Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

WILDER

"Fuck you," I spat, wishing I could shoot lasers out of my eyes.

The wild-eyed psycho brandishing a hot poker simply grinned.

I'd learned a lot—not only about myself, but also Valeria, Maya, and just what Matt had survived.

I'd discovered what burnt flesh smelled like—specifically, my own. After this, there was no way I'd ever be able to eat barbequed pork again. For real, singed skin not only hurt like a fucker, but the stench would likely be with me for weeks.

And I absolutely planned for that to happen. Not a chance I wasn't getting out of here alive, leaving Maya and her sadistic fuckwit team in the ground with bullets in their brains.

I'd never killed for revenge before. Sure, I'd thought about it a time or two, but up until this point, I didn't think I had it in me. How wrong I was.

What was also clear was that the torture had only just begun, but I still had no idea why.

No questions had been asked. No demands had been made.

Everything about this situation felt wrong. Sure, for the obvious reasons that I'd been captured and made to fucking burn, but still, what was the point of it all?

Before I could tell the lion shifter where he really needed to stick the hot poker, the door opened, revealing the head honcho of psychopaths—Maya.

A sly smile tilted her lips. Objectively, I imagined those attracted to women would be drawn to her. Until they looked into her eyes and saw nothing but bottomless pits of crazy. And that was not a term I threw around for the fun of it.

It had taken a shocked, spiralling Valeria probably five minutes to realise this was not the parent she remembered. While I still didn't know how long ago Maya had been presumed dead, Valeria had definitely been old enough to know her well. But I imagined that version of her mum was nowhere to be seen.

Maya flipping her shit almost immediately had been enough of a red flag for Valeria to be on high alert and recognise the threat the woman was. Her mum then cussing out Matt, threatening his balls and his life, proceeding to vent and rave about the years she'd needed to stay underground and transform and declaring that "they" would all pay, pretty much helped me to understand that all of this info was also news to Valeria.

She'd definitely believed her mum to be not only dead but a museum curator.

Talk about a shock.

Valeria had since been dragged away. She'd managed to put two shifters on the ground, but considering she was restrained and unarmed, her head still foggy, she'd lost the battle.

Ever since she'd been taken away, a ball of dread sat in my gut. It didn't matter her experience or her age. Valeria was Matt's daughter. The need to make sure she was okay burned brightly in the very centre of my being.

Maya's nose wrinkled when she stepped further into the concrete shell of a room. She eyed the fresh burn on my arm, satisfaction alight in her gaze. "I hate not having symmetry, Josiah."

Josiah immediately pulled the poker out of the small cast iron fire they'd wheeled in a while back. The end glowed red.

I stiffened, muscles bunching, preparing for pain.

Searing agony tore through my arm. The heat was instant and all-consuming, spreading through my flesh like wildfire. It felt as though the very essence of my being was being burned away, layer by layer. My skin hissed and crackled, the smell of scorched flesh filling the air, mingling with the acrid scent of the smoke.

I'd heal. Maybe. Unless they continued to burn the same spot over and over again, never giving my body time to rejuvenate.

The pain burrowed deep, sending shockwaves through my nerves, rattling my bones as Josiah continued holding the metal to my flesh. I clenched my teeth, a guttural scream threatening to escape.

Not a chance I'd give either of them the satisfaction.

The moment the poker tore free, I inhaled deeply through my mouth, avoiding the vile stench.

"Much better." Maya nodded in approval, turned, and headed back to the door.

What the fuck?

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" I shouted, ignoring the sweat pouring off me. Calling out to her could be a mistake, but if I had no choice but to sit here and take it, I wanted to at least know why.

She turned slowly on her heel, her eyes like daggers as they locked on me. A sneer followed, and she took a step away from the door, her roaming gaze making it crystal clear she wasn't impressed with what she saw.

Right back at ya, lady .

Just when I didn't think she was going to respond, she took another step towards me. "You made a mistake coming to Australia. You made a second mistake by not leaving immediately. The third, though." She tutted. A flash of just how unhinged she was appeared in her expression as a cruel smile twisted her lips. "It was the third that landed you here."

Confusion clouded my thoughts.

The hell was she talking about?

What on earth did I have to do with anything going on here? Sure, I'd sucked off her ex. Though, technically, was he really that to her, since she'd lied about who she was in the first place and, for her, their whole relationship was a big, fat lie?

