172

172
Alaric’s POV
The park was quiet except for the rhythmic crunch of leaves beneath our feet. The night wrapped around us, the cool air bristling against my skin as I walked beside her. Emilia. She’d said it moments ago-I love you-and the words had settled into my chest like stones in a still lake, rippling outward and disrupting everything I thought I understood.
She walked a step ahead of me, her arms crossed as though bracing against the cold, or perhaps my sudden silence. Her confession had come so unexpectedly, it had left me reeling. I wasn’t a man who dealt in emotions; control was my currency. But this woman? She unraveled me in ways I didn’t have the words for.
“You’re thinking too hard again,” she teased gently. “I can almost hear the wheels turning in your head.”
I smirked, the heaviness in my chest lifting slightly. “Maybe I’m just trying to figure out how you can be so patient with me. I’m not exactly easy.”
She tilted her head, pretending to consider. “Oh, you’re not. Definitely not. Moody, brooding, prone to long silences…”
“Long silences are my specialty,” I interjected, raising a brow.
“And you’re good at them,” she shot back, her grin widening. “But, despite all that, you have your moments.”
“Moments?” I echoed, pretending to be offended. “I’ll have you know I’m full of charm and charisma.”
She laughed, the sound light and melodic, and for a moment, it felt like the cold night air had warmed. “Sure, Alaric. You’re practically dripping with charm. I mean, who wouldn’t fall for a guy who glares at people 90% of the time?”
“Only 90%?” I teased. “I must be slipping.”
Her laughter grew, and she tugged on my hand playfully, pulling me along the path. “Come on, Mr. Charm. Let’s walk before you freeze in place.”
We fell into step again, the tension replaced by an easy rhythm. The silence now wasn’t heavy-it was comfortable, filled with the sounds of the park at night.
“So,” I said after a moment, glancing at her. “If I’m so difficult, what made you fall for me? Was it my glaring? Or my brooding?”
She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Oh, definitely the glaring. Very attractive.”
“Thought so.”
“But really…” She paused, her voice softening. “It’s the way you make me feel like I matter. Even when you’re pushing me away, I can see it in your eyes. You care, Alaric. More than you let on.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I just gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“And you’re not bad to look at either,” she added with a sly grin.
I chuckled, shaking my head. “So shallow, Emilia. Here I thought you loved me for my personality.”
“Oh, your personality is a bonus,” she teased, nudging me with her shoulder.
We walked on, her laughter ringing in the crisp night air, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt… lighter. As if maybe this thing between us didn’t have to be so complicated
The night was perfect, almost too perfect, and I should’ve known better. Peace isn’t something men like me are allowed for long. But for a few fleeting hours, I let myself believe otherwise.
Emilia’s laughter still echoed in my mind, light and carefree, as we walked hand in hand through the dimly lit streets. She looked at me with those eyes that made me feel like more than just a man with blood on his hands. I caught myself staring at her too long, memorizing every detail-the way her lips curved when she smiled, the way her fingers brushed against mine like she belonged there.
It was dangerous to feel this way, to let my guard down. But tonight, I wanted to pretend we were just a man and a woman on a date, nothing more. No rivals, no threats. Just us.
And then everything went to hell.
It started with the unmistakable sound of tires screeching behind us. I turned just in time to see a black SUV veer sharply onto the curb, its headlights cutting through the darkness like a predator honing in on its prey. My heartbeat skyrocketed instantly.
“Get down!” I barked, shoving Emilia behind me as the first shots rang out.
Chaos erupted around us. People screamed and scattered, but my focus was solely on Emilia. She clung to my arm, her eyes wide with terror, but there was no time to reassure her. I reached for my gun, only to curse under my breath when I remembered I’d left it behind. I wanted tonight to be normal-for her, for us.
Big mistake.
Three men spilled out of the SUV, guns raised and faces masked. I moved quickly, pulling Emilia behind a parked car for cover.
“Stay here,” I ordered, but she grabbed my arm, shaking her head vehemently.
“I’m not leaving you!”
Her voice trembled, but there was a fire in her eyes that matched my own. I didn’t have time to argue.
A sharp, searing pain exploded in my side before I even heard the shot. The impact drove me to my knees, and I gritted my teeth against the blinding agony, clutching my side as blood seeped between my fingers.
“Alaric!” Emilia’s scream cut through the haze of pain, but I forced myself to focus.
“You have to run,” I ground out, my voice hoarse.
Before she could respond, one of the masked men yanked her away from me, her cries ringing in my ears as she struggled against his grip. I tried to reach for her, but another wave of pain crashed over me, leaving me gasping for air.
“Don’t you fucking touch her!” I roared, but my voice was weak, my strength slipping away with every drop of blood I lost.
The last thing I saw before darkness threatened to swallow me whole was Emilia being dragged into the SUV, her tear-streaked face disappearing into the shadows.
“Alaric! Ric!” She yelled. I could see her kicking and fighting through my blurry vision but it was more or less useless. They slammed the door shut on her and got into the SUV, speeding off.
I don’t know how long I stayed there, crumpled on the ground, fighting to stay conscious. The world swayed and blurred around me, but I clung to one thought: I had to get to Emilia. That was what was teetering me to this world. The salty tang of my tears touched my lips and I cussed internally.
With a monumental effort, I dragged myself to my feet, leaning heavily against the car for support. Every step was torture, every movement sending fire coursing through my veins, but I didn’t stop.
My car was parked a block away, and it felt like miles. By the time I reached it, my vision was swimming, and my hands were slick with blood. I fumbled with the keys, cursing under my breath when they slipped from my grasp.
“Come on, damn it,” I muttered, gritting my teeth as I forced myself to pick them up and unlock the door.
The drive home was a blur of nearly unbearable pain. I barely registered the honking horns and flashing lights of the city around me, my focus solely on staying conscious long enough to make it back. My hands trembled on the wheel, and my breaths came in short, ragged gasps.
When I finally pulled into the driveway, I didn’t have the strength to open the door. I slumped forward, my head resting against the steering wheel as darkness threatened to claim me.