Page 126 of Debt of My Soul

She sighs. “You’ve been through some crap, girl. No one would blame you for taking some time to collect yourself back in the safety of your family.”

“It’s not like I have anything left here to pack up,” I add. I’d still need to deal with the farmhouse property, but other than that … “Hey, have you talked to Adam?”

Her eyes widen. “Absolutely not. Heard he ran off with Raven’s crew.”

Guilt gnaws at me when I forget to ask about her brother. “And Goff? Is he okay?”

She nods, offering a sad smile. “He made it out before they rounded everyone up. Told me Darrin told him not to waste his life and made him leave.” A tear leaks from the corner of her eye and she smacks it away. “Can you believe that? Darrin,” she scoffs.

We sit together, enjoying the silence until Mrs. Northgate brings us the first of the season’s apple crisp, and the three of us enjoy simple stories from recent guests, not discussing the events of the recent days for the next two hours.

It isn’t until I’m alone in my room with Mrs. Northgate’s borrowed computer that I type in the flight information and book a ticket home.

Chapter 48

Liam

“Walk us through your dead drop protocol with Agent Wilson again, please.”

I pound a fist on the table, the papers spread over it jostling at the contact.

“I’ve already gone over it … twice.” I growl.

Six days. That’s how long I’ve been sequestered in debrief, unable to contact Fleur. Meetings piled on top of meetings pack my days, and Agent Wilson decided I was the one best suited to help interrogate Blitz, Darrin, and Trip. Idiots. They definitely don’t want to talk to me.

Blitz made that clear this morning while I sat in with the FBI. He spat at my feet and threatened to slit my throat if he ever was released from prison, time served. It doesn’t exactly make me excited to join them for Darrin’s questioning later.

I want out of here.

“I’d send a message on a secure phone and meet him at one of several locations to deliver that information.”

“Always in person? You never left intel?”

“No,” I seethe. “Are we done?”

“And your marriage within the organization. Walk us through that again.”

I blink, only to stare openly at the scrawny agent across from me asking silly paper-pusher questions.

“She was taken by Darrin’s crew, held to send a message to Adam Parker. Blitz was prepared to kill her, or so I assumed, and I claimed her.”

“And claiming is?”

“Come on. Y’all have this down already.”

“Humor me, Agent Parker.”

I fold my arms and slink back in my chair. My knee bounces in time with the clock on the wall—I’m going mad.

“Darrin had a rule. In time, I came to realize it was more to protect the girls brought into the compound, but his rule was if a woman was married in, no other man could touch her. Bro code type deal. Basically, you married a girl you didn’t want anyone else to mess around with.”

“Interesting. And are you still legally married to Ms. Jacobs?”

I snort. “Considering I’ve been locked down here until you goons can get your paperwork finished, I’m pretty sure I still am.”

“And do you intend to file for divorce?”

I tighten, each muscle locking into place at the word.Divorce.

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