Without Wings Chapter Thirteen

Blood pumped through his veins, thick and heavy. Too many thoughts to count raced through his head, and he needed to be focused 100%. Blithers would not get away with this. It didn't matter what alphabet agency the guy worked for, Edward couldn't allow the betrayal to go unpunished. The guy had betrayed them all, hoping to pick them off one by one like tin cans on a split-rail fence.

Fire In The Water Chapter Twenty-five

Ward

Beth was due to arrive in town any minute, and I was freaking out. It had been entirely too long since I’d seen her, especially given the way I left home. She would never judge me for my choices, which was why Bella reminded me of her in so many ways. But, I would still worry about how she saw me, my new town, and my relationship. Would she think I could do better than menial work? Would she think Port Townsend was too dated, too quaint? 

Fire In The Water Chapter Twenty-four

Bella

We had a plan, and that should have been enough for me.

Fire In The Water Chapter Twenty-three

Ward

I had to be strong for Bella. For myself. She was right about that. Running was easier, and it had become the simple choice. It used to be, I never backed down from a fight. Prison had changed that about me, when I learned that fighting made things worse. Over time, they had beaten the urge to defend myself right out of me. Bella was worth more than that to me. I needed her like I needed air to breathe, and I would do whatever it took to keep her in my life. 

Fire In The Water Chapter Twenty-two

Bella

I should have been shocked, but I wasn’t. Not after everything Ward had gone through already. He had to be the unluckiest man I knew.

Fire In The Water Chapter Twenty-one

Ward

The ringing phone woke me from a deep sleep. After work, I’d gone home to nap before meeting Bella for dinner. Instead, I fumbled to grab the burner phone from my nightstand, my heart beating in my throat. 

“Bethy?” I croaked.

Fire In The Water Chapter Twenty

Bella

Whatever it was that Ward couldn't tell me must be awful. More than awful; it had to be traumatizing. Wanting to know every tiny thing about him wasn't necessarily my right, not if he couldn't talk about it without breaking down. I’d have to give him time, and just love him as he loved me.

Fire In The Water Chapter Nineteen

Ward

Whatever I’d thought the day would bring, this wasn’t it. Pacing my tiny apartment after walking Heidi, I tried to figure out what to do next. Bella deserved to know everything about me, and I had intended to tell her, eventually.

Just not right now. Not when the memory was still too fresh in my soul, too terrible to speak of out loud.

Fire In The Water Chapter Eighteen

Bella

Ward was fast asleep, but I was wide awake. Knowing how early he had to get up for work, I eased out of bed with a wince. For the first time in a long time, I was sore. 

It was so worth it. 

Without Wings Chapter Twelve

He should have fucking known better than to leave her behind. God fucking dammit; if anything happened to her before he got back, he’d hand over his gun and let her put a bullet in his head. It still wouldn't be enough to atone for his stupidity.

Edward had just found an exit when he heard her screaming. By the time he made it back to where he’d left her, she was gone. When her earpiece came back online, he nearly shit himself at the things he heard. Bile rose in his throat, and he hurried down the corridor, realizing the compound wasn’t at all what they’d thought it was.

Fire In The Water Chapter Seventeen

Ward

Every time I thought about Beth, I wanted to kick myself in the ass. Despite telling her I was going on the lam, she must be worried about me and my whereabouts. Knowing how much she loved me, there was no alternative. Bella had made a few good points, and I would figure out how to contact my sister before the week was up. I had to go back to work in the early morning hours, and then my life was back up in the air, but right now was for me and Bella.