Chapter 129 Sarah's Dilemma

Chapter 129 Sarah's Dilemma
Braydon's Pov 

I was at home when Sarah called and asked if she could come over and talk. Something in her voice sounded off, so I told her yes, and she showed up twenty minutes later looking pale and stressed.

"What's wrong?" I asked as soon as she walked in.

"We need to talk," Sarah said and she sat down on the couch. "About the FBI investigation."

I sat down next to her and waited because I could tell this was going to be bad.

"My supervisors called me in today," Sarah said. "They know we're together and they want to use that."

"Use it how?" I asked.

"They want me to get close to you and gather intelligence," Sarah said and her hands were shaking. "They want me to spy on you and report back everything I learn about the Junkies."

I felt like someone punched me in the stomach.

"What did you tell them?" I asked.

"I told them no," Sarah said. "I told them I wouldn't do it and that they couldn't ask me to betray someone I love."

"Sarah," I said.

"They threatened my career," Sarah continued. "They said if I didn't cooperate, I'd be suspended and investigated, and they made it very clear that my future with the FBI depends on helping them build a case against you."

"So what are you going to do?" I asked.

Sarah looked at me and I saw tears in her eyes.

"I already did it," she said. "I quit."

I stared at her because I couldn't believe what I just heard.

"You quit the FBI?" I asked.

"Yes," Sarah said. "I walked out of that meeting and went straight to HR and submitted my resignation and I'm done."

"Sarah you didn't have to do that," I said.

"Yes I did," Sarah said. "Because I'm not going to be used as a weapon against you and I'm not going to pretend to love you while secretly gathering evidence."

I didn't know what to say because nobody had ever sacrificed anything like this for me before.

"Your career," I said. "You worked so hard for that."

"I know," Sarah said. "But some things are more important and you're one of those things."

I pulled her into my arms and held her because I didn't have words for what I was feeling.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I'm sorry that being with me cost you everything."

"You didn't cost me anything," Sarah said. "I made a choice and I chose you."

We sat there for a long time just holding each other.

"What are you going to do now?" I asked.

"I don't know," Sarah said. "I need to find another job and figure out what comes next and I'll be okay."

"You can't go back to law enforcement," I said. "Not after this."

"I know," Sarah said. "They'll blacklist me and make sure I never work in that field again, and maybe that's for the best, and maybe I need a fresh start anyway."

"I'll help you," I said. "Whatever you need."

"I don't want your money," Sarah said and she pulled back to look at me. "I didn't do this so you'd feel obligated to take care of me."

"I know," I said. "But I want to help, and you sacrificed your former career, and the least I can do is make sure you're okay."

Sarah was quiet for a moment.

"They're going to come after you harder now," she said. "Agent Webb is obsessed with taking down the Junkies, and now that I won't help him, he's going to find another way."

"Let him try," I said.

"I'm serious Braydon," Sarah said. “He's dangerous, and he’s smart, and he won't stop until he gets what he wants."

"I know," I said. "But we've dealt with worse."

"Have you though?" Sarah asked. "Because from what I saw at the FBI, they have a lot of resources and they're building a strong case, and they have witnesses and financial records and everything they need to bring charges."

"We have good lawyers," I said.

"Lawyers can only do so much," Sarah said. "If they have solid evidence you could go to prison for a long time."

I knew she was right but I didn't want to think about that right now because I was more worried about her.

"Do you regret it?" I asked. "Quitting?"

Sarah shook her head.

"No," she said. "I regret a lot of things but choosing you isn't one of them."

"Even though I'm probably going to end up in prison?" I asked.

"Even then," Sarah said. "Because at least I'll know I stood by you and I didn't sell you out for a career."

I kissed her because I didn't know how else to show her what that meant to me.

"I love you," I said.

"I love you too," Sarah said.

We spent the rest of the evening talking about what comes next, and Sarah said she had some savings that would last her a few months while she looked for work,  and I offered to help her with rent, but she said no, and she wanted to do this on her own.

"I need to prove to myself that I can stand on my own two feet," Sarah said. "Without the FBI and without relying on anyone else."

"Okay," I said. "But if you change your mind the offer stands."

"I know," Sarah said.

Later that night, after Sarah left, I sat alone in my apartment thinking about everything she'd sacrificed for me and how guilty I felt that loving me had cost her so much.

She gave up her career and her future and her financial security because she refused to betray me and I didn't know how to make that right.

My phone buzzed, and it was a text from Gyran asking if I'd heard from Evelyn because she wasn't answering his calls, and I texted back that she was still at my place and needed more time.

Everything was falling apart, and the FBI was closing in, and people I cared about were sacrificing everything, and I didn't know if we were going to survive this.