LEARNING TO FORGIVE YOU

12.

["Let's get the fuck outta here."]

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Travis had insisted that Alex ride with him and the soldier, and as much as she wanted to argue, she agreed. She figured the curly-haired man didn't trust her anymore, even though she was the reason they even knew where to go at the moment.

"You might as well just kill me now." Andrew spoke up as he, Travis, and Alex walked to Travis's truck. "Or the old man is gonna do it later."

"No, he won't." Travis replied, opening the passenger car door.

"Yes, he will." Alex mumbled, to which Travis shot her a warning glare in response.

"Do you think that's what he did in El Salvador?" the soldier questioned. "Torture and release?"

Travis was quiet for a few seconds before releasing a deep sigh. Alex rolled her eyes, knowing what would happen. "Can you draw me a map?" Travis asked the soldier, who quickly nodded.

"Why would we need a map if he's coming with us?" Alex asked with a sigh.

"Because he's not." Travis replied simply, grabbing a random notebook and pencil from inside his truck.

"Travis, I don't think—" Alex began, glancing at the soldier busy drawing the map.

"Don't argue with me right now, kid." Travis said, cutting her off as he looked at the map Andrew was drawing. "You've done enough already," he mumbled.

Alex clenched her jaw in anger as she glared at the curly-haired man. "Okay, first off, I ain't no fucking kid, old man." she spat angrily. "And secondly, yeah, I've done enough because without me, we wouldn't know where the fuck to go, alright?"

"But hey, if you think this is such a good idea, then go for it. Because apparently, you're just sooo fucking smart." she scoffed sarcastically.

Travis turned his head to the younger girl, and the two held a stare-down until Andrew handed the notebook back to Travis. He nodded once he looked over the map. "Stay here until we're gone." he said before climbing into the driver's seat.

Andrew glared at Alex before smirking at her, making her stomach turn. She had a feeling that this decision would lead to disaster.

It was a short ride to the compound, and Alex felt relief wash over her as her body relaxed when they pulled into the parking garage, realizing that the soldier had led them to the right place. She honestly didn't expect it.

As expected, Daniel immediately rushed towards the truck in confusion when everyone got out of their respective vehicles.

"Where is he?" Daniel asked angrily, glaring at Travis.

"He told me where to go, he drew me a map." Travis replied, holding up the notebook.

"He told you?" Daniel said.

"Yeah, and I believed him, okay?" Travis responded, looking around at everyone glaring at him.

"It was the right thing to do." Madison said, cutting into the conversation.

"You'll see what doing the right thing will get you." Daniel warned.

"What if he comes back for revenge?" Ofelia questioned worriedly, to which Travis simply shrugged, causing Daniel, Ofelia, Alex, and even Alicia to send him angry looks.

"Okay, so, Alicia, Alex, and Chris. You three will stay here while we go inside to get everyone back." Travis said, ignoring the angry looks shot at him as he threw the notebook back in his truck.