Page 189 of What Started In Deception

Mac shook her head. “You lied to me, Lydia.”

She nodded. “Over and over again. And I hated every second of it. I was honest when I could be, but it doesn’t change the facts.”

“I put her in a no-win situation,” Ty spoke up again, hating how quiet and vulnerable she sounded. “Nothing about any of this was easy for Lydia. When I first made contact with her, she told me to fuck off. She fiercely defended James and Will and reminded me on several occasions that they were doing nothing wrong, but I couldn’t tell my FBI case agent to go to the DOJ and say that Lydia Monroe says her family is innocent and have that be even close to enough. I needed proof, and eventually, that’s exactly what I got.”

Lydia leaned against him, holding his gaze as more tears pooled in her eyes.

He sent her a smile. “I love Lydia. I wish I could’ve met her in an entirely different way. I hate that I’ve caused her pain—all of you pain.”

Lydia sent him a small smile before she looked at Will and Mac again. “I wanted all of this out on the table. I don’t want any more secrets between us. I don’t ever want to lie to you again.”

Mac swallowed as she shook her head. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with all of this.”

“Take some time and process it,” Ty suggested.

“I need some air.” Mac got up and left the room, leaving Will by himself.

Will sighed as he scrubbed his hands over his face. “I’m not exactly sure what I’m supposed to do with all of this, either.”

“Your dad knows,” Ty told him. “Everyone in your family does. James and Marietta came knocking on my door Friday night, looking for explanations.”

“I’m so sorry, Will,” Lydia said in an unsteady voice as more tears fell.

Will shrugged as he shook his head. “All of this is certainly a shock, but I don’t know how to be mad when you saved my ass.”

“And I’d do it again,” Ty told him, meaning every word.

“You’re really done with the FBI?”

He nodded. “I tendered my resignation yesterday. I handed in my badge, my service weapon, and returned my government-issued vehicle. I’ll have to appear in court to wrap up a few cases over the next several months, but we’re packing up my stuff now, and I’m moving to Oliver Heights.”

Will sighed as he nodded. “I’ll talk to Mac. I’ll give her the whole picture—tell her about Richard and Monroe House—now that everything’s out in the open.”

“I’m sorry,” Lydia said again. “I imagine those sound like empty words, but I truly do love you.”

“I know you do, Lydia. I love you, too.” He looked toward the door that Mac had left through. “I’m going to go find my wife.”

Lydia nodded. “Okay.”

“We’ll talk later,” Will said.

Ty nodded and ended the call as Lydia rushed to her feet and turned away from him. “Lyd.”

She shook her head as she covered her face with her hands and started to cry quietly. “I’ve lost my best friend, and I can’t blame her at all.”

Sighing as he stood, he turned her to face him, pulling her hands away from her tear-soaked face. “We just dropped a bomb on them. Give her a chance to take some deep breaths.”

She nodded as she sniffled.

“Come here,” he said as he wrapped her up in a tight hug. “Mac’s going through a lot right now, but you’re as vital to her life as she is to yours.”

She snuggled herself against him. “That might not be enough.”

He slid his hands up and down her back. “It’s enough, Lyd.”

She shook her head. “I lied to her, Ty. I betrayed her.”

“Because you had to. When she has time to think it all through, she’ll see that.”