Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT OF THE STORM
Rain hammered the windows.
Security moved through the house.
Roman stood beside the front door.
“Take Leo upstairs.”
“What about you?”
“I'll handle this.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“Nina.”
“You don't get to decide everything.”
“This isn't about control.”
“Then what is it?”
“Keeping you alive.”
I stepped closer.
“Then let me stand beside you.”
He stared at me.
Finally, he nodded.
The attack came at 11:47.
The power failed.
Glass shattered.
Security rushed forward.
Roman grabbed me.
“Down!”
We dropped behind the sofa.
Footsteps filled the hallway.
Victor's voice echoed.
“Mercer!”
Roman stood.
“I'm here.”
Victor appeared.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Cold.
“You should have stayed out of your father's business.”
Roman's expression didn't change.
“You killed him.”
Victor smiled.
“He made the mistake of believing loyalty mattered.”
I stepped forward.
“You killed my father too.”
Victor looked at me.
“Yes.”
Roman's eyes flashed.
“You won't touch her.”
Victor laughed.
“She's the reason you lost.”
He raised a gun.
Before he could fire, Roman's security team tackled him.
The weapon slid across the floor.
Victor was restrained.
It was over.
But Roman wasn't celebrating.
He looked at me.
Then at the stairs.
“Leo?”
I ran.
Leo was sitting on the bed.
Safe.
A security guard stood beside him.
I collapsed beside my son.
Roman entered seconds later.
Leo looked at him.
“Did you win?”
Roman smiled.
“Yes.”
Leo nodded.
“Good.”
Then he fell asleep.
I looked at Roman.
“It's over.”
“Yes.”
“You're sure?”
He sat beside me.
“For the first time in a long time.”
I rested my head against his shoulder.
May you like
He kissed my hair.
And for the first time, I believed him.
