Page 97 of Finding Fate

Fate

Today

The coolness from thestone step seeps through my jeans, sending a shiver up my spine. Shouting in the house continues, but I've done my part; no need to go back in until they’re done. Rubbing my hands up and down my arms, I stare out at the beautiful landscape.

With a deep, shaky breath in, I close my eyes. Talking about Africa this go-round was a bit easier since just yesterday I told Nash the same story but still, talking about it, remembering, isn't easy. I want to forget and move on, which I will. With the file Mac has, I'll help him and Matt find Jace again, and then they can take it from there. I'm done.

A tiny smile pulls at my lips. Maybe, hopefully, once all this is past us, Nash and I can move on together. After last night and this morning, there’s no denying that I'm in too deep. Might as well tell him how I feel about him and see how he reacts. My smile grows at the thought of more nights and mornings with him. We deserve to be happy, both of us, and we will be. Soon.

One more task and I can finally move on with my life.

A shadow creeps over my shoulder. By the way my body doesn't go molten, it's not Nash. Mac sinks beside me with a low groan and stretches out his long legs in front of him. We stare at the mountains in comfortable silence.

"I didn't know," he says a few minutes later. "I had no idea the CIA put a block on getting him and you out. I would’ve... you know I would’ve done something."

I grasp his hand and pull it to rest on my knee. "It's done. The asshole was right though. The general’s dead, and I'm back in one piece. Partially."

"What does that mean?"

"It means physically I’m okay, but mentally?" I turn from him and pick at a crack in the step below us. "It’ll take a while, I guess. Hopefully every day will be better. At least I have him to help me through it. He understands." My cheeks burn in embarrassment and I nudge Mac’s shoulder, which he returns.

"I'm glad you have him so you don't have to go through this alone. You deserve to be happy, and by the looks of it, you're finally acting on it."

"I am, but it's scary." Turing on the step, I face him straight on. "After we find the man who recruited Destiny, I'm done. I'll help you and Matt find him, walk you through my files and his signatures, but then I want out."

He wraps a hand through my hair and pulls our foreheads together. "I was hoping you'd say that. We'll find him, Fate. You and me, we can find him. After that you're free. Free to move on with him, move on with your life."

"I think I love him," I whisper and close my eyes. "But what if he leaves? Everyone leaves me."

He pulls back but keeps us close with the hand still in my hair. "I know you're new at this, so I'll give you a little hint. He won't. I see the way he looks at you, how he protects you. I think he might feel the same way."

"What if—"

"Am I interrupting something?" comes an angry voice behind us. I leap from the step and turn to face Nash, who's glaring at Mac.

"No, we were just wrapping up," Mac says as he stands and dusts off his slacks. "You and me, Fate. Tonight. We'll find him." With a smirk, he looks to the still-glaring Nash, then back to me. "Then you can move on."

Avoiding Nash, I turn to walk through the open field. He follows a few steps before speaking up.

"What was that about, Fate?"

"Just planning our next steps. I'll help them find this guy, and then I'm done. I don’t want to do this anymore." With a shrug, I stop and turn to face him.

"Then what?" he says stone-faced, not giving any insight to what he's feeling.

"I don't know. Go back to contracting with the FBI, maybe get my GED and work on my bachelor’s." Keeping my eyes locked with his, I silently beg him to give me what I need in this moment—reassurance of us, of what he wants from us.

"Right. Sounds like you have a lot of thinking to do."

"What about you? What will you do when all this is done?" I hate how small my voice sounds as I ask the one question I need a direct, honest answer to.

Crossing his strong arms over his chest, he smirks. "Keep working for Drake. Lots of CIA dirty work out there to be done. Any of these future plans of yours involve him?" His quick nod to the house confuses me for a second before I realize he means Mac.

"Yeah, of course. Why."

His face falls at my words. "So that's it? You want him even after—"

Shocked, I toss a hand up to stop him. "Wait, what?"

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