"In the flesh, isn’t that something, Gabriel?" he says, almost amused, like he finds this entertaining.
Gessler just stares at him, eyes wide.
But I’m not amused.
"Is this some kind of joke, Storm? Did you bring him here to humiliate me?"
I shoot him a horrified look.
Storm blinks. "Why would this be a joke, and why would I want to humiliate you…"
"You brought the man whose company I attacked here. This is insane. Why would you do that?"
I stand up abruptly.
"Mr. Gessler, please take me out of here. I’ve had enough of being questioned for the past two months and explaining myself for something I wasn’t responsible for…"
"But you were responsible. You were part of that organization. You went there, you carried those canisters, and you helped pour the gasoline," Blue says coldly.
I look at him, but this time I don’t respond. I ignore him and turn to Gessler.
"Please take me out of here, Mr. Gessler. I’m not interested in this circus, whatever this is, some kind of torment, some extra trial. I’ve had enough! I’m already tearing myself apart, losing everything!" I raise my hands and rub my temples, feeling like I’m about to explode. Then, suddenly, in a desperate act, I turn to Mr. Lowen and throw it all out.
"Do you know… The day before the police came to arrest me, I went to Marcel and found him fucking with Edgar, his right-hand man! Everything was ruined. My chance with him, my freedom, graduating with my major, a normal job, a normal relationship. I have nothing!"
"Gabriel—" Strom starts to say something, but I almost cry out,
"And you bring me this man so he can judge me and tear me apart even more?"
Against my will, I feel tears running down my face. Yeah, I’m one of those pathetic alphas who cry when everything falls apart.
I raise my hands and press them to my face.
"Mr. Gessler, please, just get me out of here. I don’t want to be here anymore."
Gessler says nothing.
I become aware of the awkward silence filling the room. Storm isn’t looking at me, he’s staring at his hands, even the copseems to avoid my eyes. They’re all embarrassed by this pathetic breakdown.
"Gabriel," Storm finally says quietly, "Mr. Lowen didn’t come here to torment you. He’s interested in purchasing your contract."
I stare at him for a moment, then wipe the tears from my face.
"What? And why would he buy my contract, the contract of someone who burned down his own facility? That’s a good one, Storm, really funny. You’re having a great time at my expense… Mr. Gessler, can you finally—"
"That’s not a joke," Lowen’s cold voice cuts through the room.
I don’t have it in me to turn around and look at him. I can’t even explain why, but some strange feeling takes over, a surge of emotion, almost wild.
I turn away, ignoring Gessler, who is still standing there, rush to the door, yank it open, and bolt out of the room, or rather stumble out in an awkward, clanking half-run with the cuffs rattling.
The cop swears and goes after me.
"What the hell do you think you’re doing? You think you’re getting away?" he snarls, grabbing my arm and trying to drag me back, but I plant my weight and resist in a way he can’t easily break.
"I’m not going back to that fucking room. Take me to the booth."
"That’s not my call, it’s Mr. Gessler’s. While you’re at the fair, he decides where you are," he hisses.
