Page 52 of Culmination
I ignore him, not giving him the power he so desperately craves. This isn’t about him. It’s me, Rafe, and the fact that I couldn’t have lived with myself if I hadn’t come.
“Rafe, I couldn’t leave you here. It’s not worth losing you.Heisn’t worth losing you.”
“Enough!” Theo barks. “Stay on your knees, Matthews. Face the girl. I want to see her face when she learns the truth about you. I want to watch as she realizes you weren’t worth a single second of her disgusting devotion.”
My eyebrows knit together. As if anything this monster could say would change the way I feel about Rafe.
Rafe’s eyes meet mine, anguish swirling in the deep blue. A storm’s risen and I feel like I’m going to drown.
Theo continues. “You see, Matthews, Ms. Latham is a little confused. She seems to be under the impression that I have no claim to the child she carries. And here I thought the two of you were so in love you’d told her everything.”
My eyes don’t leave Rafe’s. “What is he talking about, Rafe?” I ask, my voice catching as I say his name.
His head falls slightly before he looks back at me, pleading with his eyes. “Brie, I…”
Theo throws his hands up, waving the gun in impatience. “He’s my son.”
Those three words send an icy shiver through my veins. It’s as if a steel door closed. The words echo on the marble around us. My eyes widen, and Rafe’s head falls as if in shame.
It’s one thing to have heard it second hand. It’s quite another to hear it from the horse’s mouth.
Even though it feels useless, I maintain the charade Rafe had insisted upon, pretending to know nothing about the truth. To make Theo feel more powerful with knowledge he believes only he possesses.
“Rafe?” I whisper, taking a step forward and reaching a hand towards him while the other rests protectively on my belly. “Tell me it isn’t true. You couldn’t be…”
The cocking sound of the gun stops me in my tracks.
When I tear my gaze from Rafe, I gasp at what I see. Theo’s moved directly behind Rafe and has the gun aimed at the back of his head.
“No,” I breathe, my hand flying to cover my mouth. “Please, no.”
They say your life flashes before your eyes in life-or-death situations. But nothing prepares you for something like this. Memories of my short time with Rafe rush through my brain and my heart aches when visions of what our future should be join them. Rafe being sweet, kissing away my tears, promising to protect me from all hurt. Rafe finding me in the water and breathing life back into me. Rafe overjoyed at the news of my pregnancy.
Rafe holding a blue bundle, his eyes lit with delight as he takes in the sight of our son.
Rafe at the altar, waiting for me to walk down the aisle towards him and place my hand in his as we become man and wife.
Theo’s voice tears me away from the vision. “So you see, my dear, I will have claim, with or without your cooperation.” He cocks his head in contemplation as his eyes bore into the back of Rafe’s head. “It’s a shame I won’t know the son that was taken from me. But I’ll make sure the child will be raised in my spitting image.”
Fierce determination crosses his features, which tells me Rafe’s time is limited. I plead silently with him to do something, to fight, but with me in the room, he won’t risk it. He won’t risk me. I love and hate him for it.
So, taking matters into my own hands, I step towards Theo.
“No!” I hiss. “You can’t kill him. You think I’d really hand over what you wanted? Do you think my father was hiding ONLY the diary? Or perhaps you were too blinded in your quest you didn’t even consider he’d keep something else for leverage. Something that could be used against you in case you did exactly what you did. And if so, do you really think I’d just give you evidence against you that you didn’t even know existed? You may think little of me, but I’m not stupid. I am my father’s daughter.”
Theo’s eyes flash as rage builds in them. His nostrils flare, and his lip snarls. He moves the gun from Rafe and aims it directly at me. “And tell me, Gabriella, how did defying me work out for your father? Or your mother?”
Fury flows through me. This man, this murderer, wants to take everything from me. I won’t allow it. I will do anything in my power to ensure the safety of those I love. Even if it means bluffing like my life depends on it.
Because it does.
I set my chin in defiance and stare into his soulless eyes. “You can’t kill me, either, Theo. Not if you want this child. Shoot me and you’ll lose the baby. We both know Adrian no longer wants anything to do with you, so end me and you’ll have no heir. You’ll have no one. And if I die, the copy of the ledger will be made public immediately. Then you’ll have nothing but a prison cell. If you last that long. Even if you allow us to live, what good is having an heir when your empire crashes and burns all around you?”
“Adrian is dead. Do not speak his name again!” The rage emanating from Theo is palpable. I know I’m just hit a crack in his armor and I can’t wait for him to crumble to the ground.
“Adrian is more of a man than you’ve ever been. More than you’ll ever be. From where I’m standing, your sons grew up to be exceptional men not because of you. But in spite of you.”
I’m not nearly as confident as I manage to sound, fighting an intense urge to flee from this place. I stand firm, waiting for his reaction.
