Page 144 of The Exit Strategy

“Hey,” I say, reaching across the mattress to cup his face. “I’m not going.”

He rears back—shock clear in his expression.

“I’m not shirking my responsibilities,” I say quickly. “Early this morning, I called in reinforcements.”

Cole frowns. Then he wraps his large palm around my fingers that are cradling his face. “Someone qualified?”

“Qualified and trustworthy.”

He closes his eyes, and his breathing evens out. Is he…going back to sleep? “Juniper?” He doesn’t open his eyes.

“Yeah?” Did I do something wrong? I wanted to spend time with him, but maybe I shouldn’t have outsourced the Devin problem?

“I’m proud of you.”

At my gasp, his lashes flutter open.

Four words. Stripped clean.I’m proud of you.

He doesn’t give me a moment to get my thoughts together.

“For solving my financial crisis. For asking for help. For…” He kisses the palm of my hand. “For talking to me about your mom.”

I swallow down the emotions threatening my composure.

“We still have a lot to talk about,” he says. “A lot to do. Some things that are…some that will be hard. I’ll get there, and I know I’m being vague. But…”

“You’ll tell me when you’re ready.” It’s another absolute truth.

He’ll tell me when he’s ready.

Whatever’s haunting Cole now is riding him hard.

Patience and I have never gotten along, but to help Cole through what obviously pains him, I’ll try, so I form a checklist in my head.

Get a status update from Hudson.

Make Devin pay for what he did to Cole.

File The Haven’s records with the county—clear Cole’s name.

By the time the county processes the statements, we’ll either have the award money or we’ll have a solid case on the books against Devin—preferably both.