surrounded by Fenix goons?

Liana touched Noah’s shoulder. “The plane’s going to be ready in an hour. We should go to the airport.”

“Where are we heading?” asked Drew.

Enzo scoffed. “That’s not how this works. Bishop can’t bring you in that easily.”

Noah stood, inserting himself between Enzo and Drew, who looked like they were about to fight. The testosterone was thick in the air, but where would it end?

And how many minutes had passed? Where were Emmett and my team? Or were they holding back because of Noah’s threat?

Craig joined the men, not showing the same commanding presence I’d seen from him over the past week. “Wyatt had photos of us. Me, Liana, Vanessa, and Enzo.”

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