Emerson

I hate deceiving the other men, but I know that they’d never allow us to leave if given a choice. Even I have doubts about bringing Tia along with us, but her part in this is necessary. And I’ll keep her safe.

Huxley did some research, and Tia’s father won’t be anywhere near Saint Augustine’s when we arrive. He’s not even in the same state. So as long as Hux can shut down the security system, which he seems almost overly confident that he can do, we should be able to get in and out of the building undetected.

The entire mission should take us no more than three, maybe four days.

Fallon left early this morning on a job that will keep him away for the next several nights. And Banks is so preoccupied with his research that I doubt he’ll notice we’re gone. Giles is finally healthy enough to be back at work and has been called to help out at the training facility for the next week.

The timing is perfect. Our only concern is Salinger.

“Where the hell are you going?” he asks, coming into my room and seeing me packing a bag.

“Back home,” I lie, flinching as I do. “I’m taking Tia and Huxley with me for a few days.”

“You just got back.” His dark eyes narrow on me.

The man is a human lie detector, and I’ve haven’t had much experience twisting the truth.

I know right away he’s onto me.

“And why the fuck is Huxley going with you? I saw his bags by the front door and he’s acting shady as hell.”

I shrug and turn my back to him. “Tia did well there. The fresh air is good for the babies. And Banks asked me to get some more of the flowers.” Another lie. I keep my eyes averted.

“Bullshit,” Sal says, walking around the bed. “Tell me what’s going on, or I call the others.”

God, I hate lying.

“Nothing is going on. I already told you--”

He’s in my face, hand fisted in my shirt. I’m bigger than him, and with my training, I could have him flattened on the ground in seconds, but I see the motivation for his actions in his eyes -- fear.

“We don’t need any more lies between us,” he growls out.

I know he’s right. But I’ll do what I have to do in order to save my wife.

“You want to protect Tia?” I ask.

“Stupid fucking question.” He doesn’t release me.

“Then let me go. I’ll keep her safe.”

“You’re going to try and get those files, aren’t you?”

I sigh and peel his fingers away. “Yes.”

“Christ.” He drags his hand through his hair and starts to pace. “You’re going to lead our wife straight into the slaughterhouse. Are you insane?”

“If there’s something in those files that can help Tia, I have to try.”

“Then go yourself. But leave Tia here.”

“No. I’m going with them,” Tia says from the door, a duffle bag slung over her shoulder, chin jutted defiantly. “Please don’t try and stop me.”

She walks in looking so unstoppable and I know Sal is a fool to try to change our wife’s mind. When she decides something, she is absolute. It’s one of the things I love most about her.

Sal takes four long strides to meet her and cups her jaw. “If anything happens to you, I’ll--”

“I know. You all keep saying that. But of all the dangers I’ve faced or will face, the scariest is this pregnancy. And no matter what you say, I’m going to fight with every breath I have to make sure our children are okay.”

Then take the damn flower, I want to scream. But that’s an argument for another day.

“Banks is close to learning how to balance the antibodies and hormones. If this last piece of the puzzle is what he needs to save our babies--”

“To save our wife,” I add, which gets me a glare from Salinger.

“Then I have to help get it.” She leans up and kisses him, despite the way his jaw tenses. “Em and Hux will keep me safe.”

He breathes out roughly, mutters a string of curses, then says, “Fine, but I’m coming with you.”

She shakes her head. “Stay here and placate the others.”

“You want me to lie?” His features tighten, and he looks ready to snap.

I understand his apprehension. If Tia asked me to do the same thing, I don’t know how I’d respond. But Salinger has a history of layering lies, and if anyone in this house could cover our tracks, it’s him.

“We’ll be back in a few days. The others don’t even need to know I’m gone. And if they ask, just tell them I went back to Em’s family farm.”

Salinger breathes out heavily. “This is a terrible fucking idea, you know that?”

“Maybe,” she says fervently. “But it’s the only one we have.”