That was one of many snippets of information I'd discovered.

But me sucking off Matt and admittedly beginning to crush on the vampire harder than was sensible could not have anything to do with what?—

"I always found going down on Mathew tedious. You didn't have the same problem, right?"

No way in hell could she know that. Any of it. Right? Fuck.

And seriously? If this was a weird, fucked-up revenge scheme by a jealous ex, I was going to lose my shit. Who did that? I'd already established that she had some serious mental health issues. I was no doctor, but I didn't think the depth of her mental illness was something that could be managed by tablets or professional support.

I suspected there was a whole brainwashed situation. What was the Red Room's equivalent in North Korea?

But Maya…. When we added in the whole double-agent, traitor-to-her-country thing as well as her sadistic nature…. I sighed, seriously pissed. My shoulders sagged with the reality check.

The revenge and jilted-lover thing perhaps weren't so farfetched for the vampire before me.

The more burning issue was responding to her question. "I'm pretty sure I didn't brush my teeth after swallowing Matt's cum. I loved every second of it." I smiled inwardly when her features tightened.

It wasn't enough to stop me.

"So either you have a voyeurism kink and have managed to find a way to do whatever creepy shit you need to get the old blood pumping, or you're just a bitter, sadistic fuck who can't move on and get a life, so you have to come back like a bad stink. Which is it?"

She moved before I could prepare myself, her fingers grasping my throat and squeezing. The iron grip made it impossible to breathe. My eyes strained, muscles tensed under her grasp. With her face inches from mine, I fought her hold, moving my shoulders to try to break free.

Her strength was impossible, like nothing I'd ever felt before.

Think. I stilled, trying to get my brain to cooperate.

Making eye contact, I stared and took in every piece of detail I could.

Red flecks joined the dark green of her irises, a handful in each but absolutely noticeable and wrong.

So very wrong.

Understanding slammed into me. It would have caught my breath if I'd had access to any oxygen.

Holy shit .

I croaked, "Hor-nell."

Immediately, her grip loosened, and I gasped for air, struggling to suck in enough to get rid of the white spots dancing in my vision.

Standing upright after releasing my neck, Maya peered down at me. Distaste and distrust filled her expression, and while she seemed more in control and lucid, it was a ruse.

"Do you—" I broke into a hacking cough that seared my throat. "Do you work for him or with him?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"You do, right?" I took a deep breath and cracked my neck side to side, relieved that my raw throat had started to show signs of healing, my voice already less gruff. "I can't see you as someone who'd have an implant, but there's something… one of their cocktails, maybe, pumped right into your vein."

That had to be it.

Vampires didn't have red eyes. Those flecks in hers screamed chemical manipulation.

Something beyond blood and hatred pumped in her veins, and given the way she'd released me after I'd said Hornell's name, it wasn't necessary to be a genius to put two and two together.

Fuck .

A new possibility that became more and more probable as I sat here, tied to the chair, at the very beginning of being tortured, revealed itself.

"You're here for me. Hornell needs me for something." My words were flat as I absorbed their truth. When she remained silent, I pushed, "Is it just happenchance you were the one to come for me, or was it deliberate, since I was with Lucas?"

I couldn't call him Matt. Not with her. Which didn't make any sense, I knew, but nothing about this situation was regular.

Ignoring my questions, she stood before me with her arms folded. "The schematics for the chip. Where are they?"

I ran my tongue over my top teeth. All I needed was to break free from the wrist restraints, and my bear form could take care of the rest. It had taken a long time to tame my wilder instincts, the urges pushing me to relinquish control and give in to my baser needs.

If I stayed here for much longer, it would only be a matter of time before I lost my shit and shifted without full control. It might even be enough to tear me free from the restraints. It wasn't a myth that bears could go berserk. The one time it had happened to me wasn't a memory I liked to recall.

But hell, maybe I needed to succumb and lose control.

If ever a situation called for it, now would be the time.

I just needed the suppression cuffs off first.

Narrow-eyed, Maya studied me, a dangerous mix of curiosity and disdain in her gaze. I had to provoke her, push her to the edge.

"You think you're in control here, Maya?" I scoffed, a smirk following. "You're just a puppet, strung along by Hornell. Do you even know what his real plans are? Or are you just too doped up to care?"

