Page 141 of Depths of Destruction

Her face crumples and an ocean of tears spills over my hands.

Pain shoots through my heart, but I continue, "You will not go anywhere without me. It's not about your independence or respect. I will die protecting you and will not let you do something to put yourself at risk."

"I don't want it to be for nothing." She sobs. "They all need to pay."

"They will. You have to give it time," I insist and pull her into my chest, careful not to touch the raw flesh mocking me while on full display in the mirror.

What was I thinking?

I need to cool my temper with her.

She was going to go back.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done this," I mumble into her hair.

She tightens her grip around my waist. "I need to find my sister and understand what Ezra meant. The...the story needs to be released."

"Come on." I lead her out of the bathroom, sit on the bed, and put her onto my lap.

So much pain and worry fill her eyes.

I wish I could take it all away from her, but I don't know how.

"There's only one flight for us to get on today. It has to be our priority. When we get to Bermuda, we'll figure this out."

"My sister—"

"Kalim is looking. He will find them. If I need to go back, I will. I promised you, and I meant it. But right now, we can't go to Belize."

Her lip shakes. "What if I never see her again?"

I swallow the lump in my throat. It's a possibility, and I don't want to lie to her. So, I tell her my truth. "I don't believe that is going to happen. Both her and Malin will find us. It's another reason we need to get to Bermuda. They could already be there, for all we know."

Hope flares in her eyes but then dies. "But they probably aren't, are they?"

"I don't think so, but we don't know."

"What about Ezra? He was trying to tell me something."

"When we get to Bermuda, we will figure that out. Not right now. I will help you."

"How?"

"I don't know, but I will."

"You won't make me bury my story?"

"No. It will come out. I promise. They will all go down."

Her glassy eyes stare back at me.

"Baby, do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Good. I trust you, too."

She sniffles. "You still do?"