Page 26 of Conquer

“Makes sense to take out the second in command too. He was likely eying Santo’s spot and wouldn’t be too keen to give it up,” I said.

“So, all neat and tidy, huh?” she said a moment later.

“The simplest explanation is often the correct one. But you’ll learn that once you get more real experience,” I said.

I was twisting the knife, could see how my words injured her, but I needed to make sure she never, ever said this to anyone else, and this was the only way.

“Yes, well,” she said, giving me a grimaced smiled that made me want to gut myself, “I guess I just let my imagination get the better of me.”

I shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant, wondering if Sam would even notice. “It’s understandable. You’re on the verge of something big, or at least think you are. It’s easy to get swept up in it,” I said.

“Yeah, I guess so,” she said.

I stood there, stiff, silent, not wanting to say what I needed to but knowing I had no other choice.

“Sam?” I said.

She’d been staring at her files but looked over at me, her eyes haunted.

“Yes?”

“I…” I paused, huffed out a breath, and then kept going. “Things have been…intense between us. I think…I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

“Wrong idea?” she said, parroting me.

I nodded.

“What’s the wrong—Never mind. I understand, Adrian. See you around,” she said.

“Maybe,” I replied.

I left the dining room and returned to her bedroom to finish dressing. I tried to soak in the environment, collect as many memories as I could because I would never be her again, and little piece of paradise I’d carved out with her was gone.

But I didn’t linger.

After I put on my shoes, I went back to the dining room where I found Sam adjusting her stacks of paper.

“Sam—”

“Good-bye, Adrian,” she said without looking up.

I didn’t go to her, didn’t hold her close to me and tell her that she was right, that I would protect her anyway. I didn’t do any of the things I wanted, didn’t say any of the things I wanted.

I just left.

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