Chapter 43
She jumped. Alicia, actually jumped
For a long second, I stood there frozen, unable to process what had just happened. The empty wind howled past me, and my feet refused to move. My mouth was open, but no sound come out. All I could do was stare at the edge where she had been standing just moments before.
She was gone
My wife–my prisoner–my Alicia.
Gone…
“No.” I whispered, a soundless breath pulled into the night.
My knees hit the cold concrete of the rooftop, and my hands gripped the edge as I leaned forward. I couldn’t even see her anymore. Just the trees, the glimmer of the river, the vast black void between us.
She actually did it.
“Why?” I muttered. “Why would she…
But I knew.
I had taken everything from her. Because I wanted revenge. Because ten years ago, my family died in a fire. Because I believed her father had something to do with it. Because I convinced myself her entire bloodline was poison, and she was just another vessel for it.
But I never proved it.
I never needed proof. I just needed a target.
So I made her mine:
I thought I could bury my pain by creating hers.
But now she was gone.!
And the silence she left behind felt worse than all the betrayal in the world.
Suddenly, I snapped to my feet. My voice ripped through the rooftop like thunder.
FIND HER! NOW!”
The guards flinched. “Sir-”
“She jumped into the woods,” I shouted, grabbing the nearest one by the collar. “There’s a river. There are rocks. I don’t care what it takes. I want her found. Alive. Alive, do you hear me?F&
They scattered in every direction, barking into their radios. I called every contact I had. Every connection. Police. Rescue teams. Helicopters. Night drones. Infrared scanners. I mobilized them all.§.
Please be alive. Please be alive!!
many calls i made, but my lungs were burning by the time I heard the door open
I don’t know how long I paced that rooftop, or how many ca behind me.I
“Cameron?”
Sofia’s voice
I didn’t turn to look at her. I couldn’t
“What’s going on?” she asked, stepping closer. “All the men are out. Are we under attack or something?”
I stayed silent.
She tilted her head “Where’s Alicia?”
I clenched my fists
Then I spoke.
“She jumped.”
A pause.
And then laughter. A soft, cruel laugh that made me whip around with fire in my eyes.X
“Oh, poor girl.” Sofia said with mock sadness. “She finally couldn’t take it anymore. Honestly, I don’t blame her. She was always so dramatic”
She reached for my arm. “But look on the bright side–now we can finally be together without her in the way.”
My blood went cold.
I yanked my arm back. “What?”
Sofia blinked. “I mean she’s gone. We’re free. Isn’t that what we wanted?”
“No,” I said through gritted teeth. “You don’t get it.”
“Cameron-“i
“No” I roared, stepping forward. “That’s not a good thing! She can’t diel She’s not supposed to dielt
Sofia stepped back, eyes wide
“LI still had plans-”
But the words faltered on my tongue. I couldn’t lie to myself anymore.
It wasn’t about plans. It wasn’t about punishment. It was because she had become the only part of my life that still felt real X Because she stayed. Even when I crushed her spirit, broke her body, shattered her hope
She stayed. And I never once deserved it.
The radio on my bell crackled.}
“Sir–this is Unit Six. We found her.”
My heart jumped.
“She’s unconscious. Breathing faintly. Body’s badly broken. Possible spinal damage. Sending location now.”
I didn’t wait. She lay on a stretcher, covered in mud and blood. Her face was pale, bruised. Her arms limp at her sides.X But she was breathing
Barely. I knelt beside her as the medics worked frantically to stabilize her. Tubes, needles, oxygen–all attached to the same fragile girl. I had once swam to destroy.
And now, I would give anything to save her.
My hand reached for hers, trembling as I touched her fingers.
They didn’t respond.))
The doctor looked at me. “Sic we need to move now if we want any chance-”
“Tve already called in the top surgeons,” I muttered. “Airlift them if you have to. I don’t care what it costs.”
The doctor nodded, but my eyes never left her!!
A tear slipped from the corner of my eye before I could stop it.8
“I’m sorry.” I whispered.
And for once.. I meant it.X
