"I don't mean far away," Ruby said quickly, before he could shape his disappointment into anything more solid. "Far but near. Somewhere, he can see them when we want to. Somewhere with walls and people I trust, but not a different country, Max. Not that far."
He held her gaze a moment longer, the tightness in his chest loosening just slightly, enough to let air back in.
She didn't give him room to answer.
"I want to see every file you've gathered so far," she said. "All of it. I know I don't remember most of what they've done, but they do. And they're not going to stop just because I can't recall the reasons they hate me."
Max studied her for a long second. Then he nodded, slow and resigned, the way a man nods when he knows arguing will cost him more than agreeing will.
