Page 99 of Goldrage
A door slams somewhere ahead. Close. Too close.
I flatten against the wall, weapon raised. The smoke is thicker here, emanating from behind the heavy oak doors of what used to be Lucian’s office.
“Whatever you’ve done,” I whisper to the smoke and shadows, “whatever you’re planning, I’m here now. We’re leaving this together, brother.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
AURELIA
The mansion’s floors are slick with blood as Lorenzo and I fight our way toward the upper floors. The sound of automatic weapons echoes through the corridors, punctuated by glass shattering and things toppling. Several animal heads lay fallen on the floor up ahead. The whole estate is being ripped apart bit by bit.
“This way!” Eleanora appears from a side corridor, her purple dress now torn and stained. She’s flanked by Valentine, who has a bleeding gash across his forehead. Some paths are blocked so Valentine guides us all through back secret routes.
Lorenzo immediately moves to Eleanora’s side, and I watch with fascination as they work together. When a trio of men, who must’ve been outside the mansion when everything went to hell, come around the corner with weapons raised, Eleanora drops to one knee while Lorenzo fires over her head, their positioning so natural.
“Show off,” Lorenzo mutters with affection asEleanora’s shot takes down the flanking guard. “I can’t have a wife who shoots better than me. It’s bad for my reputation.”
“Then get better,” Eleanora replies without missing a beat, reloading her gun. “Or find a different wife.” Lorenzo is about to respond when she cuts in with, “Actually, yeah, just find a different wife.”
Despite our grim situation, I feel a flutter of warmth at their banter. Love can exist even in the midst of violence. Maybe especially then.
Valentine moves to my side as we push forward, his presence both comforting and complicated. “Adrian?” I ask quietly.
“Went ahead.” The worry must show on my face because Valentine’s expression softens and he touches my shoulder quickly. “He’ll be alright. Adrian’s survived worse than this.”
Something about the simple faith in Valentine’s voice makes my chest tighten with emotion. Yes, he betrayed me, but he’s also been this steady reassuring force in my life. And I miss him.
“I love you,” I say so softly I’m not sure he hears me until he glances over. “I know things have been… complicated between us. But I love you. I want to work on our relationship when this is all over.”
Valentine’s eyes fill with tears even as he continues to advance. “I love you back,” he says after clearing his throat. “I always have. You’re my daughter. Not by blood, maybe, but in every way that matters. And I promise to spend my life making up for every way I hurt you.”
Those words penetrate my soul, stitching together awound as we fight our way through a wave of Consortium soldiers who broke free of the ballroom. I feel something loosen in my chest—not forgiveness yet, but the recognition that love doesn’t have to be perfect to be real.
We finally make it up the grand staircase, and the battle intensifies as we reach the upper floors. The guards that are still loyal to Julian attack us, trying to protect whatever remains of the Harrow legacy. Valentine moves out ahead of our small group while Eleanora and Lorenzo flank me.
But numbers and desperation can overcome even our group’s superior abilities. When a wounded guard feigns death before rising to fire at me, Valentine doesn’t hesitate. He throws himself between us, his body absorbing the burst of automatic fire meant for me.
“No!” I scream as he crumples to the floor. I drop beside him as Lorenzo and Eleanora provide cover. Valentine’s bulletproof vest took a lot of the bullets, but one hit his throat. My hands press against the gushing wound while my heart hammers with desperate denial.
There’s so much of his blood. Too much. His life is quickly seeping out of him.
“Stay with me,” I plead, my voice breaking as I watch his eyes start to dim. “Please, just hold on. We’ll get you help, we’ll?—”
Valentine’s smile is peaceful despite the blood frothing at his lips. “You’ve got a family now,” he whispers, his gaze finding Lorenzo and Eleanora as they shield me. “That’s all I ever wanted for you.” He’s wheezing and gurgling and struggling to speak. “Just… promise…” He coughs. “Promise… never take them… for granted. Promise… you’ll survive… live a good…”
His eyes close for the final time, and I feel something tear apart inside my chest. The man who raised me, who loved me despite his failures, who died protecting me—gone, just when we’d found our way back to each other.
I look around wildly, hoping there are soldiers still alive for me to take out with my fury, but Lorenzo and Eleanora have already taken care of them. I’m surrounded by carnage, with my father dead in the middle of it.
I hunch forward and sob into my bloodied hands.
“Aurelia,” Lorenzo’s voice is gentle but urgent as he checks Valentine’s pulse and finds him dead. “I’m so sorry. We have to keep moving. We’ll come back for him, I promise.”
I’m still sobbing, but I force myself to my feet. I have to push my grief aside right now. I have no choice but to leave Valentine’s body in the hallway with a promise to come back when this is over. The grief threatens to overwhelm me, but I channel it into determination.
I won’t let anyone else I love die tonight. Thiswillend.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
