Page 40 of Conquer

Fifteen

Sam

Partof me couldn’t believe that this was happening. It all felt so surreal. Gordon and Adrian so casually discuss things to pay off.

Adrian killing those last few shards of hope.

Everything I had believed about him was a lie. It had been confirmed. There was no question. And yet…

The entire time I stood there, I hadn’t been able to suppress those emotions that I had wanted to hide.

I knew it was insanity, knew that I was stupid, but I also knew that even now, I loved him. I guess it would take time to get over that. It was hard to change such deep and new emotions on a dime. They would go away. I would make them.

But I made no attempt to move, realizing then that I might not have the option. I had been thinking of Adrian letting me go, but there was no guarantee he would do that.

I finally looked at him and realized that I might not get out of this unscathed.

His expression was alarmed, and he looked at me and said, “Stay here.”

His voice was tight with urgency, and I watched as he fled, moving into the darkness that Gordon had driven into. Adrian was not who I’d thought he was, but he was a better option than staying here in the middle of nowhere, so I followed, two steps behind him.

So close, in fact, that after a few steps, I crashed into his back.

He didn’t look at me. Instead, he put one hand behind him, resting it on my hip, almost like he was shielding me. And when I looked up, I realized why.

Gordon hadn’t gotten to enjoy very much of his retirement.

His body was slumped over the wheel, a thin trickle of blood seeping from his temple, and even from this distance I could see that his eyes were cold, lifeless.

I didn’t let my gaze linger. I wonder what it said about me that I felt nothing but vague disappointment. Ed’s death had been tragic, despite what he had done.

Gordon had gotten what he deserved.

I almost screamed when two figures stepped out of the darkness, but I managed to hold it in.

My gaze landed on the taller of the two men, the one who was staring at Adrian with a dead-eyed expression that made me shiver with his blankness. The man exuded power, and I instantly knew he was in charge.

He took several more steps and came to stop in front of Adrian.

“Adrian, is there something you want to tell me?”

Adrian

“Maxim, why are you here?” I asked.

I wasn’t surprised that he knew, but that he’d come personally was unexpected. He gave me what, for him, passed for a smile.

“That’s your question for me? Why am I here?”

He went silent then, and I could see the emotion in his face. But just as quickly it was gone.

“Let’s get inside,” he said.

He gestured toward the SUV that had pulled up, and I walked toward it, pleased when Sam did the same.

I guided Sam in and then sat beside her. Maxim got in and closed the door.

“You were saying?” he said once he was settled.

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