Page 178 of Caught in the Crossfire

Maybe this guilt constantly choking me didn’t have to feel like a vice around my neck.

The next morning, she seemed lighter. She slept better, all of us piled on the big bed together. She and I met at the gym to work out, but our training wasn’t as desperate as it had been. This time it felt more like we were meeting each other head on, rather than using one another to get vengeance. We were bothgetting stronger, especially together, and I was riding the endorphin high throughout breakfast.

Until she asked me to take her to Willow’s haven.

At first, I froze. The two of us had secretly, wordlessly, agreed to avoid it. On top of that, I didn’t trust myself to take her anywhere.

But Leona was no longer shying away from going to speak with the girls. She was determined to see what else they knew about the Albanians. It was something she had to do—even if she learned nothing from it.

So I told her yes.

This time, I woke Ciel up and told him what we were doing. He gave me two extra trackers, one for my person and one for my bike. Leona still wore hers in her engagement ring. He’d looked so cute sleeping that I’d even surprised myself by pressing a kiss to his cheek before we left.

We also stopped at the library to let Obi know, only to find Cas completely engrossed in a book. He’d commandeered Obi’s desk and strewn papers all across it, taking furious notes.

I’d asked him if everything was all right, and he’d only stared at me with bloodshot eyes. He waved me on, saying he needed to get some sleep, but that he trusted me.

When it came to Ryuji, we let him sleep. Despite his earlier apology, the accusations he’d flung at me before still stung. Even if he was coming to terms with his own fears about losing Leona, the fact remained that Ishouldhave protected her. I could have done better. He wasn’t wrong.

This was another chance to earn both of their forgiveness. To prove to them all, and myself, that I could be responsible for her safety. I’d bring her home.

My motorcycle raced across the bridge, leaving the city in my rearview. Leona’s grip around my waist was firm as I sped to the south, as civilization fell away and I drove us toward the woods.

It took almost two hours to reach the edge of the compound.My bike slowed while I turned down a dirt road that twisted farther into the forest.

“We’re here?” Leona asked. The comms radio system connected our helmets, so I heard her loud and clear.

“A few more minutes,” I said, squeezing her hand around my waist before gripping the handlebars again. The road wasn’t terrible, but it was unpaved for a reason. I kept my bike slow and tightly controlled on the smoothest parts. “Keep an eye out for the cameras. You’ll see them in the trees.”

The haven was seventy-five acres of land in the middle of nowhere farm ground. Covered by forest on all sides, the main buildings were protected from outside prying eyes. The forest opened up to rolling fields that stretched for dozens of acres before we even got close to the main buildings. Most of the land was used for farming, contracted out to trusted and fully vetted local women-owned farms.

I could feel Leona shifting, looking over my shoulder as we got closer to the fences. The inner compound was surrounded by a high chain-link fence and patrolled by the women who stayed and worked here. The fence was to keep people out, not in, and the people who lived here were welcome to come and go as they pleased so long as they told no one where this place was.

“We’ll check in at the guardhouse,” I said when we got close. “Willow texted me they’re expecting us, but they’ll still want to double check our identities.”

Despite everything I did to track down and free the victims who lived here, I’d only actually been here a handful of times. The last time was over a year ago. Willow visited multiple times a week to provide care and drop off supplies.

I pulled up to the guardhouse and flipped open my visor. Leona did the same behind me.

A woman dressed in tight combat clothes stepped out carrying an automatic rifle. Her black hair was twisted into long braids, and her brown skin glistened in the sun. “Wynn?”

I smiled. “Gloria. It’s good to see you.”

“You too. Been awhile.” She looked between me and Leona. “Willow said you were visiting to talk to some of our girls.”

I nodded. “This is Leona. We won’t stay very long.”

“Hi,” Leona added. “Thanks for letting me come.”

Gloria looked her up and down before giving us a small, wary smile. “Welcome. Can you both take off your helmets, please?”

We did as she asked, and she pointed a scanner at our faces, one at a time. The machine beeped a happy noise and Gloria nodded. “Just verifying your facial recognition. Tell Ciel these scanners work great, would you?”

I grinned while Leona squeezed my waist with pride. “He’ll be happy to hear it.”

“Hang tight for a second.” Gloria stepped back inside the guardhouse and spoke into her radio for a few moments before nodding and returning. “Okay, you’re cleared to go in. Willow is here and waiting for you.”

Leona bounced on the back of the bike. “I can’t wait to see her. Your sister is amazing, Wynn.”