Fury flashed in her eyes, a muscle in her jaw twitching. She was making this too easy.

"You talk too much," she hissed, stepping closer. "Maybe Josiah needs to remind you of your place."

I smirked, ignoring the sharp pain in my arm from the fresh burn. "Josiah?" I scoffed. Hell, I loved the thrill of pissing people off. I lived for this shit. "The lion who reeks of weakness? He couldn't break me if he tried. But you know that, don't you? You need him to do your dirty work because you're afraid you'll mess up. Again."

She didn't need to know I was grasping at straws. But without a doubt, she wouldn't be here and on whatever drug that buzzed through her system if her life was all hearts and rainbows.

Anger flared in her eyes, and she turned to Josiah. "Make him suffer. And don't hold back this time."

With a nod, Josiah's expression morphed into a mask of grim determination. Maya touched her ear and froze. Interesting. Was she wearing some sort of communication device? Was that Hornell in her ear? "I'll be back. Don't disappoint me."

As she stormed out of the room, I saw my opportunity. Josiah approached, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the torment he thought he was about to inflict. His mistake was immediate—he moved around to the back of my chair.

Tensing, I waited for the perfect moment. As he reached to grab my shoulder, I slammed my body backwards with all my strength. The chair crashed into his legs, knocking him off balance. He hit the ground hard, a surprised grunt escaping his lips.

Not wasting a second, I threw my head backwards, the back of my skull connecting with his face. Once, twice—until his grip loosened and his body went limp.

With Josiah unconscious on the floor, I manoeuvred my body, contorting to reach the keys dangling from the chain in his pocket. My fingers fumbled, desperation driving me. Finally, I snagged the keys and awkwardly unlocked the cuffs.

The suppression fell away, and a surge of power rushed through me.

Fuck yes.

My form shifted, bones and muscles rearranging as fast as a blink until I stood as a towering bear.

I roared, the sound echoing off the concrete walls. This room wouldn't contain me. And now, I had one mission: finding Valeria and getting us both out of this hellhole.

Charging out of the room, I followed her scent, my bear instincts guiding me. Valeria was near, and nothing would stand in my way.

Teeth met flesh when I took a wolf down, the guard too focussed on stuffing his face with food to sense me coming. I turned a corner and was greeted by another wolf shifter in human form and… I tilted my head, unsure what I was scenting.

The woman with the odd scent charged at me, not giving me time to think.

That was her first mistake—not going for the gun strapped to her leg. Her second was attempting to grab me in a chokehold. Another roar raged from me as I tore at her arm, the scream ripping free from her more satisfying than it should have been.

I dropped her to the ground, allowing her to crawl away while trying to hold her shoulder in place. Whoever this team was that Maya or Hornell had put together, they were pitifully lacking. What happened back at my capture was piss-poor judgment on my part and pure luck on theirs. It would be the story I'd stick to.

I smacked the gun out of another shifter's hand. A satisfying crack of his bone ricocheted around the corridor. With a grunt, he gripped his arm, leaving him defenceless. He had a choice. I roared again, spittle breaking free and landing on his cheek. Terror seeped from his pores, satisfying the wild flurry under my skin that begged for pain and destruction.

Then he ran, darting in the other direction as fast as his shaky legs could carry him. Maybe some of the individuals in this unit weren't as stupid as I first thought.

I hooked the keys onto one of my claws, hoping they would help offer us a way out of here.

On four legs, I followed Valeria's scent, not coming across any more issues. It was strange for what appeared to be a large facility to have so few guards. Maybe they were only expecting to take me in, and considering my involvement, they didn't think anyone would come after me.

The thought sent a ripple of longing through my thick coat.

Matt would come for his daughter, but a flicker of hope stirred in my chest that just maybe he would come for me too.

Voices alerted me to Maya's presence. Hers was loud, unhinged. I paused. Valeria's calm voice was much quieter in comparison. I listened in.

"… all this time. Did you truly think I'd be interested in anything you had to offer?" Tension pitched Valeria's voice low. Gone was the initial surprise, the whisper of longing evident in those first couple of minutes.

While Maya had already overshared a lot, from Valeria's tone, I suspected the full extent of her mother's betrayal and maybe the condition of her mental health had been revealed. What concerned me more was how deep Maya was in with Hornell and what types of changes she'd embraced.

