Chapter 23
Jaden couldn’t bring himself to shoot Helena. She was one of theirs and he’d taken an oath to protect his own. Besides, he blamed himself for this situation. He should’ve seen what was happening with Helena. He should’ve insisted she take time off or ordered therapy. He should’ve done a better job of taking care of her after she’d lost Tim. He’d looked into her eyes at the funeral. He’d seen how lost she’d been.
The brief hesitation cost him the advantage. Helena disappeared.
Jaden bit out a curse. He needed a new plan because Helena would shoot Lauren in order to make him suffer.
He’d lost visual with her so he needed to bring her out again.
Luring her, he made sure she heard the door click as he slipped inside the dark storeroom. Light spilled into the room as she followed. She obviously wanted to take him out badly to expose herself like that. Jaden could use that against her.
He tucked Lauren behind a row of boxes in dead silence. He pulled his cell from his pocket, texted Gunner to alert local police. Rocky was outside, unconscious. He needed medical attention.
A long strip of cord found its way into his hand. Lauren’s doing. She knew this storeroom and where her supplies were. When he was sure she’d made it back to her hiding spot safely, he stepped into a box and knocked it over so his location would be compromised.
He could feel Helena closing in.
The light flipped on as Lauren screamed.
“Now, you’re going to watch her die,” Helena said. Her shrill voice sounded like someone different.
“No one else dies because of me, Helena,” he stated with all the authority he could.
“An eye for an eye.”
“She didn’t do anything to you. Would Tim want you to take an innocent life?” Helena knew the answer. Tim would never have wanted this. He was a decent man and brave soldier. He would never want an innocent person to suffer.
Her moment of hesitation was all he needed. He dove into her, knocking the gun from her hand.
Lauren scrambled to her feet and ran out of the storeroom.
Helena’s fists came flying at him, connecting with his face, his chest. He grabbed her hands, located the cord, and tied them behind her back.
“You bastard. It’s your fault he’s gone,” she seethed.
“I know.”
“My life is over.” She yanked her arms, trying to break the bindings but they were too tight.
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Jaden said.
“Kill me. I don’t want to live without him.” The anguish in her voice told him that she wasn’t lying.
“I know.”
Tears flooded her cheeks as her shoulders quaked. “I don’t want to live…” Sobs echoed through the back room.
“I know. But it’ll get better. We’ll get you the help you need.” He kept his voice as calm as he could.
“Why? I don’t deserve it. I tried to kill you. Why would you help me?” she asked.
“Like it or not, you’re my family now. And I won’t turn my back on you.” He wasn’t sure if his words got through or not, but he would ensure she got the help she needed. “You’re not one of them. You’re one of the good guys. What did you do with Gabriel?”
Helena’s blank eyes stared forward.
“Tim wouldn’t want this.”
A flicker of anguish crossed her features. “At headquarters. Tied up.”
A tsunami of relief washed over Jaden. He immediately texted the news to Gunner.
Within moments, a squad car appeared, complete with the blare of sirens and flashing lights.
Lauren stood, watching it all, not really comprehending any of it based on her stony expression. Rocky was loaded into an ambulance. His face had lacerations but he would pull through just fine.
Jaden kept a close eye on Helena until military authorities arrived. Helena would outsmart local police and be free in time for dinner if they tried to contain her. Jaden couldn’t have that.
When Helena was bound and placed into the back of an SUV, Jaden turned his full attention to Lauren.
“Rocky will be fine,” he reassured.
“How’d you get here? It’s impossible. No one can be in two places at once. I saw you on the news,” she said and her voice was even, emotionless.
Jaden couldn’t tell if she was glad to see him. He’d have to wait for her to regain her senses to know if she’d ever forgive him for pushing her away. “Computer trick. Gunner and I came up with it.”
Almost out of thin air, when his name was said, Gunner appeared. “A crew is on the way to pick up Gabriel at headquarters. Everyone okay here?”
“Not everyone,” said Jaden, motioning toward the sobbing Helena in the back of the SUV.
“I’m sorry,” He said to Jaden.
“Me, too.” He turned to Lauren, to the light.
Men in uniform were everywhere. Her precious business was being marked as a crime scene. She seemed in shock.
Jaden took the keys from her and locked up. He guided her back to the safe house where she’d be more comfortable. Had he gone too far in pushing her away before? He’d had to be convincing. Her life had depended on it.
His heart was ready to burst from one of his own betraying him. Didn’t change the fact Tim was dead because of him. Guilt slammed into him in knowing he’d failed his own.
He would not survive the shitstorm of guilt without Lauren by his side as his equal, his best friend…the love of his life. But he’d ruined that, too.
Could she forgive him?
Once she’d showered and changed, she looked a little more settled in reality. She emerged from the bedroom in perfect timing since Jaden had just finished pouring a cold beer for himself and a glass of wine for her.
He feared the worst. She might never let him back in her life.
He had to know for sure.
Jaden pulled her toward him and leaned in until his forehead rested against hers.
She smelled clean, a mix of fresh flowers and soap and everything good in the world.
Guiding dark locks
