Chapter 6 - The Woman He Thought Was A Stranger Became His Greatest Weakness
Greg disappeared.
Victor Crane disappeared.
And the city became dangerous.
The drive had enough evidence to destroy powerful people.
Ramona moved Sharise to his private estate outside the city.
The house was enormous.
But unlike the penthouse, it felt warm.
Books.
Photographs.
A piano.
A garden.
"Why does this place feel different?"
"It was my mother's."
Sharise looked at the photographs.
One showed Ramona and Matteo as children.
Another showed them with their parents.
"You had a happy childhood."
"For a while."
"What happened?"
"My father died."
"When?"
"The year Matteo disappeared."
Sharise frowned.
"Disappeared?"
"He wasn't found for six weeks."
She looked at him.
"What happened during those six weeks?"
"He came back different."
Ramona paused.
"He told me he had met a little girl."
Sharise's heart stopped.
"You."
"Yes."
Matteo had found six-year-old Sharise hiding after the attack.
He had saved her.
He promised to protect her.
He left her with Elena.
Then he was hunted.
Ramona had spent years believing his brother died because of his investigation.
Now he knew why.
The people who wanted Sharise dead had murdered him.
Ramona's rage became terrifying.
But Sharise saw the grief beneath it.
She touched his hand.
"Don't lose yourself."
He looked at her.
"I'm trying."
"I know."
Their relationship deepened.
She cooked for him.
He taught her to drive one of his armored cars.
She teased him for never smiling.
He teased her about singing badly.
And somewhere between danger and late-night conversations, love arrived.
Quietly.
Without permission.
One evening, Sharise found Ramona on the balcony.
"What are you doing?"
"Thinking."
"About?"
"You."
She smiled.
"Again?"
"Always."
He approached.
"I used to believe caring about someone was weakness."
"Now?"
"Now I think it's the reason people fight."
She touched his face.
"You love me."
It wasn't a question.
He nodded.
"Yes."
She smiled.
"I love you too."
He kissed her.
This time there was no fear.
Then the lights went out.
Gunfire erupted below.
Ramona shoved Sharise behind the wall.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Sharise."
"Don't leave me."
He looked at her.
"I won't."
They moved together.
The attackers were Victor's men.
But Victor wasn't with them.
The attack had been a diversion.
Someone had kidnapped Rosa.
Again.
And this time, there was a message.
Bring Sharise to the port.
Alone.
Ramona refused.
Sharise insisted.
"No."
"She saved me."
"I will get her."
"Then I'm coming."
He stared at her.
"You're impossible."
"You already knew that."
He sighed.
"Stay beside me."
The port was a war zone.
Shipping containers formed a maze.
Rain hit the pavement.
Men moved through darkness.
Sharise found Rosa tied inside a container.
She freed her.
Then Greg stepped out.
He held a gun.
"I never wanted to hurt you."
Sharise stared.
"You used me."
"I needed the code."
"You could have asked."
"You would never have helped me."
"You're right."
Greg lowered the gun.
"I'm sorry."
Ramona appeared behind him.
"Step away from her."
Greg laughed.
"You think she loves you?"
Ramona didn't answer.
Sharise did.
"Yes."
Greg looked at her.
"You don't know him."
"I know enough."
Greg pointed the gun.
Ramona moved.
A shot rang out.
Greg fell.
Silence.
Sharise ran to Ramona.
He was bleeding.
"Are you hurt?"
"Not badly."
She hugged him.
May you like
He held her tightly.
For the first time, the city's most feared man looked relieved simply because she was alive.