I'd only recently started a deep dive into all the experiments and enhancements Hornell was responsible for. Most of my time had been pulled into finding his location, which meant, with Maya's involvement, we may be closer than ever before.

"He's twisted you, turned you away from me." Cruelty matched the venom in Maya's tone.

Valeria scoffed with strained amusement. "Well, at least I know you haven't been spying on me for all these years."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"If you had, you'd know Dad kept all of this, everything about you, to himself. Even your death, he took respons?—"

"He was responsible."

A pregnant pause followed before Valeria, voice tight, said, "That may be the case, but the story he told me was that you were innocent and in the wrong place at the wrong time. I blamed him for your death. Blamed him for your separation and that you died because he forced you to leave."

"If it weren't for Mathew discovering the truth, then we could have been a family. As soon as your training was over, I planned to bring you in." Maya's voice gentled; however, the note of unhinged desperation remained as she continued. "We could have worked together, travelled the world?—"

"Doing what? Betraying my country and then sipping a margarita at the poolside? Maybe killing a few innocents when they saw something they shouldn't have and then celebrating by doing some shoe shopping with you? Mu—Maya, you don't know me at all if you think I would betray the agency, let alone hurt Dad."

My gut clenched at her words, but hell if they didn't fill me with relief.

"Then you being here is just a distraction."

The ice in Maya's voice caused goose bumps to ripple along my skin. Barely a second later, I heard the slide of a foot on concrete, and a gurgle tore through the air.

Fuck .

I launched into the room, my gaze landing on a wide-eyed Valeria, who snapped her attention to me. Red misted my vision, a growl tearing free at the blood dripping down Valeria's neck from Maya's nails clawing at her throat.

Maya didn't stop, didn't look my way—whether lost in bloodlust or so ruled by whatever ran through her veins, I didn't know. What I did know was that Valeria's eyes bugged, the whites of her eyes turning red with broken blood vessels.

I darted towards them, my heavy thuds eating up the distance. I swiped out with a strong paw, knocking Maya to the side. The shove released her grip from Valeria's neck, and she quickly gulped in air and coughed painfully.

Jumping to her feet, Maya hissed, the red flecks in her eyes practically glowing. The hell had happened to her?

A shift of her ankle was the only warning I had before she hurled herself at me, fangs extended and her hands outstretched.

I twisted out of the way, preventing her from clawing at my throat. My thick fur offered me some protection, but vampires were strong and wily. Considering I didn't know the full effects of the chemicals that'd been pumped inside her, I couldn't take anything for granted.

"Don't… kill h-er," Valeria croaked.

The words barely penetrated, but I knew she was right. With the likelihood that Hornell's voice was in her ear, we couldn't afford for her to die. Plus, taking out this woman—Valeria's mum and Matt's ex—was not something I wanted on my conscience. Way to put a strain on a relationship before it had even begun.

Maya's movements were a blur, and the next instant, she was on top of me, her weight surprisingly light but her strength monstrous. I rolled to the side, using the momentum to throw her off balance. She landed with a hiss, baring her fangs at me, a deranged glint in her eyes.

I roared, my voice deep and guttural in my bear form, the keys still hooked around one of my claws.

Maya lunged again, faster than I anticipated. Her sharp nails raked my side, and pain flared up my ribs. I retaliated with a powerful swipe, aiming for her legs. She leapt back, evading my attack by a hair's breadth.

"You won't stop me," Maya spat, circling me like a predator.

I growled, focussing on her movements. She was quick, too quick, but I had brute strength on my side. I needed to incapacitate her, not kill her. My mind raced, thinking of ways to bring her down without ending her life. The keys jingled softly with my movements, a constant reminder of what I had to do.

Maya darted forwards, aiming for my eyes. I reared up on my hind legs, towering over her, and brought my paws down with thunderous force. She twisted midair, avoiding a direct hit, but the impact sent her sprawling across the floor.

I glanced quickly at Valeria, who was struggling against her restraints, her face pale, her expression livid. The keys. I needed to get the keys to her.

Maya hissed, realising my distraction, and pushed off the ground to launch herself at me with deadly intent. My heart lurched, and I threw myself in her path, catching her midleap. We tumbled to the ground in a tangle of limbs and fur.

