Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Refused To Be Protected
Cora didn't call Julian.
For three weeks, she didn't even think about him.
At least, that was what she told herself.
She worked.
She slept.
She ignored Felix.
She ignored the debt.
She stitched wounds.
She changed dressings.
She comforted frightened families.
She lived the same exhausted life she'd been living since she was sixteen.
Except now, every time a black car slowed outside the hospital, she noticed.
Every time a stranger stood too long near the elevator, she noticed.
Every time she came home, she checked the hallway before inserting the key.
She hated Julian Voss for making her afraid.
But she hated herself more for wondering whether his warning had been correct.
Then, on a Thursday night, she found her apartment door open.
Cora froze.
She hadn't left it open.
She knew she hadn't.
She stepped backward.
Her phone was in her hand.
She called 911.
No signal.
Her screen flashed.
No Service.
The hallway lights went out.
Cora ran.
A hand grabbed her from behind.
She screamed.
Something sharp pressed against her neck.
"Don't."
The voice belonged to a man.
"You don't want to make this difficult."
Cora struggled.
"Let me go."
"You know where he is."
"Who?"
"Julian."
"I don't know."
The blade pressed closer.
"You kissed him."
"I didn't kiss anyone."
The man laughed.
"Everyone saw."
Cora's fear turned to anger.
"You people are insane."
She drove her heel into his foot.
He cursed.
She twisted free.
Ran.
Down the stairwell.
Second floor.
First.
The exit door burst open.
She ran into the street.
A black SUV screeched to a stop.
The rear door opened.
Julian stepped out.
He looked at her.
Then at the man chasing her.
Julian's expression became something terrifying.
"Get away from her."
The attacker stopped.
He pulled a gun.
Julian moved first.
The shot cracked through the night.
Cora screamed.
When she opened her eyes, Julian was standing over the man.
There was blood on his hand.
He turned toward her.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
He stepped closer.
She backed away.
He stopped.
"I won't touch you."
"Who was that?"
"Someone working for Gabriel Marlowe."
"Who's Gabriel?"
Julian didn't answer.
"Tell me!"
"You don't need to know."
"I think I've earned the right."
His eyes narrowed.
"Maybe."
Cora stared at him.
"Why are people after me?"
Julian looked away.
"Because you were seen with me."
"That makes no sense."
"It makes perfect sense to men who want me dead."
She folded her arms.
"Then stop bringing your problems to my doorstep."
"I didn't."
"You kissed me."
His expression tightened.
"That was to protect both of us."
"I didn't ask you to."
"No."
"You didn't even apologize."
Something flickered across his face.
Julian Voss, the man who had reportedly terrified judges and politicians, looked strangely uncertain.
Then he said quietly,
"I'm sorry."
Cora blinked.
She hadn't expected that.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"I heard you."
He nodded.
Cora looked at the body.
"What happens now?"
"We leave."
"Where?"
"Somewhere safe."
"No."
"Cora."
"No."
"You just ran from a man with a knife."
"And I still don't want to get inside your car."
"Why?"
"Because every time I'm around you, someone tries to kill me."
Julian's mouth tightened.
"Fair."
She expected him to argue.
He didn't.
Instead, he took out his phone.
"Then I'll put someone outside your building."
"I don't want a guard."
"You need one."
"No."
"Cora."
She stepped closer.
"Do you know what it's like to have everyone in your life make decisions for you because they think you're too poor or too weak to make your own?"
Julian went silent.
"You don't get to do that too."
She turned and walked away.
He watched her disappear into the crowd.
Tomas approached.
"You let her go."
Julian looked at him.
"She told me to."
"Since when does anyone tell you what to do?"
Julian glanced toward the street.
"Apparently since tonight."
For the first time in years, Tomas saw something unusual in his boss's face.
Not anger.
May you like
Not fear.
Admiration.
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