James entered the warehouse.Pitch black fell on him like a heavy, oppressive weight.Overhead hanging lights cast the pathway on the floor like a modern-day yellow brick road.He followed the circles until they came to an abrupt end.Suddenly the lights came up, revealing Kleya tied to a chair, her mouth gagged, black mascara marks ran down her cheeks from her tears.
Anger simmered through his blood.Whoever touched her would die.He took a step toward her but static suddenly crackled through speakers.
“Do not approach her,” said the disembodied voice.“Pick up the gun.”
A table rested next to him, and on it, a Sig Sauer.Everything froze as he instinctively realized the test that stared at him in his wife’s terrified face.
“No,” he whispered.“No.You fucking assholes!”
A good leader sacrifices for his people.His own God-damn grandfather knew what he faced.Knew his wife wasn’t going to see tomorrow.Helpless rage left him impotent as he grappled with this demand ...she was supposed to be safe.Had made sure that if he failed, she wouldn’t suffer his fate.His thoughts shifted like sand, running through the scenarios on how to save her as well as himself.Trying to ignore the fact that there was no way out.
They gave him a wife and now expected him to end her life.
“She will not leave here alive if you don’t complete the test.”
As she watched him, understanding dawned in her beautiful cerulean eyes.She knew what he had to do.She must have read it on his face.Her chest heaved as she struggled against her ties, and then stopped, realizing it was useless.As she stared at him, he saw the moment she accepted the inevitable.Almost imperceptibly, she gave a little nod to let him know it was okay.That she didn’t blame him.Didn’t hold what he was about to do against him.Her love shone like the brightest beacon in the darkest of nights.
It sliced his soul to ribbons.
Made him realize that he’d been a coward for denying what she meant to him.Somewhere along the way, he had fallen in love with his wife.
And now he had to betray her in the evilest of ways.Watch the life fade from her eyes.The only mercy he could give her was to make it fast.
Reluctantly, he picked up the gun, automatically inspecting it to see if it was loaded.One bullet rested in the chamber.The cold metal felt completely wrong, its weight offensive in his hand.As he raised the muzzle, her chin quivered, and seeing that almost broke him.He couldn’t do this.Fuck!He silently implored her to close her eyes, but she didn’t.Didn’t turn away or lower her head.Instead, she hardly blinked, staring at him with empathy.Feeling sorry forhim.Letting him know she wasn’t afraid.
Granting him an absolution he did not deserve.
She might not be afraid, but he was.He was suddenly terrified of who he had become.What hemightbecome.His grandfather’s words echoed in his head, that the only important thing was his legacy.To rule the order, which in turn, ruled the city.Was this why Howard had no heir?James tried to figure out how to get both of them out of this, but no answer was coming.How did he save her?Save them?
One bullet.Intended only for her.War raged inside him as he considered his next move.Was the bullet meant for her?Or was it meant for him?If he placed the muzzle against his own temple, she would die anyway.This was a no-win situation where they would walk out of there alive.
He stared through the gun site, leveling the aim at her head.Kleya fought hard not to cry, but her face slowly crumpled in sorrow, and he knew—he fuckingknew—it wasn’t for herself but for him.Because he would remember, over and over the moment he pulled the trigger.Unless he made this sacrifice in order to extend his own life.To take his rightful place and lead the Coalition like he was born to do.But was life worth living without her?
Taking a deep breath, a sense of calm washed over him.He had to accept that there was no getting out of this, and he made peace with his decision.
He fired the gun.
The bullet swept past Kleya and embedded into the wall behind her.She flinched and blinked as confusion creased her brow.
James placed the gun back on the table and hurried toward her, quickly untying her restraints and yanking off the gag.Then he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
“You spared me,” she whispered achingly.
He cupped her beautiful face, knowing it was the last thing he wanted to see in this world.
“I love you,” he said.“I’m sorry I dismissed your feelings.”
God help him, he no longer cared about the Coalition.Everything he thought he wanted, what he thought should be his, couldn’t hold a candle to Kleya.He’d face the firing squad for her, keeping her memory in his heart until he took his last breath.
“You’ll be fine financially—”
“What?”she interrupted him.“I don’t care about your money.I love you, too, James.”
The love he felt for her stripped away any regret or shame that he put her first.“Youare my everything.”
She searched his face.“What happens now?Will they allow us to stay in the Coalition?”
He tried to smile reassuringly, but there wasn’t a way to sugarcoat this.