She writhed and snarled beneath me, her claws tearing into my flesh. Ignoring the pain, I tightened my grip, pinning her arms to her sides. Maya screamed, a sound filled with fury and desperation.

With a sudden burst of strength, I rolled, flipping Maya off me and sending her crashing into the wall. I used the brief respite to twist my paw, the keys sliding away and skidding across the floor towards Valeria. She reached out with her foot, pulling the keys closer.

Maya roared, fury and frustration clear in her red-tinted eyes as she scrambled to her feet. She charged at me, but I met her with a forceful swipe, knocking her back again. Not a chance I'd let her take me or her daughter down.

I growled, positioning myself between her and Valeria.

On her back on the cold concrete, Valeria fumbled with the keys. "Almost there," she murmured, the sound barely audible over the chaos.

Maya's eyes flickered to Valeria, then back to me. She was calculating, looking for any opening. But I wouldn't give her one. I had to buy Valeria more time.

With a primal roar, Maya launched herself at me once more. I braced myself, my muscles coiling as I prepared to meet her attack. She was relentless, her claws and fangs a blur of motion. I countered every strike, my bear form giving me the strength to withstand her assault.

Behind me, I heard the click of the cuffs opening. Valeria was free.

"Got it!" Valeria shouted, her voice filled with determination.

Maya's eyes widened, and she made a desperate move to get past me. I blocked her path, using my massive bulk to shield Valeria. I roared again, swiping at Maya with all my strength.

Valeria lunged forwards with the chain she'd been tied with and looped it around Maya's legs. She pulled tight, using her full weight to bring the vampire down. Maya thrashed, her screams echoing through the room, but Valeria's effort combined with mine was too much.

With a final, powerful heave, we bound Maya's arms and legs, securing her to the ground. She lay there, panting and defeated, her eyes still burning with hatred.

"It's over, Maya," Valeria said, her voice heartbreakingly neutral.

She glared at her daughter, her chest heaving with exertion. "This isn't over."

Valeria didn't respond and looked at me.

With a nod, I eased back, preparing to shift. I did so immediately, turning back to my human form. The sting on my side had me glancing down. The wound remained open, but the blood flow had slowed.

"Her ear—check the communication device," I said quickly.

Immediately Maya struggled. Before I could suggest gagging her, Valeria raised a fist and punched Maya hard. Out cold, her head flopped to the right, her eyes shutting.

"That'll do it," I said, my brows shooting high. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."

Valeria smirked as she pulled a small device from Maya's ear. "A few hours ago, I would have said the chance of me knocking you out was high."

"And now?"

"Well, one, no way am I touching you while you're naked. I'd say I didn't know where you've been, but since I can scent my dad on you… eww."

Heat flushed my cheeks with the speed of a wildfire racing through dry brush. The fact that she'd rendered me speechless and flustered with mortification was ridiculously impressive.

A huff of laugh preceded her saying, "And two, you just saved my bacon. It kinda means I owe you."

"How about you just promise to not mention what you can scent on me or your dad again and we call us even?"

With a smirk, she nodded. "Deal." Her assessing gaze turned to the small earpiece. "This is a DR76 model." Her lips tilted up as she peered at me.

"No mic." I bobbed my head in relief. Whoever was on the other end at least hadn't heard anything. With that thought, I glanced around the room.

"There are no cameras in here."

I huffed out a tired laugh, ignoring the discomfort at my side. "You're a mind reader?"

She shrugged, the movement casual, but when she angled her neck, it drew my attention there. It looked raw and sore, but the small cuts were already healing.

"Trained operative, remember? I know my shit."

I tilted my head at her. "That you do."

"Is the rest of the building clear?" she asked after a beat.

"Between where I was being kept and here, yes. I didn't get around everywhere. I don't hear anything, though." I listened carefully to double-check. Satisfied all was quiet in the immediate area around us, I considered our options. I needed clothes, and we had to secure Maya properly.

We also needed to trace the signal from the earpiece.

I glanced at the metal loop in the floor that had been used to keep Valeria in place. "Shall we move her while we figure out where we are and how to reach out to Matt?"

Valeria glanced at the hook and nodded even as her muscles became taut at the mention of her dad.

Sympathy surged in my chest.

