Page 78 of Cold Silence
“You could’ve left. Found another job.” She eyed him, “Oh, wait. You didn’t want to risk it, did you? Risk the world finding out you’re really Fitz Ellwood.”
He sucked in a breath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do,” she said. “And we can prove it.”
“Good luck with that,” he mumbled.
She lifted her shoulders. “You still have living family, and DNA is powerful proof of identity.”
“We have the top forensic team in the country on our side,” Travis said. “They’ll investigate the murder of Ross Garland, and you’ll go away for that too.”
White’s already pale skin lost all color.
“I’m done here,” Claire said. “Let’s bring in the police and have this loser hauled in.”
White sneered at her. “You always thought you were so special. Better than all of us. Well, you’re not. You’re just a workaholic with zero life of your own, so you have to ruin ours. Thankfully, I’m done with that.”
“Yeah.” She spun. “Enjoy the rest of your life behind bars. Between espionage and murder charges, you’ll never be free again.”
She marched out the door and got out her phone. Her breathing was deep and rapid, her eyes glistening with tears.
As Travis had thought, it hadn’t been a good idea to confront White. His last comment was way too harsh. Though Travis had to admit there was a hint of truth about Claire being a workaholic. But she didn’t ruin other people’s lives. White had a choice to work the hours he did. Claire would never expect him to give up everything—as she’d done.
“Colonel Lynch. Good. I’m glad I caught you. Warren White has been detained, and he was in possession of the prototype.” She gave him the details, her words tumbling out in a rush. She didn’t mention White’s final comment, but listened intently and then ended her call.
She looked at Travis and shoved her phone back into her pocket. “Lynch is calling in the police, but I can’t stay here. You were right. I shouldn’t have come. I don’t feel better.”
“You didn’t ruin his life, Claire,” he said. “We have free will to do what we choose, and he could’ve shortened his hours or like you told him, found a different job.”
“But I am a workaholic.”
“Yes,” he said honestly. “Doesn’t mean you expect the same from those who work for you.”
She let out a slow breath. “Do you mind driving me back to work? I want to tell Julie what happened and why I’ve been so off with her this week. Then I want to go home. Alone.”
He watched her for a long moment. She looked like she might cave.
“Please,” she added.
He got it. Loud and clear. She didn’t want him in her life. “Let me tell Gage we’re leaving, and then we can go.”
She gave a halfhearted nod.
He poked his head in the door to inform Gage of their decision and then it hit him.
This was over.
Claire’s stalker was in police custody and soon White would be as well. She was no longer in danger. The stolen software and hardware were recovered. She didn’t need him and would send him packing again. Unless he did something about it. Not something. Unless he left the team.
Something he still had no idea if he was capable of doing.
It was over. Really over and Claire was free to resume her life tonight. Good, right? Then why did she feel so empty? Alone. Sitting around in her house thinking didn’t help. She grabbed her vacuum and ran it over the floor to keep herself occupied. She didn’t want to think about how she ended things with Travis.
“Face it,” she mumbled. “You also don’t like that Travis isn’t here.”
I really, really don’t want to be alone.Reality hit hard and her feet stilled.
She’d loved being with Travis. Both in the past and since he’d returned to Orlando. Loved every minute of it, even the tense, raw moments. The way he made her feel proved she was alive. Fully alive. Not the shell of a woman she’d been since her dad’s death. She’d simply been going through the motions of life, but not really living. Except when she was with Travis. He brought out her desire to live life to the fullest. Something well worth the risk of losing him to some unknown foe.
