The words were steel.
They were my defense against the emotional fallout, against the terrifying, illogical surge of forgiveness I felt for the man who was this ruthless, this protective. I forgave him because my vengeance was a ghost, and the life I now craved was real.
Because I love him. I haven't said it yet but…I do.
Jackson's eyes were locked on mine, golden-brown and dark with relief and profound shock. He was trying to reconcile the woman who wrote "HIM" with the woman who just processed patricide like a quarterly report.
"Love, you don't have to say that," he choked out, his grip on my hand tightening, his knuckles white. "I need you to be honest about how upset you are with me…"
"I am honest," I cut him off, staring him down. "I forgive you because the vengeance I was seeking was a lie. I forgive you because you gave me something I couldn't get on my own: peace."
I kept my hand firmly away from my abdomen, a conscious, meticulous act of self-control. The truth of the pregnancy…a secret so fragile and world-altering…had to remain mine.
It was the ultimate, non-negotiable asset. The moment he knew, his strategy would shift from protector to zealot, and his focus would fracture. I needed him laser-focused on the General and the extraction.
"My hatred is gone," I stated, letting the lie ring true. "My purpose is now absolute stability. I &know you thought the truth will break me, sending me back into a vengeance spiral. I have a new priority, Jackson. A priority that demands we survive this without any collateral damage."
I stood, my movements quick and decisive, walking toward the galley.
"I need to reset the board," I said, pouring myself a glass of water. "I need clarity." I didn't drink, but let the cold glass anchor my hand. "The lie ends here. We move to a single, tactical objective: the dismantling of the General's influence and the creation of our sanctuary."
I turned back to him. The jet was beginning its final descent, the cabin filling with the dull hum of the landing process.
"The war isn't over. It's just been officially narrowed to one target," I said, my voice hardening. "Tell me the logistics of the Cape Town compound. I want to know where the perimeter weaknesses are, what local assets we can acquire, and the nearest secure medical facilities."
I didn't give him a moment to respond. I walked past him and into the washroom, securing the door.
The heavy thunk of the landing gear deploying was the only sound that cut through the profound shock in Jackson's mind. He didn't move as the washroom door clicked shut.
Jackson's POV
I forgive you because you gave me something I couldn't get on my own: peace.
My hands, still resting where she had just been, were trembling. She should be furious. She should be calculating my death. Instead, she had granted me absolution with the detached logic of an accountant.
Does she mean it?
I walked to the washroom door, my ear pressed against the expensive wood, listening to the muffled rush of the shower. That was it…she was washing the lie off, washing the past off. But that terrifying, unwavering forgiveness... it felt like an abyss.
She hadn't broken. She had evolved. She was no longer running on vengeance, but on a cold, strategic need for survival that eclipsed even patricide. It made her infinitely more dangerous, and yet, infinitely more committed to me.
The nearest secure medical facilities. The request echoed in my mind, sharp and out of place among the talk of perimeter weaknesses. Was she injured? Was she planning a medical op? I pushed the thought aside. She was always planning, always seeking redundancy.
The shower cut off. I moved away quickly, back to my seat, assuming the mantle of the commander. The jet was decelerating rapidly.
The door opened.
Belinda emerged, wrapped in a towel, the steam clinging to the black silk pajamas. Her brown eyes were clear, focused, and utterly unreadable.
"The war is over," she repeated, her voice strong. "It's been narrowed to one target—the General. You did this for me. Now, I will do this for us."
The next day and a half on the jet were tense but we made it in one piece.
"We're landing, love," I said, my voice husky, my own feelings a knot of confusion and fierce, protective love. "I need you to strap in."
She walked to the passenger seat and did as instructed. The jet banked, giving a breathtaking view of the vast, cobalt ocean and the rugged, imposing coastline of South Africa. The sun was rising over Table Mountain.
"The compound is fully secure," I managed, my focus snapping back to the mission. "It's built into the cliffs—two perimeter checks, encrypted comms, and a dedicated team run by Tyrone. The nearest medical facility is a private clinic two hours away, fully vetted."
I looked at her, searching for any sign of her internal emotional landscape. There was none. She was a steel shield.
"Good," she said, her eyes fixed on the approaching land. "Tell Tyrone to double the local surveillance. We need to know who the General's local assets are before we unpack. The General will know we chose a location with a clear view of the night sky."
The plane touched down with a soft bump. The tires screeched lightly on the tarmac.
"Welcome to Cape Town," I murmured, reaching for her hand.
Belinda's POV
I let him take it, a firm, non-emotional grip. "Welcome to the new battlefield, Jay. Now, let's get to work."
I kept my secret safe. He was left with the chilling knowledge that his new life was entirely dependent on a woman whose forgiveness was a deeper, more frightening mystery than his crime.
~Jet lands~
Jackson was already moving, his body language snapping from shock to command. He was shaking off the unnerving quality of my forgiveness by diving into action—a man needing logistics to anchor his reality.
I let go of his hand, my own focus absolute. I couldn't afford a single misstep. My first day wasn't about rest or romance…it was about securing the ultimate secret: my secret.
"Tyrone is waiting," Jackson said, his voice low, pulling a secure comms earpiece from the console. "He'll take us directly to the compound. We'll debrief in the secure vault."
"The vault can wait," I countered, already walking down the stairs and stepping onto the tarmac. The heat hit me, glorious and sharp. I paused, taking a deliberate breath of the new air. "My first priority is establishing the local baseline. Tyrone will drive me…you can brief him on the new security parameters during the drive."
Jackson moved to stand beside me, his large hand resting lightly on the small of my back…a gesture of ownership and protection that I've grown to love. "Love, the compound is two hours of winding mountain road. It's built for security, not convenience. We need to secure the vault first."
I turned, meeting his gaze with a cold, unwavering intensity that was meant to override his authority.
"Your strategy is built on the premise that the General will send an attack team," I explained, the lie perfectly honed. "My strategy is built on the premise that he'll send a liability. He'll try to lure us out. We need a verifiable cover for our sudden wealth and secrecy. We are not spies, Jackson. We are eccentric billionaires on a wellness retreat."
I continued before he could argue, "Tell Tyrone to drive me to the fanciest mall."
Little white lie.
I need him to drive me to the hospital because I want to confirm I'm pregnant. I only got a hunch this morning because I couldn't stomach the coffee and I kept throwing up everytime I tried. I love coffee and Jay and I haven't exactly been safe in any way at all.
I need to make sure.