Aaron was grinning like a kid on Christmas morning, pointing at the flight path on the screen like it was a roadmap to happiness. He kept going on and on about how perfect life would be once we got back.
But all I could feel was a heavy knot in my stomach. Dread.
The plane was boarding soon and Ryker still hadn’t shown up.
Was this really it? Was I about to be dragged back with Aaron?
Panic clawed at my chest, until we passed a little airport shop and something caught my eye–bright, shiny and perfect.
I stopped cold and turned to him, cutting him off mid–sentence.
“I want that pearl necklace,” I said quickly. “The one you gave me before got dirty. I don’t want it anymore. I want a new one.”
Aaron hesitated. His eyes narrowed slightly, reading me. And then, flatly, “Cassidy, once we’re back, I’ll dive down and get you another strand myself. Pearls, a tiara, whatever you want–just not now.”
I stood my ground. “You promised me you’d do anything for me. Said the pearls would keep me safe. And now you won’t even buy me something I asked for? Tell me are your promises worth anything at all?”
His eyes softened for a moment. “You haven’t asked me for anything in a long time,” he said quietly. “Alright. I’ll get it for you. Don’t worry. I meant what I said–I always have.”
He reached out, probably to touch my cheek–but I instinctively pulled back.
His face dimmed, the smile flickering like a dying flame. Still, he forced one out.
“It’s okay. You’re still mad, I get it. But it’ll pass. We’ll get back to how things used to be.” he said, as if convincing himself.
“Just a pearl necklace, then? I’ll be right back.”
Then he spun around and hurried off like he couldn’t stand being in the same airspace with
me anymore.
A few minutes later, he returned, waving a small box like it was a trophy, grinning from ear to ear. “I got it.”
I kept glancing toward the terminal, praying Ryker would show up. Aaron caught on. He’d known me too long not to. His expression darkened, just for a flash–but when I looked back, he pasted that damn smile right back on.
“Here,” he said smoothly, holding the box out. “Pearl necklace you want.”
I took it with a frown, stalling, trying to think of something–anything–to buy more time. And then I saw him–standing right behind Aaron.
My heart nearly burst out of my chest. The second our eyes met, Ryker bolted forward, his team close behind. In just a few seconds, they had Aaron face down on the floor,
1/2 99.0%
12.14 Mon, 23 J
Then he spun around and hurried off like he couldn’t stand being in the same airspace with
me anymore.
A few minutes later, he returned, waving a small box like it was a trophy, grinning from ear to ear. “I got it.”
I kept glancing toward the terminal, praying Ryker would show up. Aaron caught on. He’d known me too long not to. His expression darkened, just for a flash–but when I looked back, he pasted that damn smile right back on.
“Here,” he said smoothly, holding the box out. “Pearl necklace you want.”
I took it with a frown, stalling, trying to think of something–anything—to buy more time.
And then I saw him–standing right behind Aaron.
My heart nearly burst out of my chest. The second our eyes met, Ryker bolted forward, his team close behind. In just a few seconds, they had Aaron face down on the floor,
restrained and shouting curses like a madman.
Ryker didn’t even blink. He was already running to me.
“Are you okay? Anything hurt? What about the baby?”
His eyes were wild, searching every inch of me. His hands hovered around my stomach, scared to touch, desperate to make sure I was still in one piece.
I was about to cry.
But instead–I smiled.
“We’re okay,” I whispered. “The baby’s okay. I’m okay.”
I had to say it three times before he believed me.
He finally exhaled, pulling me close as we walked away together.
Aaron screamed behind us, but I didn’t even look back. He was part of a past that I’d already left behind.
Three months later, I finally heard what happened to him.
The moment he got deported, he was arrested.
Turns out, without his direct orders, no one dared go near the storage room where Nancy was being kept.
She bled to death. Alone. And Aaron was sentenced to twenty years in prison. As for me?
I stood at the end of the red carpet, staring at the man waiting for me.
I smiled.
Maybe Ryker would change one day. Maybe he wouldn’t.
But either way, I knew I was going to be just fine.
Because now, I finally had the courage to choose for myself. (The End)
