My Spy

Success

I shake my head in frustration as the call goes to voicemail for the fourth time. I beg Jackson to call me back...again and quickly redial. I have no idea what Mrs. Hemming's number is so Jackson is my only way to her.

"Sawyer, it's already done. There's nothing you can do," Austin snaps at me and I glance to the clock above the radio.

"The ceremony starts at six o'clock, that's still fifteen minutes away, " I reply and roll my eyes when I hear Jackson's voicemail again. I decide to try a different approach and try calling Gus. I curse the phone when I get his voicemail too but quickly try his number again.

"I'm glad we got you out of that damn place for you to just get on the phone Sawyer," Austin snaps at me again but I don't let his aggravation stop me from redialing.

"I'm doing this for the Hemming's because unlike their son, they did treat me with respect and his mother is good friends with our mother. This has nothing to do with Jackson and everything to do with how much I am still fond of Scarlett Hemming alright, so just shut up," I snap back to Austin but he shakes his head.

I want to cry out with relief when I hear Gus's voice come on the line after the fifth attempt at calling and he barks, "Look here, I don't want what your sellin-" I cut him off before he can continue babbling, "Gus, it's me. Sawyer. Look I nee-"

"What number are ya callin' me from darlin'? Is this a Philly number?" He asks and I shake my head in frustration.

"Gus it doesn't matter I need you to do something for me!"

"Oh of course ya do. What is it now?" He asks and I'm taken back by his annoyed tone. I'm supposed to be mad at him, not the other way around.

"You're at the wedding, right?"

"Yesserie"

"Okay Gus, I need you to go find Jackson. I need to talk to him."

"Sawyer my sweets, right now is not the time to have a change of heart," he says flatly. "And anyway, I thought you were all hot and heavy for catalog boy, what you need with Jackson? He ain't tickling your fancy no more or what? Oh no wait...you're with Tate now, sorry so hard to keep your love life straight." Ryan glances to me and I roll my eyes, wishing I could reach out and strangle Gus through the phone.

"Gus, stop babbling this isn't about me and Jackson or me and Ryan but I do need to talk to him. It's important. A matter of life and death."

"Look, I know you were trying to stop the wedding but I don't think that's gonna happen. You just gotta make peace with it. We all agreed remember? Move on with pretty boy...whichever one you choose."

"Oh my lor- if you don't give Jackson the phone right now dammit, I am going to reach through this phone and strangle you, Augustus Blackwood! Please give Jackson the phone. Please, please, please!" I bark. Silence comes from the other line and I can hear Gus contemplating whether or not to do what I am asking of him.

"Gus please. Please give him the phone, it will only take two minutes. Dear lord I beg you!" I whine and I hear him sigh. There's a muffled noise behind him and I hear him breathe heavily as he walks around.

"Sawyer Sweeney, I swear you are going to owe me the biggest favor, I tell you what," Gus mutters as he searches for Jackson. Ryan's hand finds my knee and I welcome the comforting gesture. I hear Gus's voice in the distance and I get nervous when I hear Jackson replying to him.

"Jesus Sawyer, why the hell are you calling me? This is so inappro-"

"Shut up Jackson and listen to me. You are getting duped. This marriage is an even bigger joke than you thought. Whitney is using you-"

"Sawyer I can't listen to this right now."

"No, Jackson please I am trying to warn you. I was afraid you wouldn't believe me! Don't sign your marriage certificate. The Carmichaels are trying to swindle you and your parents!"

"This is low Sawyer, even for you," he mutters. "You know a part of me worried that you'd show up here today and try and win me back."

I scoff, "Oh Jackson, please don't think so highly of yourself. I'm just trying to warn you that the Carmichaels are going to suck you and your parents dry. Kennedy Carmichael is a drug lord or something and his whole operation is about to come tumbling down if he doesn't get his hands on your money. He kidnapped me to prevent me from telling you all this! Stay away from Whitney!" I hear Jackson start howling with laughter and he pulls the phone away while he enjoys my begging. Ryan gives me an "I told you so" face and I don't even bother looking at Austin.

"Fine Jackson. Don't believe me, but when your parent's millions suddenly disappear, you'll know why." I snap the phone shut and toss it back to Ryan. Neither of them says anything to me and I feel foolish for trying to warn someone so undeserving. Next time I see Mrs. Hemming, I'm going to tell her I tried to save her grandbaby's fortune, but her son was such a pompous ass that they are broke because of him.

I finally glance out the window and see us heading back into Hollis.

"I just sounded insane, didn't I?" I ask, thinking about what I just told Jackson. Of course, he didn't believe me. I wouldn't have believed him if we were in the reverse position. Neither Ryan or Austin admits to my insanity so I just huff out my annoyance.

"Where are we really going?" I ask Austin and he mumbles, "Police station."

Ryan glances back to me and asks, "What the hell happened to you? Did they do anything to you?" His fingers run over the gashes in my wrists from the zip ties and I turn my hand over to see my palm covered in grime and crusted blood.

"They kept me knocked out the majority of the time, I had no idea I was gone for two days until minutes before you showed up." I answer. "They brought me to that schoolhouse at some point and had me tied to some chairs. The plan was to keep me there until after the wedding. I was unconscious until about an hour ago so I don't know much. It sounded like they maybe would have released me, they just wanted you two to come after me instead of heading to the wedding. His plan worked."

"Just because we aren't there, doesn't mean other agents aren't. Kennedy will be in custody by this evening. We just don't know if Simon will be too. Hopefully, they got him at the schoolhouse," Austin tells me and I nod along to his words. I look back out the window and we finally cross into the city and away from the woods.

"Thank you. For coming to get me. I knew you guys would find me," I say sincerely to both Ryan and Austin.

"It looked like you had things handled," Ryan says to me while holding my hand and I smile to him, "I had to get back to you." Austin lets out a loud groan but I don't care.

After driving a few miles in silence, I say, "I'm pretty sure Whitney sleeping with Jackson was all planned out. Getting knocked up was the goal I just had no idea it wasn't her idea. It was her twisted family's idea. I wonder if she ever even fought against it or she willingly went through with it? I'd like to think she fought against it." I catch Austin's eye in the mirror again before he says, "I know it sucks to lose your best friend, Sawyer. But at least you aren't married to Jackson. She may have screwed you over initially but in the end, you made out."

"I know, but that's just it. Did she sacrifice herself for her family? Or did she willingly sacrifice me and our friendship to get to Jackson? I wish I knew." Ryan gently gives my knee a squeeze and I swallow back tears. These past few months have gotten so screwed up. I went from hating Whitney with a fiery passion to possibly feeling pity towards her.

I look to Ryan and he pulls me across the seat so my head lays as comfortably as it can on his bullet-proof vest-covered chest. Austin doesn't say anything about the snuggling and I close my eyes and breathe Ryan in. His hand makes its way through my hair and lingers on the side of my face. I am about to reach for Ryan's hand when his phone starts buzzing. He snaps it open and says, "Hart....oh....one minute." He holds the phone to me and I look to him in confusion.

"It's Gus." I pull myself up and off his chest while bringing the phone to my ear.

"Gus?"

"Well if your intention was to stop the weddin' by talkin' to Jackson, you my darlin', have succeeded."