Page 145 of The Obvious Check

“She needed to know that I’m not just doing this for you,” he continues, stepping even closer, his hands finding my waist. “That I want this, Sav. That I want Adley here. That I want a life with you.Bothof you.”

My throat constricts with a tangle of love and fear so intense it physically hurts. “And you think risking everything is the only way to get that life?”

The words come out softer than I intended, more broken than angry.

His hands find my waist, and I don't pull away even though part of me wants to. “I think Luke isn't going to stop until he destroys us. And I can't, I won't, let that happen.”

“There has to be another way.” But even as I say it, my voice wavers because what other way is there? Luke's too careful, too connected, too smart. He's made it clear he's not going to stop, and every attempt we've made to get out from under his thumb has failed.

Cade's forehead drops to mine, and I can feel the exhaustion radiating from his entire body. “If there was another way, don't you think I would have found it by now? Don't you think I've spent every waking moment trying to figure out how to protect you without putting everything on the line?”

His voice cracks at his last words, and it breaks something inside me because I know he's right. I know he's looked at thisfrom every angle, considered every option. I know he doesn't want to do this any more than I want him to, but that doesn't make it easier to accept.

“I'm scared,” I whisper, the admission tearing from my chest like a physical wound. “I'm so fucking scared, Cade. What if something goes wrong? What if you don't come back to me?”

“Iamcoming home,” he says fiercely, cupping my face in his hands. “I'm going to come home to you, and Adley’s going to move in with us. That's a promise.”

I want to believe him. God, I want to believe him so badly it physically hurts. I just don’t know if I can.

“I just hope we get the chance to go to Connecticut,” I whisper, my hands fisting in his shirt like I can somehow keep him here through sheer force of will. “I hope you get the chance to meet her.”

Because if you don't come home to me, I don't know how I'm supposed to do this alone.

The unspoken words hang between us, and from the way his expression crumbles, I know he hears them anyway.

“I will,” he says, but for the first time, his voice falters. “I promise you, I will.”

I don't know if it's a promise or a prayer, but with everything we have on the line, it has to be enough.

Chapter 34

Savannah's voice is soft when she steps into the room, but it still hits me harder than any punch will tonight. “You don't have to do this, you know?”

It's a thought that's been running through my head like a broken record. What would really happen if I didn't go through with this? Is Luke just all talk and no game? Am I willing to risk finding out what he'll do to her if I didn't show?

No.

Fuck no.

I don't look up because if I look at her,reallylook at her, I might not go. And I have to go. This isn't just a fight. It's a chance. Maybe the only one I'll ever get to end this nightmare once and for all.

Behind her, Stanley barks once, sharp and accusatory like he's casting his vote with his mom. Perfect. Even our damn dog thinks I've lost my mind.

“I have to,” I say, yanking my boot laces tighter than necessary. “You know I do.”

She takes a step closer, and I can feel her eyes burning holes in the back of my head. I know that look without even seeing it. It'snot anger. Anger would be easier to deal with. It's hope. It's her still believing she can talk me out of this, still thinking there's another way out of the hell Luke's created for us.

“No, I don't,” she says, and even though her voice is steady, I can hear the tremor underneath. “You don't have to do anything. You can walk away.”

“I don't have a choice, Sav.”

“Bullshit.” The word cracks like a whip, and there's the fire I've been waiting for. Two days. We’ve been fighting and fucking for two days now because apparently disagreeing on something so vehemently is the perfect foreplay.

“You always tell me I have a choice. Well, guess what? You do too.”

I stand up, grabbing my hoodie from the back of the chair and pulling it over my head with more force than necessary. The fabric feels like armor, but not the kind that'll protect me from her words.

“I need to get into that bar. I need someone on the inside to plant the USB. This is the only way in, and we both know it.”

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