Chapter 7 - THE LAST BETRAYAL
Arthur grabbed my hand.
“Run.”
We escaped through the basement tunnel.
Behind us, Margaret screamed.
When we reached the surface, Arthur's men surrounded the house.
Margaret was arrested.
But Gabriel remained free.
Arthur stood beside me.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You're lying.”
“A little.”
He smiled.
“Fair.”
I looked at him.
“Arthur?”
“Yes?”
“You came to my room that night because you trusted me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He stared at me.
“Because you were the only person in the house who never wanted anything from me.”
My heart tightened.
“I wanted my paycheck.”
He laughed.
“Fair.”
Then he became serious.
“You saved me.”
“You saved me too.”
He touched my cheek.
“I don't know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Love someone.”
I froze.
Arthur's eyes were vulnerable.
“I know how to protect people.”
He swallowed.
“I know how to destroy people.”
“But?”
“But I don't know how to love someone without being afraid they'll become my weakness.”
I took his hand.
“Maybe I'm not your weakness.”
He looked at me.
“Maybe I'm your reason to stop being afraid.”
He kissed me.
Slowly.
Carefully.
No power.
No command.
Just choice.
Then a gunshot echoed outside.
Arthur pulled away.
His men shouted.
May you like
Gabriel had arrived.
And he wasn't alone.
