Page 105 of Wrecked
“There’s money in the trunk and a weapon,” Nitro said in a resigned voice Sam had never heard before. “I’ll call if Logan sends us to pick you up, so it isn’t a surprise. I know you won’t run.”
“I would never do that.” Sam ended the call and placed the phone on the seat beside him. He would tell her what he believed to be true at this minute. If it changed, he would tell her then. “My team is not going to crowd us. You heard the rest from my side.”
Turning back to him slowly, she shook her head. “Their presence will alert the kidnapper.”
His voice came out harsh, but he was at the end of his rope with all of this. “You didn’t even know they were here and had probably followed us for a while.” He slapped a hand on the steering wheel. “Give me a break. We’ve built a bridge of trust. I did not throw you under the bus with my team and I won’t, but you gotta back up and let me out of this corner. I’m doing my best to prove I’m still trustworthy. If I thought you were willing to meet my team and join efforts, I would have suggested that because we’d have more support. But you’re so sure you can get in and out of the kidnapper’s secure facility you won’t consider it. Even knowing Angie and Clercville will be safe if I walked, I’m still in on our original terms.”
Her face fell.
How could he hurt someone he’d just been loving only hours ago? He’d never experienced this powerful draw to a woman. Maybe it was love, but this proved he didn’t deserve anyone.
He would not wreck her life.
Was she listening to him? Would she slow down and give him a chance to stay with her on this mission?
He was sticking with her any way he could. He couldn’t bring himself to let her go ahead alone.
She nibbled on her thumbnail, clinging to the top of the emotional fence she straddled.
Taking a moment to calm down, he gave one more shot at pushing her to choose a side. “I’ve been playing catch-up the entire time while trying to support you in an op where I’m running blind. My people have every reason to question my sanity. I have not tried to take control and I won’t, but I need you to meet me part way for any of this to succeed.” He drew another deep breath, telling himself this was not over. “If you can’t do that and speak freely about what you get from your techie, then I’m no more help in this mission than a chair in that restaurant. I thought you were willing to do whatever it took to get Phoebe back because I am.”
She covered her eyes with her hand, sitting there at a mental crossroad that had only one smart choice.
Her hand dropped. Her eyes glistened. “We continue together.”
Relief spread through him, allowing him to breathe easy again.
She added, “Before you think all is okay again, let me be clear. We do this mission. I get Phoebe. You get your guy. We say goodbye.”
He felt that jagged blade slash deep into his chest. They’d made no plans for after, but only because time hadn’t allowed any conversation beyond rescuing two people.
Screw it. Finish the mission first.
Convince her to give him one minute when they were done ... if they both survived. He needed to tuck that hope away and let this chaos in his head go to keep his mind on the mission.
He cleared his throat. “Understood.” If only that word didn’t sound like an agreement to walk away.
