37.

*Joe*

A trap. It had been a trap. And a clever one, at that. Agent Townsend was no fool. He knew that I cared about Cammie; he knew that I didn't want to hurt her. He had dangled her out in front of me for bait. And I had taken it. So they had caught me.

The first thing that went through my mind was Katelyn. And our daughter that she carried. At least I could take comfort in the fact that I was safe and everything would be okay.

That is, before The CIA team that was transporting me was ambushed.

By members of the Circle.

And then, it was no longer the CIA that had me, but members of the group that I was trying to bring down. Then, I feared for my safety. Because I knew that they wanted to hurt me. They wanted information.

"Hello, Joe." Zach's mom stood in front of me, her hair flaming and her eyes bright.

I said nothing.

"Hmm," she said as she pursed her lips. "Not very good manners, you know."

"And it was such great manners to throw someone into a cell," I said. "Where are we anyways?" They had drugged me to stop me from fighting during the transport.

"You know I can't tell you that," she smiled. "So, how are things going for you, Joe?"

"How do you think they're going?" I spat.

"Yes, I've heard that life has been rough for you lately," she said in a pseudo sympathetic voice. "The CIA being after you because you joined the Circle a long time ago. But you know, Joe, we don't exactly accept resignations."

"I'm aware."

"Walking away wasn't a smart move," she lectured.

"No," I said. "Joining wasn't a very smart move."

She pursed her ruby red lips again. "Hmm. I'm not sure I like your attitude."

"I'm not sure I care."

And then her foot swung out and connected with my jaw. I saw stars dance before my eyes and I cringed on the ground, wishing that I could at least bring my hands up to protect my face. But, I couldn't because they were pinned securely behind my back.

"I've had about all of the rudeness that I can take from you," she said in a dangerous sort of voice. "I've tried to play nice, but I won't anymore, Joe. Where is the journal?"

Matt's journal. That's what they were after. I knew that they thought that it contained information that they wanted, but I had personally read the journal and I knew that it had nothing they'd be interested in. Besides, there's no way that they would be able to crack it without the key. And I was the only one alive that knew it, unless Cammie had found the black boards. And I desperately hoped that she had. I hoped that she knew everything. I hoped that she knew that I wasn't the bad guy.

"What journal?" I asked.

Playing dumb didn't work. She kicked me again in the same spot, bringing more stars up before my eyes. I grit my teeth against the pain. "Don't play stupid, Joe! Matthew Morgan's journal!"

"What did you do to him?" I asked her. "To Matt?"

"Answer mine first."

But I wouldn't. I was never going to let her have that journal. She had killed my best friend. I wasn't going to help her. Not ever. "Forget it."

"I'll go get the boys," she said simply and then left.

The boys? What the heck was that supposed to mean?

I got my answer when three burly guys came in, all of them holding clubs.

Images danced before my eyes.

I heard a voice. "He's had enough for now; I'll try again for info later."

A door slammed.

I heard Katelyn's voice. "I, Katelyn, take thee, Joe, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward. For better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish; 'til death do us part."

I heard my own voice, repeating those words. "I, Joe, take thee, Katelyn, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish; 'til death do us part."

I saw an image of Katelyn in her wedding dress. I remembered the look on her face as she slipped the ring onto my finger.

I'm pregnant, Joe.

Our daughter.

What was going to happen if I didn't make it?

Stop thinking like that, Joe. You can do this. You can get out of this. You have to.

I could see Katelyn from back in her Gallagher days, staying after class to talk to me for a few minutes. I saw her angry expression when her parents and Rider had come to take her away. I could practically feel her in my arms.

I hope they're okay. I really hope that they're both okay.

Some part of me knew that they were. If the Circle had gone after them and managed to catch Katelyn, they would be using that to get me to tell them where Matt's journal was.

Yes, Katelyn was safe.

For now.

I consoled myself with the fact that they probably didn't even know that I was married and that my wife was pregnant with our child. They couldn't know. No one really knew except for Zach, Leah, Katelyn, and I. Well, and Jeff.

They're okay. They're going to be okay.

I wondered what our daughter was going to look like. Would she have Katelyn's eyes? Her smile? Would she have my golden hair? My nose? Would she be a good spy?

I began to feel myself slipping out of consciousness and I struggled to hold on. I hated feeling out of control. But the pull was simply too strong.

Katelyn, I love you.

And then I slipped away for a while.