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“Yes.”

No hesitation.

God.

He did.

I looked at this man I loved and understood that perhaps that was the worst part. He hadn’t done any of this because he thought I was worthless. He’d done it because I mattered so much he’d decided losing my trust was preferable to letting me see whatever frightened him.

“Why?”

His brows drew together. “Why what?”

“Why can’t I know?”

His breathing changed.

There.

One last chance.

I waited.

Give it to me.

Please.

Tell me now.

Tell me something.

Anything.

His lips parted.

My heart hurt so badly I almost reached for him. Then he looked toward the open cellar. And I watched the door close inside him again.

“Because there are things you don’t come back from knowing.”

Something inside me finally broke free.

Not just shattered.

But released.

I stared at him. “You still don’t understand, do you?”

“Understand what?”

“I already came back from them.”

He went completely still.

“Facility Nine.” My voice didn’t shake. “The cages. The men. The wrench. My hand. My leg. Andrea screaming at me to run.”

His face twisted.

“I came back from all of it.”