Page 29 of Then and Now (The Edge of Retaliation 3)
She tips her head to the side, confused.
“That gang, or whatever the hell they are, they’re going to come for us. We know they’re going to come for us. They’re going to make our lives hell. The entire situation is so dangerous it makes me sick. If I’m not here, if we’re all separated …”
“They’re unlikely to come after all of us,” Jo finishes for me, her voice soft. “I had the same thought.”
“While we’re all together, we’re just a toxic bomb waiting to explode. Tatum and Tanner, they can handle themselves, but me … I can’t take any more. Of the danger. Of the horror.”
Jo nods. “You know, I’ve had the same thought a few times over the last few days. With everything going on with Patrick, and then there’s Tatum and the way I feel about him. It’s so complicated and I’m so tired.”
“Then come with me,” I say, my voice suddenly a little more hopeful. “Come with me, Jo. Let’s start again, just me and you, somewhere new. It’ll make things on everyone so much easier.”
She stares at me, and I expect her to say an automatic no and tell me all the reasons she can’t come with me, but instead she says, “I’ll think about it, I really will. It’s just …”
“You and Tatum?”
She nods. “We’re … I don’t know, there is something so strong there, especially after what happened. I have feelings for him, real feelings. Yet at the same time, I think the same thing. If I stay, if we remain here, danger is coming, and it isn’t going to let us go. I’m tired of danger, and pain, and heartache.”
I reach over and squeeze her arm. “Just think about it, you know there’s no pressure, but I will say, having you with me … It would make things so much better.”
She leans forward and hugs me. “You’re my best friend, Callie. I can’t imagine life without you.”
I squeeze her tight and pull back, swiping my tears.
“Are you going to tell Tanner?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No, honey. I’m not. It’s best if he doesn’t know where I go or when. It’ll only make it harder. He’ll only try to stop me. The idea of leaving him … It kills me inside. It really does.”
Jo nods. “I understand. Ethan? Max?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m going to just go. I’m leaving this life behind me, that means all the pain that comes with it. I’ll hurt a lot of people, I know that, but staying will hurt them all a whole lot more.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk to Tanner? He cares about you, he really does.”
I smile weakly. “I know he does, which is why he can pretend that what happened won’t bother him forever. But it will, Jo. It will. I couldn’t bear the day to come that he looks at me with hatred. I can’t ever let it get to that. This is for the best.”
She hugs me again. “Give me a day, I’ll have an answer for you.”
I hang on tight.
And I pray.
For a final time.
11
JOANNE
“He’s still away,” Tatum tells Tanner, sliding a cup of coffee toward me. “Not sure how long, but they’re all behind bars for now.”
“It’ll be a few years, if we’re lucky, gives us time to figure out what the fuck to do,” Tanner mutters, running his hands through his hair. He looks tired, and worn out, like he’s just had enough.
I can’t say I blame him.
“What if they send someone before he gets out? I mean, people with that much power could send someone our way, right?” I ask, glancing at the two men.
Tanner ponders this for a moment, then says, “I doubt it. I’m guessing he’s looking forward to doing the job himself. He wants the challenge, I mean it’s a possibility we have to look out for, but if I were to bet on it, I’d say he’ll wait.”
“Have to agree with you there,” Tatum nods.
“Well, that’s good then,” I murmur.
I look at the two men again, really look at them, and wonder what life will be like if I walk away from all of this. From Tatum, from this drama. Is it even fair for us to just leave them behind? To deal with this on their own so we can go safely, or is it smart? If we’re not together, it makes it a whole lot harder.
I dare to ask a question that’ll give me some answers. “Do you think they’ll just come after you, Tanner, being that you’re the one they wanted, or do you think they’ll come after all of us?”
Tatum glances at me, tipping his head to the side and studying me, then he gives me a small smile and looks to Tanner, who just watched the exchange.