I had no doubt Matt had tried to do what was right by protecting her from the truth, but I suspected as far as Valeria was concerned, it was the wrong call to make. They had a lot of healing to do. I just hoped they could get things figured out and rebuild their relationship.

"Hey." I waited for her to look at me. When she made eye contact, I said, "You're going to be okay."

Rather than telling me where to shove my opinion, she offered a stiff nod before she stood, grabbed her mum's arm, and dragged her towards the loop in the floor.

We set to work restraining Maya. Once we were confident she wasn't going anywhere, I ducked out to find some clothes, picking up the gun from the floor one of the guards had left behind as I went. After a quick search, I found a stash of clothes in a locker room. The tee was tight, and I couldn't fasten the button at the waist of the jeans, but at least my junk was concealed.

I gave up on looking for shoes, my size 13 feet making it a struggle to squeeze into anything. I debated the pair of sliders I saw, but should I need to run, I'd just end up falling flat on my face.

By the time I made it back to Valeria, the redness on her throat had lessened, and she was on a laptop that she must have found from an adjoining room.

Maya remained unconscious. I hadn't thought she'd been decked so hard. Valeria must have had a stronger right hook than I thought.

"All good?" I asked.

"Yeah. I've just found the access to their security, which is pretty non-existent."

"Really? That doesn't make sense."

"That's what I thought. I kinda figured this location was last minute."

That made some sense. "I haven't ventured for the exit yet." Which I probably should have. At least two guards that I knew of had made a run for it. They might have called in the cavalry, but my gut and their lack of dedication suggested that wasn't the case. They were hired hands and couldn't have been paid much considering their lack of skills and how quickly they'd been taken out or run for it.

"No need. There's one single camera on the entrance."

"Have you figured out where we are?" I hadn't seen a single window to peer out of.

"Coordinates tell me north of Melbourne."

My brows shot high. "We're in Victoria?" Shit, I must have been dosed up pretty darn good to have missed the whole flight.

"On a tour of Australia, yet you've slept through most of it. That's pretty pathetic."

At her teasing, I grinned. "I'm not sure Australia likes me very much. Everywhere I go, I'm either being punched, shot, or maimed."

A huff of snorting laughter escaped her. She'd parted her lips to speak when an explosion shook the walls around us.

I slammed into Valeria with a grunt, taking her to the floor and covering her with my body to protect her from any debris that may come flying this way.

"Fuck. You're heavy," she groaned as the sound of the explosion settled.

Pounding feet echoing down the corridor replaced the ringing in my ears. I tensed, reluctantly moving an inch to give Valeria space to breathe.

"Any time now, you can move," she groused.

I frowned, wondering why the hell she was giving away our position. I angled, scenting the air. A sneeze followed when concrete dust tickled my nose.

Fuck it all to hell. Looked like my attempt to be stealthy was just as shit as hers.

"It's Dad." She sighed.

My brows shot high as I sniffed again, this time drawing in the scent of gumtrees and vampire. Matt.

Shit, and here I was squashing his daughter.

Before I could move, footsteps screeched to a halt in the open doorway, and I turned to look, seeing the man who I struggled to keep out of my thoughts appear.

His gaze was on mine, assessing, relief evident before his gaze dipped, taking in my position.

"In my defence, you were the one who thought it was a great idea to blow the shit out of a door rather than turning the handle," I said quickly. I eased off a huffing Valeria, shaking off the slivers of plaster and dust. Fortunately, the room remained pretty much intact.

Once on my bare feet, I reached for Valeria. She took my hand immediately, shaking her head, amusement in her gaze as she looked at me. When her focus turned to Matt, she froze, concern morphing her expression. I followed her line of sight, my body locking up.

Ghostly pale, Matt's eyes were wide with fear and horror as he looked to the side. My gaze followed his, landing on the figure on the ground, unconscious but very much alive—his ex-wife. The woman he'd thought was dead.

Her presence looked like it had shaken his world to its core. I wanted nothing more than to go to him, wrap him up in my arms, and hold him close, reassure him he didn't have to do this alone. But before I could say or do anything, more footsteps echoed through the hallway, and his whole team appeared.

Huh, apparently he wasn't alone at all. I couldn't help but feel a jolt of envy and a little jealousy. I pushed that aside. Now was not the time or the place. We still had a mission to complete.

And now more than ever, I wanted this to be truly over.