Chapter 10 - Justice in the Dark
Victoria gasped, whirling around.
Julian stepped out from a maintenance alcove, his pistol aimed steadily at Victoria’s chest. Blood dripped from a graze on his forehead, but his hand was rock solid.
"Julian..." Victoria stammered, backing toward the wall. "Julian, you know me! We grew up together! Help me get out of here, and I’ll ensure your family keeps half the northern estates—"
"You murdered my sister," Julian said, his voice flat, hollow, and devoid of mercy. "You watched her waste away in the hospital while you planned your wedding guest list."
Victoria’s eyes darted frantically between Julian and me. Panic overtook her reason.
With a feral scream, she swung her weapon back toward me and Oliver, pulling the trigger.
*BANG!*
A deafening shot echoed through the enclosed tunnel.
I threw myself to the ground, curling my entire body around Oliver, bracing for the searing burn of a bullet. Oliver shrieked into my neck.
Silence followed. Only the acrid smell of gunpowder hung heavy in the air.
Slowly, trembling, I looked up.
Victoria had dropped her gun. She stared down at her own chest in disbelief, where a crimson stain was spreading rapidly across the pure white lace of her bridal bodice.
She collapsed onto the cold concrete floor with a heavy thud, her breath rattling in her throat.
Behind her, emerging from the dark with his smoking sidearm lowered, was Alexander.
He looked battered, his uniform torn and dusted with debris, but he was alive. Behind him stood a dozen heavily armed Royal Guards.
"Alexander..." Victoria gasped, reaching out a bloodstained hand toward him. "I... I did it for us..."
Alexander didn't even look down at her. He walked right past her dying frame, his boots clicking firmly against the stone, his eyes locked entirely on Oliver and me.
He dropped to his knees beside me, his large, calloused hands instantly reaching out to pull both Oliver and me into his chest.
"Are you hit?" Alexander’s voice cracked with raw terror. "Clara, look at me! Are you hurt?"
"I’m okay," I gasped, burying my face against his shoulder, shaking uncontrollably as Oliver sobbed between us. "Oliver is safe. We’re okay."
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Alexander closed his eyes, wrapping his strong arms around us both, resting his forehead against mine. I could feel the violent pounding of his heart against my ribs.
"It’s over," he whispered, kissing Oliver's hair, then gently kissing my temple. "It’s finally over."
