Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO REFUSED TO LOSE HER
Julian received Margaret's call at 3:18 P.M.
“Elena's being followed.”
He stood immediately.
“Where?”
“Brooklyn.”
“Address?”
Margaret gave it to him.
Julian grabbed his coat.
Marco followed.
“Boss?”
“Get the car.”
Within minutes, they were crossing the city.
Julian called Elena.
She answered on the third ring.
“Hello?”
“Elena.”
Silence.
Then her voice hardened.
“Julian.”
“Where are you?”
“Why?”
“Because someone is following you.”
“I know.”
His stomach tightened.
“Are you somewhere safe?”
“Inside a bank.”
“Stay there. Call the police.”
She hesitated.
Then said, “I already did.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Good.
Smart girl.
“Elena, I'm coming.”
“No.”
He froze.
“What?”
“I don't need you to rescue me.”
He swallowed.
“I know.”
“Then why are you coming?”
Julian stared through the windshield.
“Because I'm worried about you.”
Silence.
Then Elena whispered, “You don't get to make me trust you again.”
His throat tightened.
“I know.”
He paused.
“But I'm going to tell you something I should have said three months ago.”
She didn't answer.
Julian continued.
“I was never completely uninjured.”
Elena's breath caught.
“What?”
“The accident was real.”
She went silent.
“I had spinal bruising, damaged nerves, and months of pain. I could walk again after rehabilitation, but I hid the recovery because I believed someone inside my organization was trying to kill me.”
Elena whispered, “So the pain was real?”
“Yes.”
“The nights you couldn't sleep?”
“Yes.”
“The rehabilitation?”
“Real.”
She began crying.
Julian closed his eyes.
“But the paralysis wasn't permanent.”
He swallowed.
“And I should have told you.”
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Elena whispered, “You let me believe you needed me.”
Julian's voice broke.
“I did need you.”
May you like
Silence.
“Just not in the way you thought.”
