Chapter 6 - The Betrayal Inside His House
Marco had been with Adrian for twelve years.
He knew every safe.
Every route.
Every weakness.
And now he had a gun against my head.
Adrian stood across the warehouse.
“Put it down.”
Marco laughed.
“You always were sentimental.”
“You betrayed me.”
“No.”
“I trusted you.”
“And that was your mistake.”
Marco looked at me.
“She is the problem.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“No.”
“She is why you are abandoning everything.”
“That is my choice.”
“You can't change who you are.”
Adrian's eyes went cold.
“Watch me.”
Marco demanded the ledger.
I told him it was already transmitted.
He didn't believe me.
Then federal sirens sounded outside.
Marco panicked.
He dragged me toward the back door.
Adrian followed.
A gunshot rang.
Marco ran.
Adrian chased him.
I stayed frozen.
Then I heard a second shot.
Adrian dropped to one knee.
“Adrian!”
I ran.
He was bleeding from his side.
“Go,” he said.
“No.”
“Go!”
“I won't.”
He looked at me.
Something in his eyes changed.
“That's the problem.”
“What?”
“You keep staying.”
I pressed my hand against his wound.
“Maybe I'm tired of running.”
He smiled weakly.
“Then stay.”
Federal agents arrived.
Marco was arrested.
Caleb was dead.
Samantha surrendered.
The criminal network collapsed.
But Adrian was taken to the hospital.
The doctors said he would survive.
I sat beside him for six hours.
When he woke, he looked confused.
“You stayed.”
“Yes.”
“You shouldn't have.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
I stared at him.
“Because I love you.”
Silence.
His eyes filled.
“You don't.”
“I do.”
He closed his eyes.
“That's dangerous.”
“So are you.”
He laughed.
Then winced.
I touched his hand.
“You're an idiot.”
“Yes.”
“You're arrogant.”
“Yes.”
“You're controlling.”
“Yes.”
“You scare me.”
“I know.”
“You've lied.”
“Yes.”
“But you protected me.”
“Yes.”
“And you gave me a choice when you could have forced me.”
He looked at me.
“That mattered.”
He squeezed my hand.
Then he said the sentence I never expected.
“Marry me.”
I stared.
“You're joking.”
“No.”
“We've barely survived seven days.”
“I know.”
“That's not a normal proposal.”
“I don't think we are normal.”
I laughed.
Then cried.
“Ask me again when you're out of this bed.”
May you like
His smile returned.
“I will.”
