Page 38 of The Comeback Road (Leaving #2)

Lexie

The tension in the room was palpable as I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everyone’s gazes on me.

Jace was looking worse for wear and was a little bit green, but I could see the worry etched all across his face.

His eyes didn’t look anywhere but my side.

Every time I inhaled for a breath, I could have sworn I saw a look of relief fill his eyes.

Magnolia looked hurt, confused, and had her arms crossed protectively around herself. She was unnaturally still, waiting for an explanation. Sloan had her back to his front, stoic but attentive, ready to listen.

Luke stood next to me, almost as if creating a united front.

“I…I need to explain.” My voice trembled slightly. “I, uh, well, there isn’t really an easy way to say this. I’ve been working as a consultant for the FBI since I was recruited in college, but I’ve never been a field agent until now. This is all new to me.”

Silence filled the room until Luke cleared his throat as if he was going to speak.

But before he could, Magnolia held her hand out, and her expression shifted from confusion to one of pain.

“What do you mean, until now ? You’ve kept this a secret from me for years?

” Her eyes held unshed tears, and I had to swallow back the bile that was threatening to make an appearance.

“I thought I was protecting you…There were so many times I considered telling you, but all I could think about was that it could put you in danger, and I couldn’t do it, babes.

I couldn’t. And if you asked me if I regretted that decision, my answer would be no , as long as it kept you safe.

” My voice cracked on the word safe , and I saw her eyes soften briefly before they hardened again.

“Well, a lot of good that did you, Lex, considering you ended up here almost bleeding out on the floor from a stab wound!” Magnolia whispered the words, but it felt like she was screaming. I could hear the betrayal and hurt in her voice.

“You were stabbed?” Jace asked, and he tried to reach for me.

“Don’t make me knock you out again,” Luke threatened as he once again sheltered me from my friends, from Jace.

“Listen, you can be mad all you want, but the truth is that none of you know what it’s like.

None of you have had to make that choice to protect your friends and family from yourself .

When you do, that’s when you can judge her choices.

Lexie isn’t a field agent. She agreed to this mission after she basically retired to follow you to this middle-of-nowhere town, and you’re looking at her like she’s the devil.

And you have no idea what she’s been through.

Oh, yeah, she got stabbed, but please, let’s lay the guilt on her. ”

Magnolia looked at him, stunned, and I saw her face flush with something akin to guilt and worry as she looked over at me. “I—”

Luke didn’t let her finish. “I called her in for this one. Didn’t give her a choice. We were betrayed. That’s why we came here instead of going to a hospital. It’s safer. Especially for Lexie.”

“What does that mean?” Sloan was gripping Magnolia tightly.

“It means that Lexie was the only one with the skills to accomplish the job. The only one with the skills that might be able to make heads or tails of what we got, considering Zed…”

I blanched at his words. Zed.

“When do we leave?” I asked him. “Do we get the team back together?”

“Who’s Zed?” I heard someone ask from the background, but my focus was entirely on Luke, waiting for him to answer me. I saw his answer written all over his face before he could say anything.

“No, no, no . There is no way I’m staying here. I’m going with,” I started to argue. “You can’t do this alone. I won’t let you do this alone.” I bristled. How dare he? Thinking I would stay behind…That I wouldn’t…

“Lex, your part in this is done. You did good.”

I started to make my argument.

“We don’t leave team members behind. No way in hell am I letting you go alone.”

Luke slammed his fist against the nearest wall.

“You were stabbed, Lexie! You almost didn’t make it out, and nothing is going to erase the images of you fighting to get to Zed, not giving a damn if you got taken also.

You did good, so good , but you fight with your heart and not your head.

It’s why you’re so good behind the scenes.

But I can’t focus on getting him out if I’m focused on you.

So please , stay here,” Luke fumed. He reached out to touch my face as if reminding himself that I did, in fact, make it out, that I was okay.

Jace let out an angry hiss when Luke’s fingers made contact with my face, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. If I did, I knew there was a chance I would fall apart.

“I never meant to get you all involved,” I whispered, still not unable to look at anyone else. “We can go. Maybe we should go,” I offered.

“Hell no. If you aren’t staying here, you’re staying with me. He can fuck off, though,” Jace said through gritted teeth.

“She’s staying here. This is her home,” Magnolia said before she turned on her heel and stalked off toward the kitchen. Sloan was right behind her as he shrugged his shoulders at me and gave me a somewhat apologetic look.

“That could have gone better,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone.

“It could have gone worse,” Jace said. It took me a moment to realize it was just us left in the room.

Perfect.