Protecting Her(109)

“Yes.” My head is pounding, my thoughts racing so fast I can’t keep up. I don’t want to believe any of this, but for some reason I do. Maybe because deep-down, part of me always knew Pearce was hiding something from me. I just didn’t know what.

“Why didn’t you tell Pearce?” I ask. “When you found out about the plan they had for me, why didn’t you tell him?”

“Because Pearce can’t think straight when it comes to you. If he knew of their plan, he would’ve gone on a rampage, trying to kill every damn one of them, and in doing so, he would’ve got himself killed.”

I take a breath, trying to calm down enough to stay focused on what he’s saying. “So what happens now? What do I do?”

“You’re leaving. Tonight. You’re taking an overnight flight and you’re leaving the country. You are no longer Rachel Kensington. You have a new identity. A new passport. A new history. You didn’t grow up in Indiana. You grew up in Maryland. Your father worked on a fishing boat.” He reaches under the table and slides out a drawer. Inside is a folder. He takes it out, sets it on the table, and slides it over to me. “You need to memorize the contents of that folder. That’s the new you. You will assume the identity I’ve created for you.”

“So I’m dead now?” Tears fall from my eyes. “I’ll never see my son again? I’ll never see Pearce?”

“You will. It’ll just take time. I’m going to see Pearce tonight to tell him what happened. I’ll tell him you’re alive. Then it’ll be up to him to find a way to get you back.”

“You just said you didn’t want to tell him because of how he’d react.”

“Once he knows you weren’t on that plane and that you’re alive and safe, he’ll be able to think this through and come up with a plan. Pearce knows how they work. He’ll understand why I did this and why the crash had to happen. When I meet with him tonight, I’ll tell him how I think he should handle this, but ultimately it’ll be up to him. He has to be the one to do this. I can’t do any more to help him. Or you. I’ve already put myself and my family at risk by doing this.”

Jack must see the hopelessness on my face because he reaches over and holds my hand. “Pearce will get you back. I don’t know how, but I know he’ll find a way. As long as he knows you’re alive, he will spend every waking moment trying to find a way to get you back. But it could take months, or even years, so you need to be patient. And you must never contact him. Or me. Or anyone else from your former life. If you do, you’ll put us all in danger. You need to wait for Pearce to come get you.”

“No!” I yank my hand back from his. “I can’t do this. I can’t leave my family behind. Just take me to Pearce. I’ll hide out at home. Or somewhere near the house. I’ll stay in hiding until Pearce can figure this out.”

“It’s too risky. We can’t risk someone finding you. If they discovered you were alive, they would kill you, and they wouldn’t bother with a plane crash. They’d kill you as soon as they saw you. And what if Garret was with you when they did it? What if you were shot at, but the bullet accidentally hit your son?”

“Oh, God.” I cover my face with my hands. “Don’t even say that!”

“This is why you can’t go back. Not yet.”

“Then I’ll move somewhere else. I’ll go to the West Coast, far away from anyone who knows me.”

“You can’t be here, Rachel. You can’t be in the US. We have members all over the country and all of them know who you are. And the public knows you. If someone saw you, they’d report it. You’re supposed to be dead.”

“I can’t leave the country. I can’t be that far away from my family. There has to be a different way.”

“There is no other way. The only way to keep you and your family safe is for you to go far away where nobody knows you.”

I close my eyes, tears streaming down my face. “I don’t think I can do it, Jack. Garret needs me. He’s just a little boy. He needs his mother. I can’t leave my son.”

“You have to. You’d be putting yourself in danger if you stayed.”

“Not if I stay hidden. Pearce will find me a safe place to hide where Garret could come see me.”

“There’s no safe place to hide you. Not here. Not in the US. If you remain here, they will find you. And when they do, you risk them harming more than just you. They could do something to Garret. Or Pearce.”