CENRIC
“You know this is not a good idea, Wollf.”
“You know I don’t care. I need to do it, and I’m gonna do it without your permission because I don’t need your consent.”
“You know I’m your handler, and you do as I say.”
“Yes, you are, but I still won’t do as you say. Whether you’re with me or not, I already convinced Jasper to give up their operations with my money and not yours.
“What am I doing here?” Jasper sounded horrified. Beck and a few private military contractors he hired had managed to extract Jasper from his father’s men unharmed and left without dropping dead bodies.
“The right question is why are you still alive.” He wasn’t even tied up to a chair in front of me, but if he made a wrong move, he was dead.
“Why am I alive then?” He was still a fucking arrogant but should be interested in my offer, or he thought that I would still kill him after this.
“I’m s
SADIE “Are you sure we are in the right place? That doesn’t look like an FBI building.” I looked at the three-story building through the window. The car entered into a somewhat parking area. I was still shaking earlier. If it wasn’t for these two who assured me that Cenric was fine, I might have lost my freaking mind. Linden opened the door. “This is the address in the text. Probably an FBI black site.” I climbed down, rubbing my arms. The hair at the back of my neck just rose. “What if he’s a bad guy and tries to lure us out then kill us all?” “We came ready. Just in case. Stay behind us.” Devin covered me while Linden was already ahead of us. “Are you even allowed to bring a gun?” “Yeah. I am trained and employed as a private contractor.” I stared up at him. “Just making sure we are not going to be in trouble. Is Cenric really okay?” “There’s only one way to find out,” he answered with confidence while
CENRIC I fucking miss her. I could feel her fear radiating from inside the room when she walked in. She was also cautious and vigilant, checking things out around the room. When she started crying, I fought the urge not to run inside and pulled her into my arms. What a few minutes I couldn’t wait till my sacrifices for this case would be over. Hanslo was going to be locked up in jail for a long time. Maybe a lifetime. On the other hand, if Jasper wouldn’t commit any crimes, he could start a new life away from his father’s influence. Their operation was over. I finally put this chapter of my life to an end. I closed my eyes and thought of my brothers Wade and Gunner. They were probably celebrating this victory. Sadie’s wit answers made me chuckle. “She seems so innocent like you said,” the case officer said. “I told you, she doesn’t know anything. He looked at me. He’d
SADIE“No, no, no. Not today. I can’t take any more truth. My brain would explode.” I was shaking. I was shivering not from the water in the tub but from the uncertain situation I was in. I didn’t know my place anymore—where I fit in.I was lost. I was still processing those truths that blew in my face. Nothing had sunk in yet. I was on the verge of denial because that was impossible. It couldn’t be.Cenric couldn’t do that. He was not the kind of man I married months ago. He wouldn’t sacrifice something for the dead woman. He wouldn’t save me. What he said was a lie.I pulled my knees together as I shook to cry in bed. He came closer to me.“I wanna be alone.” I stopped him.“Babe.”“Please?”Somehow he did as I requested. He walked away and left the room.I cried there alone in the dark until I felt I h
CENRIC I just came from an emergency board meeting concerning my last whereabouts. Even if the stock market was soaring and the corporation’s net was rising, even monitoring my personal affair outside my business, no matter how discreet I was, did not miss their scrutiny. I wasn’t pissed off or worried. I would feel the same if I was in Cas’ place. I helped people, and that was all that mattered. But my baby brother was concerned about me, and he thought I had just lost my mind. So we fought over keeping secrets from him. I loved my brother, and I would go to the moon and back to protect him. That was the main reason I kept him out of this mess, and he couldn’t accept my decisions even if they were already over. He was scared that some members of Absolom would retaliate. They could. Even if you cut the head of the snake, some loyal might be able to rebuild the broken organization, and it was possible. I got it. “Cas?” I called him when he walk
SADIE I got ready and called Devin to prepare the car. I walked into the library, and Cenric was in a phone conversation. “Just keep me posted. I awe you big time.” “Can we talk?” I started. After noticing me in an outfit and a bag in my hand, he gestured for me to sit. “You don’t have to ask. Going somewhere?” I forced a smile. “I need space.” “Excuse me?” Judging by the look on his face, he wasn’t expecting it, but somehow, he understood. I’d thought about it lately. This is the only way I could save our marriage if he wanted it to. I needed to clear my head because I wanted to build that trust again. I needed to find myself—where did I fit in all of this. “I want to stay at the penthouse for a while.” “And me?” “Here.” “And us?” I looked at him in disbelief. “I said I need space, and that space—” “I know what space means.” He cleared my throat and somehow
CENRIC So, she visited her doctor, and it exhilarated me. I wished she was pregnant, and I found the reason to shorten the space she asked. “That’s not what I’m asking.” She looked irritated that I cut her sabbatical shit short. “That’s the only answer you get. How’s your visit?” Her cheeks burned. She glared at Devin. “I know what you did, and I will know wherever you go, babe.” “Great. Then there’s no reason for you to be here.” She took a seat on the single sofa. I smiled sweetly. God, I missed her. I wanted to pull her into my arms, kiss her, and show her how she drove me insane alone in our home. She should be with me every night. I missed her in my arms. I missed her lips around me, her hands all over me, and fuck, I missed being inside her. “It looks good on you.” She was wearing the tennis bracelet I gave to her. I was so stupid that I didn’t buy her anything except the bags. I had to woo som
SADIE It had been a while since my last run. Sometimes I forgot to care for myself, for my well-being, until my visit to my Gyne. I was listening to the acoustic cover version of Adele’s Easy On Me when I felt someone was following me behind. I paused the song and caught my breath. “What are you doing?” “Running like I do every day.” God, I missed his smile—that easy-going free-spirit smile. “Yeah, but you don’t usually go out, hence your mini gym.” “Well, I like fresh air once and a while.” I rolled my eyes and started running again. I was not convinced. “Cenric, what do you want?” He followed me. “Fine. I wanted to ask if you are free on Saturday.” “I am not.” “Babe, it’s Saturday.” “You work on Saturday, so do I.” “Babe.” He held my wrist. “We seriously need to talk.” “I know.” “Then when?” There was a determination in his gaze drilling into me.
CENRIC You’re the best. Fuck, yeah.I kept reminding myself. I went back home after work. I didn’t bother her anymore. The more I kept my distance, the easier it was for her to figure out what she wanted in her life. It was hard. I missed her every second she was away from me. But she needed it, and that was what she got. That was two days ago. No call. No text. I didn’t even ask Devin for updates. And here I was, stalking my wife. Beck just shook his head in disappointment. “You’re losing your shit. What is in the fucking of need space you did not understand? You will still see her on Saturday, won’t you?” “She needs space, but I don’t. I want to see her, not meet her. And can’t you be a little supportive of me?” “Supportive my ass. You did this to yourself. But whatever. If she sees us, you’re gonna have to explain. Then she needs another week or two. Your trouble, man. Not mine.”