Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
He was a traitor, but I wasn’t. If he thought I would keep quiet, then he was so wrong.
I was in pain at Artur’s betrayal. It was hard to breathe, but it only got harder when he reached behind his back and pulled his gun out.
He pointed it at me. “Another step and I will shoot you.”
Fear slithered its way through my body, and sweat broke out on my skin. I stood frozen, debating if I should make a run for it.
Artur glanced between us, and his expression softened just a little. “Maddie, I don’t want to hurt you.”
A sob escaped my lips. “Betraying my family hurts me, Artur. This is hurting me more than you can ever think.”
Regret flashed across his face. “Maddie…”
My sniffles filled the room. I rubbed my chest, trying to get rid of the ache there. “What about Ayla? What did she ever do to you? How could you do this to her?”
Artur shook his head. “She just happened to be in the middle. Alberto wanted her, and I wanted my revenge against Alessio. He was invincible, but then Ayla came into his life. She’s his weakness. What better way to destroy Alessio than destroy his only weakness?”
I gasped at his cruel words. Never had I expected to hear such words for Artur. Where was the sweet man I knew?
My shaking began again, only this time it was a mixture of fear and anger. Anger at Artur for being so heartless. “Ayla is innocent. You condemn her to the very monster that destroyed her. You knew the things that were done to her, yet you still sent her there.”
Artur shrugged. “It was two birds with one stone.”
“She doesn’t deserve this. What you have done to her is enough to make me hate you with everything that I am.” My voice was filled with hatred and utter despair.
My skin felt raw as panic coursed through my body. I felt suddenly dizzy as the world tilted around me. I had to get to Alessio.
I moved a step back, but Artur caught it. His eyes widened. “Maddie, don’t make me do this,” he warned, his eyes begging me.
In that moment, I wondered if he really would shoot me. The thoughts accelerated in my head. My heart hammered in my chest, and my stomach rolled. As my stomach tightened painfully, I knew I was going to be sick.
I glanced beside me toward the dresser. My gun. Just a few steps and I could reach for my gun. I glanced back at Artur and thought of ways to divert his attention.
Licking my dried lips, I swallowed past the heavy lump in my throat. “What about us? Did you ever love me, Artur, or was that fake too?”
He quickly shook his head. I saw his arm drop just a little. “No. We are real, Maddie,” he admitted in a quiet voice.
I took a step toward the dresser. He didn’t seem to notice, so I kept talking. “What will happen now? To us? To me?”
The tears fell down my cheek as I waited for his answer.
“Come with me. Run away with me, Maddie,” he replied. His voice was so soft, sweet even, as if he was making love to me.
Another step toward the dresser.
But this time he noticed, and the gun was pointed directly at me again. “Don’t move, Maddie. Don’t make me hurt you.”
I was only two steps away from the dresser—from my gun. My hands shook by my side as my stomach lurched with tension.
“Will you really shoot me?” I asked, my body slowly starting to go numb.
I took another step. Artur didn’t answer.
But when a gunshot rang through the room, I had my answer.
I didn’t feel it at first. I stumbled back when the bullet made contact with my body. But I was too surprised to feel it.
One second passed. Two. Three.
And then I was hurting all over. My shoulder burned like it was on fire. My skin felt raw, and I almost retched as pain raked through my shoulder and traveled down the length of my spine.
I looked at the left side of my shoulder, where blood poured through my robe and the bullet had pierced my skin.
Artur made a regretful moan. I looked up to see him stepping toward the open window. Knowing that he intended to do, I jumped into action.
Adrenaline pumped through my body, and I reached for the drawer, pulling my gun out. I pointed it at him at the same time as another gunshot echoed around the room.
As a second bullet pierced my body, I fell to my knees. Pain. So much pain. It was an excruciating burning sensation, and this time I felt it in my stomach. I looked down to see my robe quickly getting soaked with my blood.
No. Please no.
I was frozen on the spot, and my body continued to pulse in agony. I was quickly losing blood. It wasn’t just my body hurting. My heart and soul had shattered in that moment.