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.Or you can stay. Kelly jerked his head, meeting Nick s eyes.His expressionwas unreadable, but his jaw was clenched. You can stay and help us save the others. Kelly gave Liam one more slide of his eyes before returninghis attention to Nick. You know I d follow you anywhere.Even if it s straight to Hell. Nick brushed his fingertips over Kelly s cheek. I ll leave you to it, then, Liam drawled. I ll be on watch. A lot of good that did you, Kelly snarled. Are youdrunk? You think I didn t see your stupid frozen arse climbingout of the drink? Liam chuckled. Please. He closed the cabin door as he left them, but neither Nicknor Kelly moved.Nick was pretty sure neither of them waseven breathing. We should get you dry, Nick whispered, and he reachedto pluck at Kelly s wet shirt.Kelly shoved his hand away. Don t fucking take care ofme, man. Nick bit his lip against an angry retort.Kelly had to get itout of his system, and Nick knew he deserved whatever Kellydished out. I m sorry. Kelly huffed. I m here with you, babe.I ll stand with youno matter how fucking stupid you are.And if we fall.we lldo it together. 108 Nick watched him longingly, fighting back the regret andshame and mourning that came with the domino effect of hisdecisions over the past year.If he d stayed true to his own codeof honor, they wouldn t be here right now.He d never havetaken the hit from the NIA, he d never have wrapped his armsaround Richard Burns s neck and snapped the life out of him,he d never have said words to his best friend he knew wouldwreck him.He d never have avoided Ty for the last year out ofguilt and despair.He d have married Kelly the moment he wasable.He wouldn t be here now, begging for forgiveness fromevery person in his life he cared about. Ty s coming for you, Kelly said as he peeled out of hisclothes.He still sounded torn, like he was trying to decidewhich side of the fence his loyalties would fall on.He gavea resigned sigh. For us.He s not on the warpath anymore,but.we re going to need something to show him when hefinds us.You said you had evidence that Burns was comingfor him and Zane? We may have enough to convince him.But Liam knowshow to get more. Liam. I know, Nick said. It s not easy trusting him, but. Kelly narrowed his eyes. I don t trust him.I trust you.Only you.Regardless, we need that evidence when Ty findsus, or. He shook his head and kicked his jeans to the side.Nick had expected nothing less, but the news still hithim like a load of bricks being dropped on his heart.Fora second time, he d need proof to show Ty before the manwould believe him.If he d had it the first time they d dealtwith Burns, how different would their lives be now? WouldElias Sanchez still be with them?109 He nodded and tried to catch his breath as he grabbed arobe out of his closet and handed it over to Kelly.He perchedon the edge of the bed and dug his fingers into his knees asKelly wrapped himself up.Ty hadn t taken Nick s word onthe way he d felt about Richard Burns ten years ago, and hewouldn t take him on his word now.Nick wasn t sure whatpart of him had expected that he would when he d knockedon Ty s front door. Nick. Kelly knelt in front of him, putting a hand on topof Nick s. You live on a boat and you re docked in the nearestharbor to Ty s house.He will find us soon. Nick struggled not to fidget.The fact that Kelly waswilling to stay with him after what he d done was sinking in,and he met Kelly s eyes with a hint of awe. You can reallyforgive this? Forgive what I did and stay with me? Kelly s nostrils flared and his eyes flickered away. I m notsaying I m proud of it.The whole time I was tracking youdown, I kept telling myself you d never kill Burns without.And if I got to you and found out I was wrong, I d.Butthere was something in the back of my mind.I knew thatwasn t true, that I d stay with you no matter what.Even ifyou killed him just to see something burn, I d stay with you.I d. He shook his head, cursing in disgust, then laughedruefully. Broke his neck righty so I wouldn t recognize it.That s some serial killer level shit, Nicko. Nick s stomach churned.He took hold of Kelly s chin,turning his head so he could meet his gaze.Kelly was stillangry, his eyes sparking.Nick didn t know if he was angrywith himself or with Nick or maybe both, but the cold hardfact of the matter was that Kelly was ready to give up everygood thing he d ever done, ready to sell his soul just as surely as110 Nick had.All for Nick.He couldn t catch his breath, couldn tmove. I love you, he said desperately.Kelly s jaw tightened. You came to Ty s to feel him out,didn t you? See if he d be willing to help you? Yes. You let Liam stab you.On purpose. Yes, Nick whispered.Kelly stood with a muttered curse, went to his pile ofclothing to rummage through them, and came up with hisdive knife clutched in one hand. I m going to initiate myselfinto the team, then. Kelly! Nick called as Kelly stomped out of the cabin. It s okay, it s team building, Kelly answered, his voicefading as he jogged up the steps.A moment later Nick hearda squawk of alarm and a thump as Kelly and Liam introducedthemselves.Nick ran a hand over his face. God help us. Somewhere in the room, something began to vibrate.Nick straightened and looked around with a frown.His ownphone had been tossed into the sea two weeks ago; not onlyhad Liam not trusted him to somehow get a call off for help,but he d also claimed the government could track them withthe GPS.Nick had promptly made him a tinfoil hat with alittle swan on top and then sulked on the flybridge for anhour.Now, though, Nick was pretty sure Liam had been on theup-and-up.The cartel was after him.The NIA was after him.God knew how many other alphabet agencies were on histrail.Nick had no doubt they were tracking Liam down.Hestill missed having his phone, though.The vibrating continued, and Nick picked up Kelly sjacket and patted the pockets [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]