It's not until I'm in the car that I finally release a breath... and pull out my phone.

It only rings twice.

"Cupcake?" his voice is thick with sleep, but gosh does it sound so good to hear his voice again.

"Yeah," I choke, barely able to respond, "Hey Caleb."

"What's the matter?! What's wrong? Where are you?" he immediately freaks, hearing my voice and clearly not being awake enough to think clearly.

Same old Caleb.

"Hey," I rasp, "I... I need to... I've booked a flight. I'm coming back. I leave tonight."

Talking to him I can barely keep it together enough to have a conversation. God, I've missed him so much.

"When do you arrive? I'll pick you up," his voice is serious and the sleepiness is nowhere to be found.

He knows something is terribly, terribly wrong.

"I'll text you shortly with all the details," I promise quietly, "We both know you'll forget everything if I tell you now because you're going to fall asleep as soon as I hang up."

He probably won't - I can tell he's had an adrenaline rush - but I don't want to say that.

"Are you safe?" he asks quietly, "Just... you can explain everything later, but are you okay?"

"Yeah," I breathe, "I'm safe. And I'll be okay once I make it to you."

There's a part of me that is still in denial that I'll get that chance again... I need to see him to believe it's real.

"Okay. I'll see you soon, Cupcake."

Years. It's been so many years since he made me cut the boys off.

It meant that when Caleb had his accident, I was left in the dark until nearly two weeks after the funeral.

I'd nearly imploded then.

That was when things really started to turn in my mind. When the 'misunderstandings' and the 'compromises' started to look darker... more malicious. It was the first time I'd given something up for him that I regretted.

Then, one by one... the rest of them were lost in 'accidents' too. That's when my suspicions grew and I'd discovered her schemes... An investigation that got me killed.

Not this time.

We're at two years... two years... have I even told him about the boys yet? Beyond 'I've got friends in government who're pretty special, and I can't tell you anything because it's classified'? I can't remember, but I don't think so. I don't think he'd started to distrust me so much yet that I had to justify my relationship with my brothers...

My real brothers - the ones I chose, not the ones I was 'gifted' by blood.

Shame those 'gifted' shitheads didn't come with receipts so I could return 'em.

The moment we arrived at the bank I beelined straight for Tessa's office.

I know he'll come to see her eventually after I leave, but by then it will be too late. I just need a head start - I'll take care of the rest once I get out of here.

"Marcy! Hey girl! What are you doing here?!" Tessa rushed over and air kissed my cheeks like the weirdo she is.

Nice enough to my face now, but given how she turned like the rest of them it takes effort to force the smile and reciprocation.

"Hey Tessa! I've actually come for a weird, but kinda fun request."

"Oooh, well do tell!" she began, sitting at her desk and indicating the chair in front of her.

"I'm putting something fun together for Derek's birthday, but I need to be able to be a little sneaky for a few months," I say, playing secretive and half-whispering for effect, "I need to open a new account - separate, just for me - and move my funds from my other account into it so he won't see the transactions."

"Oh this is juicy!" she squealed, bouncing in her seat, "What is the surprise?!"

"Now, you know why I can't tell you," I said, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Cause I can't keep a secret," she grumbled, her shoulders slumping.

"Bingo," I laughed, noting how fake I sounded but hoping she didn't notice.

"Well this isn't hard," she sighed, turning to her computer and typing so fast her fingers blurred, "let's get you set up!"

By the time I left an hour later I had everything I needed. Derek has an exorbitant amount of influence and money - at least for now - and it won't take him long to track the plane ticket from the account I purchased earlier.

I need him going in the wrong direction so I had to buy that one before I moved the funds around.

Now that I have a separate account, I quickly purchase a second ticket for the flight I'd check out earlier. It's much earlier in the day, so I need to get my affairs in order fast.

Including ditching this damn phone. On the way to the phone carrier I call several random people, burying my call to Caleb amongst the history. Several of them are saved, some are not, and none of them are shocked for me to call and chat - just to check in.

None of them - including Caleb - will stand out from previous call histories.

Once that's done, I shatter it and buy a new one.

My final stop is the law firm, where the deed to my parent's house is transferred to my eldest brother's name and I sever all connections to the family - formally disowning them all.

The lawyer promised to have it mailed to my brother, so they won't learn about that bit right away.

Then I filed for divorce.

I agreed to walk away with nothing. No shares. No percentages. No compensation.

"If he fights it," the lawyer had explained, "then it will go to court. However, since you're not asking for anything and you have no resources for him to fight for, we can represent you."

I'd nodded along, completing all the right forms and signing all the right things to ensure I never have to see his face ever again.

It's hard to breathe through the smoke that isn't filling the room... But I grit my teeth and force myself forward even as the lawyer eyes me with concern.

I know the beads of sweat on my forehead and my eyes going in and out of focus give me away.

I don't care. I can do this.

I just have to get to the boys.

I penned two letters to be delivered by the law firm under the right circumstances, and I stood to leave on shaky legs.

"Ma'am?" a soft voice had me turning back around to face the man that had just spent hours helping me shred every connection I have, "Good luck."

His eyes are sad and I can tell he can sense the severity of the situation.

"Thank you," I rasp, trying to keep composed, "You... you have no idea... what you did for me today. So... thank you."

You saved my life, I want to tell him. But I don't. How could I possibly explain?

His solemn nod and the look in his eyes tells me he understands well enough.

Another driver waits out front, and without a single look backward I head to the airport.

I know I'll breathe easier once I'm on the plane, though I have a plan to fool the cameras once I'm inside so Derek won't know which flight I actually took.

He may figure it out, eventually... but there's a layover with a connecting flight, and I'm hoping I can lose any trail I might not drop here once I'm there.

If I do this right, he'll have no idea where I end up and will have to invest a lot of time and resources to figure it out.

By then, the General will have helped me disappear for real.

--

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