Page 129 of Into the Woods

“What happens, Court?” I demanded.

“They’ll cut their losses,” he rasped. “They’ll kill everyone. And Eric will come after you. Westford, my dad… Fuck, Becca, they’ll all come for you. But I can protect you, baby girl.”

“And my family?” A tear tumbled down my cheek.

“Becca.” His tone was anguished.

“They’ll kill my family, won’t they? To get to me?”

His silence was all the answer I needed.

“I’m going to play this thing out,” I started, my voice sounding a hell of a lot stronger than I felt. “I’m going with Eric, and you’re going to come riding in with the cavalry. This is one of the only times I’m down with you saving me like a damsel in distress.”

“No,” he bit out. “Fucking no. I’m not risking you.”

“Court, do you trust me?”

His hesitation wasn’t because he didn’t trust me; it was because he did trust me. Just like I knew he’d always have my back. It just sucked that this was the stress test I was about to put us through.

“You know I do,” he finally said, frustration lacing his words. I could picture him stabbing his fingers through his dark hair.

“Then you’re going to trust that I can handle myself. You’re gonna tell me you love me and trust me to do this, because you believe in me.”

“Becca.”

I barely swallowed a sob. “Tell me you love me, Court.”

“You’re my entire fucking reason for existing, Becca Whittier,” he vowed. “I trust you. I love you.”

I choked on my tears. “I love you. I’ll see you soon.”

“Becca—”

I hung up before he could talk me out of it.

Every single cell in my body wanted to hide in this bathroom and wait to be rescued. I wanted to bury my head in the sand and forget this nightmare. But if Eric suspected I was betraying him, he’d lose it. He’d kill all those people they had lined up to sell, he’d come for my family… He had to be stopped.

I stood up and looked at my phone. Before I could overthink it, I made the judgment call to delete my call logs and texts with Court. Maybe I was being paranoid, or I’d seen too many spy movies, but I had to see this through to the end.

After washing my hands and using a damp paper towel to blot away the eyeliner smudges under my eyes, I straightened my spine. Staring at my reflection I whispered, “You can do this.”

God, I hoped I could do this.

I turned and unlocked the bathroom door, sending up prayers for a miracle to whoever might be listening.

CHAPTER 39

COURT

I picked up my coffee mug from the end table beside me and hurled it at the wall. It shattered in a spray of ceramic shards and lukewarm coffee. “Fuck!”

Rook looked up, his expression tense as he talked to Trick on the phone, relaying the latest shitshow. Bishop shot me a grim look from where he was reloading a magazine clip.

A familiar hand clapped down on my shoulder, and I turned to see my best friend behind me.

“We’ll get her out, bro,” Linc vowed, his tone solemn. His blue eyes, usually full of mischief and laughter, were cold and lethal. He’d arrived with my oldest brother and the rest of my friends only twenty-two minutes earlier. They were jet-lagged and exhausted.

And ready to kick some ass.

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