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“WAS IT AS bad as you expected?” Maddox barely waits until we’ve disconnected before checking in.
I’m not surprised he’s concerned. Early in the meeting he put his arm around me and pulled me close, making it obvious he could sense my distress and wanted to comfort me like he always does.
But my worries were honestly short-lived. Harlow freaked me out a little at first, but once I got past her tough exterior, it was easy to see how much she genuinely cares. How passionate she is about what she does.
And how much she really wants Trevor to suffer. The common interest helped me feel a little more relaxed in her digital presence.
“No. Actually, it wasn’t bad at all.” I smile, thinking about how funny Heidi was and how cool and collected Mona acted. “Everyone was super different, but they were all really nice.”
I thought it would be difficult to hand over the information on the flash drive. Believed once it left my control I would feelcompletely vulnerable. But I don’t feel vulnerable at all. I feel empowered.
Would it be the same if it was just me on my own doing this—handing that information over to the police? Unlikely. I’m self-aware enough to know that a large part of my current confidence is because I feel like I have people supporting me. Helping me. Looking out for me. People who care and want to do the right thing.
It’s almost funny that it would take a company of mercenaries to finally be the good in my world.
“They are all really nice people.” Maddox lifts his shoulders. “And I’m not just saying that to make you feel better. They genuinely are the best humans in the world.”
I believe him. Easily. Even though I just met them.
I’ve met my fair share of bad people, and they weren’t it. Plus, I trust Maddox. Implicitly. If he says they’re all good people, then they’re all good people.
It should be scary—believing a man I just met so unfailingly—but it’s not. Not at all.
Well... Maybe it’s a little scary, because at some point I know Maddox won’t be at my side anymore. And it’s becoming more and more obvious how much that’s going to suck. Not only because I’ll be vulnerable without his protection, but also because I’ll miss him. His sense of humor. His goofy ways.
The intensity that radiates off him when he switches to Murder Maddox.
Maddox reaches out to smooth back my hair. “Maybe when all this is over, I could take you to Alaska and you could meet everyone in person.”
“Really?” I almost laugh because it’s so bizarre that he would offer right when I was worrying I’d never see him once his job here was finished. I don’t even know what I would call that. Is he psychic? Is it simply a coincidence that he can always seem to tell when I need him?
Or is there more to it? Because the look of uncertainty on Maddox’s face—even though he tries to hide it behind an easy smile—has me stepping forward and wrapping my arms around his middle.
“That would be amazing. I’ve never been to Alaska.” I rest my cheek against his chest, closing my eyes. “But I’m not sure I’d want to go there in the winter, so maybe we should wait until spring.”
“That’s probably a smart decision.” Maddox’s arms encircle me as he holds me tight. “So maybe if this is over during the winter, we could go somewhere warm.”
I smile. “Are you sure you want me to be your new traveling companion?” I don’t know why I’m fishing for reassurance like I am. Maddox pretty much just said he plans to still have at least a little contact with me once we’re done with Trevor.
But I can’t help but want more.
“Well, I can’t take Savannah now that she’s pregnant.” Maddox chuckles. “Not that Zeke would’ve let me anyway. He’s wedged so far up her ass I’m shocked she can walk in a straight line.”
Talking about Savannah puts a little bit of a damper on my newly lifted spirits. “Is she upset I didn’t tell her what was going on?”
Savannah has already done so much to help me. She was part of the team responsible for making it possible for me to leave Trevor. I just couldn’t put more on her. Especially not when I found out she was expecting.
“Do you want to know the truth?” Maddox’s voice is soft.
I swallow around the ache in my throat. “I always want the truth.”
Maddox’s palms smooth up and down my back. “She’s not mad, but I think it hurt her feelings a little bit.”
It figures I would upset the one person I might have been able to build a genuine friendship with. “I just wanted to protect her. I know how dangerous Trevor is, and I?—”
“I know why you didn’t tell her, and so does she. I promise, Savannah gets it. But after what she went through, she wants to help save everybody. And there’s a little bit of guilt that she wasn’t able to fully save you.”
“I don’t want her to feel responsible for anything that happens to me.” I lift my eyes, meeting Maddox’s gaze. “Promise me, no matter what happens, you’ll make sure Savannah doesn’t carry the burden.”