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“Did I hurt you, Jules?” If she said yes, he honestly didn’t kno he’d live with himself

“Don’t be daft,” was the ainst his chest

Joe sht He’d just fallen on her like an animal

“I’m not usually like that…” He didn’t kno to explain it

Julia lifted her head and rested her chin on him She looked him in the eye “Don’t I like that it’s different every tiain” She paused “Once I’ve had tiy”

She plopped her cheek back down on his chest, as though even that small action had cost too th

Joe couldn’t help but smile as she eased his worry She was too da the silence and the darkness Enjoying the co skin to skin

“Do you want to talk about it?” Julia asked softly “You don’t have to”

Joe closed his eyes, a futile attees that were already inside his head She waited patiently, no judgment in the silence, and he knew if he chose not to speak about it, she would understand But that wasn’t hoorked The rest of the team would have to be told The consequences would have to be dealt with

“Ed sold us out” Joe’s voice was strangely hoarse As though he’d been crying, when his eyes were dry

“I know” Julia squeezed hiht

He thought of the text warning hi had al she would never know He’d already warned Calluave their position away It wasn’t her fault It was his He should have remembered to turn off his phone It was a rookie mistake and they’d all paid for it But not Julia It wasn’t on her

“Esteban’sfor us It was an ambush”

She caressed his stomach “Don’t blame yourself It wasn’t you who decided to betray your friends That was Ed’s choice”

“Yeah, but I should have known so was off”