Chapter 13 - THE PRICE OF A NAME
The bullet hit below his ribs.
I rode in the ambulance with Stellan’s blood on my hands.
Fern was with Mrs. Thornbury.
Safe.
I repeated that word like prayer.
Safe.
Safe.
Safe.
Stellan was not.
“Stay with me.”
His eyes opened.
“Fern?”
“Safe.”
“Good.”
“Don’t you dare close your eyes.”
“I’m tired.”
“I don’t care.”
His mouth moved.
Maybe a smile.
“Bossy.”
“You like me bossy.”
“I do.”
The monitor changed.
The paramedic pushed me back.
“Ma’am.”
“No.”
“We need space.”
“Stellan!”
His eyes found mine.
“Selene.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.”
“For leaving.”
“Then stay.”
“I tried to protect you.”
“I know.”
“I did it wrong.”
“I know.”
His breathing became rough.
I pressed my hand around his.
“Do it right this time.”
“How?”
“Stay alive.”
His eyes closed.
At the hospital, they took him away.
Four hours.
I sat with Fern sleeping across my chest.
Dominic beside me.
His injured shoulder still in a sling.
“Marek?” I asked.
“Alive.”
I looked at him.
“Unfortunately?”
He gave me a tired smile.
“Unfortunately.”
“Why didn’t Stellan kill him?”
“He wants answers.”
“About what?”
“Your mother. Silas. The trust.”
I looked down at Fern.
“I don’t want eight hundred million dollars.”
“Good news. It’s not yours.”
I almost laughed.
“Thanks.”
The surgeon appeared.
I stood too fast.
“Mr. Cross is stable.”
My knees gave out.
Dominic caught my elbow.
The surgeon continued.
“The bullet caused significant bleeding, but no major organ was destroyed. He got lucky.”
Stellan woke the next morning.
I was beside him.
Fern was asleep in a portable crib.
He looked terrible.
I had never been happier to see anyone.
“Hey.”
His voice was weak.
“Hey.”
“Fern?”
I pointed.
“Right there.”
His eyes found the crib.
His whole body relaxed.
Then he looked at me.
“You stayed.”
“Don’t make it weird.”
A faint smile.
“You love me.”
“You were shot. You’re confused.”
“You love me.”
“I can unplug things.”
“You don’t know what they do.”
“I’ll start with the loudest one.”
He laughed, then groaned.
“Don’t make me laugh.”
“Then stop being annoying.”
He looked at me for a long time.
“Selene.”
My defenses went up.
“No speeches.”
“I’m leaving the organization.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“Not Cross Holdings. The other side.”
“You can just leave?”
“No.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“I’m dismantling it.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It will be.”
“For us?”
“Maybe.”
My happiness evaporated.
He reached for my hand.
“But staying is worse.”
I looked at him.
“Why now?”
“Because my daughter said dada while my uncle held a gun to my head.”
His eyes filled with something clear and final.
“I don’t want the first thing she learns about being a Cross to be fear.”
I squeezed his hand.
Then Dominic entered.
He looked grim.
“Marek is ready to talk.”
Stellan’s face changed.
“What does he want?”
Dominic glanced at me.
“To speak to Selene.”
“Absolutely not.”
“He says he’ll only tell her who ordered Elena Vale’s death.”
I frowned.
“We already know. Nathan Hale.”
Dominic slowly shook his head.
“No.”
My blood went cold.
“He says Nathan cut the brake line.”
Stellan pushed himself higher despite the pain.
“But someone else ordered him to do it.”
“Who?”
May you like
Dominic looked at me.
“Marek says it was Silas Cross.”
