Firethorne

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

Damien

I wanted to be as honest as I could with her. But she wasn’t ready to face the utter annihilation of her whole life. Even though what she’d already been through was bad enough. She saw me as the villain, and I was okay with that. It was the role I was used to playing. If she still believed it, it meant I’d done my job even better than I could’ve hoped.

I had to admit, I felt a tinge of guilt, leaving her alone after everything I’d told her, but I had to get back to Firethorne. I couldn’t risk being away for too long. I didn’t want to raise suspicion.

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket and took it out, tapping to answer the call.

“Is she okay?” Trent asked, cutting to the chase.

“Yeah, physically she’s fine. Mentally? The jury is still out on that one.”

“Give her time, man. It’s a lot to process.” He sighed, then asked, “Did you tell her everything?”

“No. Not everything. But I will.”

There was silence on the line for a split second, then Trent said, “You did your best, mate. Under the circumstances, you did what you had to do, and in the end, it worked out okay. You got her out. She’s still alive.”

“For now.”

“He won’t find her,” Trent assured me. “That safe house, the apartment, it’s perfect. And she’ll be gone in a few days. I have my contacts sorting out her new passport and papers. By this time next week, she’ll have a new life.”

“I hope you’re right, Trent. I really fucking hope you’re right.”