anything sweeter than knowing that, finally, she actually felt a sense of true belonging.
TWENTY
ELIZA purposely arrived at the site of the press conference early so she could select a place directly in front of the podium so there was no chance of Thomas not seeing her. She hadn’t shared this with Wade, but she’d only given him one of her reasons for insisting on being here when Thomas had his day in the spotlight. She hadn’t lied. Every single thing she’d told him about needing to face Thomas was absolutely true. But there was another reason, one she hadn’t dared impart to Wade or he would have shut her down so fast her head would have spun.
She wanted to be as close to Thomas as possible because she knew once he spotted her, once he knew she was there, almost in touching distance, he would attempt to begin his manipulation. And now that she understood the difference between thoughts and feelings psychically implanted and those that were solely her own, she knew she was no longer that starry-eyed teenager living without hope with only her daydreams and fantasies to make life bearable.
She would know immediately if Thomas was able to break through the mental barriers she’d spent years strengthening. And she needed to know, because if he could still manipulate her, then she was a danger to every single person important to her. Thomas could use her to turn against people absolutely loyal to her, betray them, destroy them and herself in the process.
It was a test. The most important test of her life with everything riding on the outcome. Whatever the result, she would still walk away once Thomas registered her presence. It was only a matter of whether she would return to Wade, confident in her ability to withstand a mental assault, or . . . if her barriers were breached then she’d run and she’d keep running. Forever. Whatever it took to ensure she would never be under Thomas’s control again and used to destroy the lives of the people who meant the most to her.
She checked her watch, casually turning ever so slightly so she could view the growing crowd. Though she had yet to speak to Dane since the last time she’d seen him when she’d requested vacation time, it heartened her to know he was out there. Watching over her, taking her back like always, and with him the other DSS operatives. Zack. Newly married or not, she knew he would have insisted on being here. Next to Dane, Zack was closest to her of everyone she worked with.
She had the utmost confidence in her team. Knew they were watching, taking in every detail, any sign of danger, protecting her and then, when she left, they would shadow Thomas’s every move and even Thomas with his psychic abilities would never know he was being watched. Her pride in the people she worked with was well deserved, absolute and unwavering. They’d proven themselves time and time again. Even when she’d been abducted and subjected to grueling torture, she’d never once lost faith that they would find her and get her out alive.
More and more people gathered until the entire street between the grassy circle and the businesses behind them was clogged with bystanders making it impassable to vehicles. The businesses had all closed for the press conference. No one would be anywhere but here. Afterward, they’d reopen and likely do a booming business as the locals gathered to gossip and offer their opinions on Thomas’s statement. And Eliza’s presence of course.
As safe as she knew she was in the hands of her teammates watching over her, she wished Wade was here, even just doing what her team was doing. Watching, invisible, ghosts. But Wade had good reason not to leave the safe house. With so many people, media, cameras and filming, he couldn’t risk being seen by anyone.
If he was the one taking Thomas down—and he was adamant that it was his mission and his alone—then he couldn’t be linked in any way to the town or the media, and he could not be seen by anyone who could place him in the vicinity of Thomas.
It still made her sick to her soul to have Wade take someone’s life for her. It was her risk to take, her fall to take, her right to finally bring him to final justice. She shook off the unwanted thoughts and images of Wade risking all for her and