Page 46 of Scar Tissue

“I’ll find you. I’llalwaysfind you. Where you go, I follow. But I’m telling you right now, sugar. Say the word and it ends.”

I’m not sure what compels me to continue what feels like an impossible mission we’ve set out on, but something in the way he addresses me so surely makes me feel like I can take on the world. “Make the call.” His jaw clenches before he nods and pulls out his own phone. “And, Nathan?”

“Yeah, baby?”

Swallowing back my nerves I cup his cheek in one of my hands. “I’ve loved you since I was a teenager. I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out. I loved you then, and I love you now. More, if that’s possible.”

“Thank fuck.” And while I’m fairly sure those might be his favorite words to use, as crass as they might be, he doesn’t know how much they truly mean to me to hear. Because what I hear when he says them isn’t just a curse, but a plea. A level of desperation to them that expresses the sheer desire—the craving—forme.Scars and all. He wants all of me, unapologetically, and won’t let me apologize for the complicated disaster that makes my psyche look like paradise compared to an apocalypse.

He leans further into my touch, placing his own hand over mine. “On another note…Claire and I seem to be taking a step in the right direction. Or maybe she’s taking forward steps in general.”

He smiles. “Is that what you two were up to?”

I nod. “It’ll take more time, as any good thing does, but I think we might actually get to see her healing in real time.”

His smile only grows. “Don’t.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“Bullshit, we both know exactly what you’re doing.”

Mirth dances in his eyes as I glower at him. “I mean…I hate to tell you I told you so…but I fear that I was right.”

I snatch my hand away from his face, forming a fist, as I hit him in his bicep and walk away. His chuckle is the only sound I hear as I walk down the hall and to my bedroom.

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

NATHAN

Hearing those three little words from Thea filled a piece of my heart that I hadn’t realized was missing. It’s like I felt the physical ramifications of her confessing her love to me down to my blood. The electrical pathways of my heart ignited, scorching me like lightning as they rewired something fundamental inside of me. I know I had already said it, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it again because I was lost in her purgatory as time seemed to slow and all I could focus on was her eyes, the shy smile that graced her face when she said it.

I loved you then, and I love you now.

I’ve never believed too much in fate or destiny, but if there is one thing I’m sure of, it’s that this woman is my twin flame, and I won’t let anyone put that fire out. She’s given me her love, completely raw and vulnerable, and I want to burn in it. But beneath that heat, I can’t help but feel the ticking clock. We only have a few days before we send her in with the wolves, with the man who is responsible for ruining so many lives, including our own. My desire to keep Thea out of it grows with every minute, but I refuse to control her in the wayLucas has in the past, so I push the building urge deep. I have to remind myself that while she may be inside by herself, she won’t be alone. We’re going to have eyes on her location and she will be wearing an audio device again. Ideally, I’d like to have a visual, but Dyer and I have to work out the details of that still so that they don’t pick up on it.

Maybe a small eye cam that doubles as a button on a shirt.

Pulling out my own cell phone, I pull up Dyer’s contact and hit dial. It rings a few times before he finally picks up. “Nathan, what can I do for you?”

“Thea got the location for the meet-up and is still good to go. I’d like for us to figure out a way to have a visual this go round, and not just from the outside. Is there any way we can get a cam that is inconspicuous? Even if it’s separate from the audio device?”

He hums on the other end of the line and I hear some shuffling of materials in the background. “I’ll see what we can do. It might not be a bad idea to have a third avenue of contact, especially one where we’re able to get more definitive proof with our own eyes. Not that I don’t trust Thea to do it, of course.”

“But being able to have it recorded would only solidify our case against him. Place a face with the name. I get it,” I finish the rest of his thought. “However, I’m going to be upfront with you right now, Dyer…she is my number one priority on this operation. If things even remotely seem like they’re going to turn negatively, I’m getting her out with or without your help. Lest we forget about what happened to Dylan.” There was no way I was allowing my girl to go through the same kind of treatment. He saw the aftermath up close and personal with Dylan, more so than other victims, because of Fletcher’s relationship with her. It would be prudent for him not to make the same mistake of brushing this off given that Fletcher was close to tearing his head off when Dyer portrayed the level of neutrality he did when Dylan finally decided to go to them about what she experienced. It took months, but she did get there eventually.

I’m not sure if it was because it’s easier to stay dissociated, considering we deal with these types of things all of the time, but I don’t really give a fuck because Thea is the one helping us. She’s doingusa favor. So he damn well better understand or we will be out before we even begin. “I wouldn’t expect anything different. I do have my own opinions on what should or should not be sacrificed and the reasons behind that…but I would never expect anyone to share those values in such a…trying situation. Largely one where she does it at her own expense.”

“Glad we’re on the same page. With that being said, while we’re on the topic of recording devices, what do you think of a button cam? And when should I expect you to show up?”

Some more shuffling on the other end. “Give me a few hours to get organized and I’ll text you when I leave. I have to see if I can find any recording devices that will be up to par as well as pick up her burner phone. In the meantime, help her pick out proper attire. They’re going to expect her to be more refined. Maybe consider a pantsuit if you want a button cam to work.”

Rolling my eyes, I give myself a few seconds before I respond so he can’t hear the disbelief in my voice. “Yeah, I’ll see what we can do,” I finally say before I hang up, not saying goodbye. A pantsuit isn’t going to help her feel any less like bait. He’s talking about refined when these people are anything but. Yet, this is the game we’re playing into.

Unfortunately, appearance matters to men like Harrison Clark. It’s one of the things that ultimately caused Thea to receive the invitation she did.

Walking down the hall, I knock on Thea’s door before opening it. “He’s going to…” My voice trails off as my eyes trail up her legs. Her verybarelegs that are met by the hem of one of my T-shirts.