Chapter 8 - THE CHOICE NORAH MADE
They ran through a narrow passage behind the church’s foundation.
Roman struggled to maneuver quickly across the uneven floor, but Norah stayed beside him.
Behind them, gunshots echoed.
“Left!” Roman shouted.
Norah pushed open a rusted door.
They stumbled into an underground storage room.
Roman’s breathing was heavy.
Norah looked at him.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Stop saying that.”
He glanced down.
A bullet had grazed his shoulder.
Blood darkened his shirt.
Norah’s face tightened.
“You’re bleeding.”
“It’s superficial.”
“Sit down.”
“Norah—”
“Sit.”
Something in her voice made him obey.
She tore a strip from the bottom of her blouse and pressed it against the wound.
Roman watched her hands.
“You’re still wearing the necklace.”
Norah froze.
Beneath her collar, a small silver chain had slipped into view.
A pendant shaped like a compass.
She quickly covered it.
“You remember?”
“I gave it to you.”
“You gave it to me before I knew what you were.”
Roman’s expression changed.
“I was still the same man.”
“No.”
She pressed harder against his shoulder.
“You were pretending to be someone else.”
He looked away.
“I wanted you to see me before you saw the violence.”
“And when I found out?”
“I thought I could make you stay.”
Norah’s eyes burned.
“You locked me in your penthouse.”
Roman’s jaw tightened.
“I know.”
“You threatened my brother.”
“I know.”
“You told me that if I left, nobody would protect me.”
His voice was barely audible.
“I know.”
She stared at him.
“Why aren’t you defending yourself?”
“Because you’re telling the truth.”
The words robbed her of anger.
For three years, she had imagined him denying everything.
Blaming her.
Blaming circumstances.
Blaming the world.
She had never imagined him accepting it.
Roman looked at her.
“I loved you in the only way I understood.”
“That wasn’t love.”
“No.”
His eyes lowered.
“It was possession.”
Silence filled the room.
Then footsteps sounded outside.
Norah stood.
“We need to move.”
Roman nodded.
She reached for the wheelchair handles.
He stopped her.
“Norah.”
“What?”
“If we don’t get out—”
“We will.”
“You don’t know that.”
She looked down at him.
“I’ve survived you for three years. I can survive your brother for one night.”
For the first time, Roman smiled faintly.
“That sounds like a threat.”
“It is.”
They moved toward the emergency exit.
Behind them, Gabriel’s voice echoed through the passage.
“You can’t run forever, Roman!”
Roman turned toward the sound.
Then he looked at Norah.
May you like
“No,” he said quietly.
“This time, we fight.”
