Chapter 14 - THE MAN WHO LOST EVERYTHING
“Don't move,” Arthur said.
Roman turned slowly.
“It's over.”
Arthur laughed.
“That's what your father said when he thought he could retire.”
Tessa stood beside the kitchen counter.
Her phone lay inches from her hand.
Arthur noticed.
“Leave it.”
She obeyed.
Roman stepped slightly in front of her.
Arthur raised the gun.
“Always the hero, Roman.”
“Let her go.”
“She knows too much.”
“So does half the federal government.”
Arthur's smile faded.
“You think those prosecutors can protect you?”
“No.”
Roman's voice remained steady.
“But the evidence can.”
Arthur shook his head.
“You destroyed our family.”
“Our family destroyed itself.”
“I built that empire!”
“You helped steal it.”
Arthur's face twisted.
“You sound just like your mother.”
Roman went still.
Tessa noticed immediately.
Arthur continued.
“She always thought she could change your father. Thought love made her stronger than him.”
Roman's hands curled into fists.
“What did you do to her?”
Arthur smiled.
“Your father wasn't the only man making decisions back then.”
The room seemed to lose all sound.
Roman stared at his uncle.
“You killed her.”
Arthur shrugged.
“She was going to testify.”
Tessa saw Roman's expression change.
For one frightening second, she thought he might attack.
Instead, he reached toward his coat.
Arthur aimed the gun.
“Don't.”
Roman stopped.
Then he looked at Tessa.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“Even now, you're worried about her.”
Roman met his uncle's eyes.
“Yes.”
“Love makes men weak.”
“No,” Roman said. “Fear does.”
A siren sounded outside.
Arthur glanced toward the window.
Tessa understood.
The emergency phone.
Daniel had configured it to transmit a distress signal if a particular button was pressed.
She had pressed it while retrieving the device.
Arthur backed toward the hallway.
“You think you won?”
Roman didn't move.
“I think you ran out of places to hide.”
Police shouted from the stairwell.
Arthur turned the gun toward Tessa.
Roman moved instinctively.
A shot rang out.
Tessa screamed.
Roman fell against the kitchen island.
Then officers rushed into the apartment.
Arthur dropped the gun.
He was arrested before he reached the door.
Tessa dropped beside Roman.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Roman!”
He looked up at her.
His breathing was shallow.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head desperately.
“No. No, I'm fine.”
“Good.”
“Don't you dare close your eyes.”
He tried to smile.
“You're very demanding.”
“Roman!”
His hand found hers.
“I'm sorry I brought this into your life.”
Tears blurred her vision.
“You didn't bring it. You helped me survive it.”
He looked at her.
For the first time, there was no calculation in his expression.
No guarded silence.
Only love.
“Tessa,” he whispered.
She leaned closer.
“I love you.”
May you like
Then his eyes closed.
And the paramedics pushed her aside.
