The Knight (Endgame #2)(54)

With a pained shout, Gabriel heaves himself back. His legs just clear the space before my knees give out. Justin swears and drops the beam. With a crack, the other end falls through the floor, revealing a small peek at the ballroom beneath us.

Gabriel closes his eyes, clearly fighting whatever’s happening inside him.

I hurry to his side, helping him stand up, finding more strength somewhere inside me. We do what we have to. With his hard-packed muscle and large frame he’s much heavier than my father. Justin joins him on the other side, helping to support him. And with struggling, halting steps, we make our way across cracked wood and down broken stairs.





Chapter Thirty-Four





While I’m waiting for the doctor, someone knocks on the door. I look through the peephole, thinking maybe it will be Damon. Or maybe the cops. Instead I recognize Will from the Rose and Crown Motel. He looks out of place with the lush green and wooded stretch behind him, so different from the concrete forest I know him from.

I open the door. “I can’t believe you were spying on me.”

Even though I can believe it. I know how persuasive Gabriel can be.

Guilt forces his gaze to the side. “I’m sorry.”

I move back to let him in. “I just hope you charged him enough.”

He steps into the hallway gingerly, as if expecting to be tossed back out. “He didn’t pay me anything, I swear.”

“Well, then you definitely didn’t charge him enough.”

“I asked for something more important than money.”

“What?”

Is that a blush? His cheeks look a shade darker.

“Come on,” I say, wheedling him. “You betrayed me to get this thing that’s better than money. The least you can do is tell me.”

He’s silent a moment. “Fine, I’ll tell you. But you can’t tell anyone. It’s a matter of national security.”

“National security?” I say doubtfully.

He nods. “I served in Afghanistan. A guy in my division. God, I hated his guts. Despised him. Wouldn’t have seen him while we were on leave, but we both went to this wedding for another teammate. And I met his wife.”

My mouth opens on a silent O.

“Got to talking to her. Felt bad that she was married to such a jackass. Everyone knew he was a douche, but even I didn’t think he would sleep with one of the bridesmaids. He snuck off and left his wife at the reception. She was embarrassed but not surprised. So I stayed with her. Nothing happened,” he adds like that’s important.

“It would be better if something had,” I say, meaning it. “He didn’t deserve her loyalty.”

“He didn’t,” Will says. “But she had kids at home. Two girls. Twins.”

“Oh, Will.”

“Then the fucker went and got himself blown up. That probably would have been the best case for her, honestly. Except it came out that he wasn’t supposed to be in that supply store, that he’d been selling supplies and weapons to the locals.”

“Oh shit.”

“It shouldn’t have mattered to Karen. She should have still gotten full survivor benefits. Without the ability to adjudicate his case while he was alive, he would be considered to have died honorably—no matter what was uncovered after.”

“But?”

“But he slept with the major general’s wife. So the guy made sure he wasn’t just tried for dishonorable conduct, like would usually happen, but treason. There’s no statute of limitations on treason. He was found guilty—because he was—and there are special rules for espionage and treason.”

“So she didn’t get his benefits?”

“Even with two little girls at home, after living on base and moving around for years, living the army life, they got kicked out with nothing. No family either.”

My heart sinks. “So what did you ask for?”

“For him to be reinstated. The case will be reviewed by a board and overturned. Technically he’s guilty, but it never should have gotten that high. They shouldn’t suffer for his mistakes.”

“So she’ll get full benefits and you’ll still be sleeping outside of a shitty motel?”

“Doesn’t matter what happens to me.”

“It does matter. If you had asked for money, you could have gone to her, been with her.”

“And what? Pay her to be with me? Force her to do what’s best for her kids? I’d never do that to her.” He shakes his head. “Besides, the stain of treason would follow her everywhere. Her girls, too. It’s better this way.”

“You can still go to her. Now. She’ll have the benefits, whether she wants you or not, so she won’t feel obligated. You can be together.”

A short laugh. “I don’t know whether she was even interested in me. And like you said, I’m sleeping outside of a shitty motel. Not exactly good boyfriend material.”

“Is she here in Tanglewood?”

He nods.

My eyes narrow. “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”

“Leave it alone, Avery. It’s done. She’s getting what she deserves, and I’m getting what I deserve.”

“And what do you deserve?”