Chapter 7 - The Night Everything Burned
Isabel called me.
“Come alone.”
I looked at Matthew.
He listened on speaker.
“Where is my father?”
“Safe.”
“Let me hear him.”
Silence.
Then I heard his voice.
“Elena, don't come.”
I froze.
“Dad?”
“It's a trap.”
Isabel laughed.
“Smart man.”
“What do you want?”
“The trust.”
“You don't have it.”
“Then I'll take what I need.”
I agreed to meet.
Matthew refused to let me go alone.
We followed Isabel to an abandoned factory.
My father was tied to a chair.
Isabel stood beside him.
She looked exhausted.
Her perfect hair was messy.
Her expensive clothes stained.
Her company was collapsing.
“You destroyed everything,” she said.
“No.”
She pointed at Matthew.
“He did.”
Matthew remained still.
“Release her father.”
“Give me the certificate.”
I stepped forward.
“No.”
Isabel raised a gun.
“Then he dies.”
My father shouted.
“Don't.”
I looked at him.
He shook his head.
“I love you.”
My eyes filled with tears.
Isabel pulled the trigger.
The gun clicked.
Empty.
Matthew's men had disabled it remotely.
Isabel stared at the weapon.
Security flooded the factory.
She ran.
Matthew chased her.
I stayed with my father.
Then an explosion rocked the building.
Fire erupted.
“Dad!”
We ran.
Smoke filled the halls.
My father stumbled.
I supported him.
A metal beam fell.
Matthew pushed us clear.
He was struck across the shoulder.
“Matthew!”
“Keep moving.”
We reached the exit.
The building collapsed behind us.
Isabel escaped.
But she left the entire network exposed.
Federal agents arrived.
Gabriel surrendered.
Thomas turned state's evidence.
The corrupt officials began falling one by one.
Weeks passed.
My mother finally returned.
She was weaker than I remembered.
But alive.
She hugged me.
I cried into her shoulder.
“I missed you.”
“I missed everything.”
“Why didn't you come?”
“I was afraid.”
“So was I.”
She smiled sadly.
“But you became brave.”
I looked across the room.
Matthew stood with my father.
They were talking.
My mother watched them.
“Do you love him?”
I froze.
“Mom.”
“You do.”
I laughed.
“I think I do.”
She smiled.
“Then don't make the mistake your father and I made.”
“What mistake?”
“Thinking fear is protection.”
That night, Matthew found me outside.
“You okay?”
“My mother came back.”
“I know.”
“She likes you.”
He smiled.
“Dangerous.”
“I think she loves you.”
“That might be worse.”
I laughed.
Then he became serious.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I don't want this to be about your father's promise.”
I looked at him.
“I don't want to protect you because he asked.”
“What do you want?”
He stepped closer.
“You.”
My heart pounded.
“I don't know how to do this.”
“Neither do I.”
“You're the most feared man in the city.”
“That doesn't make me good at love.”
I smiled.
“Maybe we learn.”
He nodded.
Then kissed me.
For the first time in my life, I wasn't being traded.
May you like
I wasn't being protected as an obligation.
I was being chosen.
