Page 48 of Shadows Relived
Meaghan felt her stomach twist. “They were using me to pressuremy father?”
Gage nodded. “Blaze thinks your dad backed out of a deal. Maybe tried to pull funding. Whatever it was, New Horizons wants payback, and they’re not being subtle about it.”
Callen exhaled slowly. “So we’re not done.”
Elvis gave a solemn nod. “Not by a long shot. Blaze is still digging, trying to pinpoint who in the company initiated the contract. But he says this kind of move? It’s not freelance. Someone high up made the call.”
Callen swung his legs off the bed, wincing. “Then we move.”
Meaghan stepped between him and the door. “We. As in us. Together.”
Gage arched a brow as he stared at her. “You sure? We were told to get you to a safe house.”
“She insisted,” Callen said, sounding almost proud. “Once we know where we’re going, she’s going with us.”
Elvis grinned and clapped Callen on the back. “Leave it to you to find a lady who fights beside you.”
Callen shrugged. “She’s more than capable.”
“He also likes danger,” Gage said with a smirk. “Clearly.”
“But in the morning,” Elvis said, pointing Callen back to the bed. “Tonight, you need to rest.”
Gage took first watch outside while Elvis sank into one of the plastic chairs, one hand on his phone and the other nursing a bottle of water. Meaghan curled back up on the bed, facing Callen. He was still awake, but barely.
“Try to sleep,” she whispered.
“You’re not going to,” he murmured.
“Someone has to keep an eye on you.”
“Gage is literally outside with a gun.”
She brushed his hair back gently, just like she had before. “Doesn’t mean I’m not still worried.”
His hand found hers, fingers barely tightening. “I know. Just… close your eyes for a bit. We move at first light.”
“I’m not leaving you,” she said. “And you’re not leaving me behind, either.”
“I’m not planning on either.”
And he meant it. They lay there, wordless in the dark, hearts pounding in the same quiet rhythm.
A little after three a.m., Gage came back in, motioned for Elvis to swap. The transition was seamless, practiced, like a dance done a hundred times before. Meaghan watched it unfold with awe. These men were warriors, but they were also brothers.
And somehow, she and Callen were part of that now.
She didn’t know where the road would lead tomorrow, or who else might hunt them. But in this sliver of quiet, with Callen breathing beside her and two guardians watching from the shadows, she felt something she hadn’t in days.
Safe.
Even if it was only for a few hours.
They left the motel room just as the sun peeked the horizon, loading what little gear they had. Meaghan stole one last look at the now-empty beds, the discarded wrappers from the kids’ late-night dinner, and the bloodstained gauze in the trash.
Her world had changed in that room.
And now, it was about to changeagain.
