Page 116 of Hold On

Dominic’s heart gave a painful thump. “As I left Oakhurst, a prison officer, a guy called Sturdy, said something to me about you.” He watched Kilic carefully.

“What?”

The guy sounded curious but that didn’t necessarily mean anything.

“That Miran Kilic would be seeing me.”

Kilic smirked. “Clairvoyant was he? Here you are seeing me.”

Dominic had hoped to get some sort of admission that he was in Kilic’s crosshairs but maybe he just had to ask.

“Did you ask him to give me that message?”

“No.”

Do I believe him?“Should I be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life?”

Kilic stared at him.

“Nearly sixteen years inside,” Dominic said quietly. “Half of my life. For what it’s worth, I tried to save Adem’s. If the prison officers had acted quicker, he’d have stood a chance. I’m sorry your brother is dead. I really am. But please let me have my life back now.”

If he were being honest with himself, he thought Kilic would just get up and walk away and leave him in the same position as he’d been in before. His act of vengeance could easily continue until Dominic died.He isn’t going to kill me. He doesn’t want me dead. He wants me to suffer.The thought that this had been a waste of time sat heavy on his soul. He could see his future running away with no chance of him catching it.

“It took some guts coming to see me. I assume your little pal is around somewhere. My girl told me you came as a pair.”

“He doesn’t want you to hurt me.”

Kilic laughed. “How is he going to stop me?”

“Please don’t hurt him. If you want to hurt me, then do that but not my friend.”

For what seemed like forever, they just sat there. Then Kilic cleared his throat.

“You took someone from me but it wasn’t a deliberate act. You’ve paid enough. Have your life back. I’m not looking to take it from you.”

Kilic walked off but Dominic couldn’t move. Was that it? Was it over?

Even when Ren dropped down at his side, Dominic still hadn’t convinced himself this was sorted. It was a trick. Kilic didn’t mean it. Ren wrapped his arms around him and Dominic sagged against him.

“It’s okay,” Ren was saying, but was it?

Oh God.Dominic’s heart was pounding.

“I heard everything. It’s recorded.”

Dominic’s phone had been on all through the conversation.

“It’s done, right?” Dominic whispered. “He’s going to leave me alone?”

“Yes.”

“Is this the point where I suddenly get shot? Just as we think everything’s going to be all right?”

Ren winced. “Don’t say that. We’re going to go back and celebrate and tell everyone and we’ll do something amazing tomorrow before we start thinking about what happens next.”

“Okay.”

Ren took his hand. “Are you all right?”

---