Novel Palace
29
As the deafening sound of the gunshot echoed in the cold air, I watched as Leon’s body crumpled to the ground. The once menacing figure now lay motionless, the darkness that had consumed him finally extinguished. Behind me, I sensed the presence of Alex, Ace, and Cher’s husband-the allies who had stood by my side through this harrowing ordeal.
“Are you okay?” Ace’s voice was a lifeline, his concern evident in his eyes as he approached. I swallowed hard, my throat feeling dry as I nodded in response. It was over. The nightmare that had held us captive for so long had finally come to an end.
“You shot him,” I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of shock and realization. “He’s dead.”
Alex’s voice was resolute, his words ringing with a finality that mirrored the end of the darkness that had haunted us. “He deserves to be dead. One less asshole in the world.”
Fear clawed at the edges of my consciousness, the weight of the situation settling heavily upon me. I knew the consequences-someone had been shot, a life had been taken. The law would demand justice, and someone would have to pay the price.
Cher’s husband’s chuckle cut through the tension, a glimmer of assurance in the midst of the chaos. “No one’s going to jail. We will just call it self-defense.”
The words were a lifeline, a reminder that even in the face of the law, there were exceptions, circumstances that could justify the actions we had taken. It was a precarious line to walk, a dance between the darkness that had consumed Leon and the light that now sought to emerge from the shadows.
My heart raced, each beat a reminder of the adrenaline that still pulsed through my veins. A million thoughts swirled in my mind, a maelstrom of emotions, questions, and uncertainties. The reality of what had transpired was still sinking in-a confrontation that had ended with a life lost, a new chapter unfolding in the aftermath.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
Ace’s observant gaze met mine, his concern evident in his eyes. “You’re shaking.” His voice was soft, a gentle acknowledgment of the emotional storm that raged within me.
He reached out, his touch a comforting anchor as he guided me away from the scene. “Let me bring you home while these two clean up the mess, okay?”
I nodded, a mixture of relief and exhaustion washing over me. The car door opened, and I stepped inside, the warmth of the interior providing a stark contrast to the chilling events that had unfolded outside.
As Ace took the driver’s seat, the engine roared to life, a comforting hum that filled the space around us. The journey home was marked by a heavy silence, a reflection of the weight that still hung in the air-a weight that would take time to lift, to process, and to come to terms with.
As Ace and I drove home, the familiar glow of the McDonald’s sign caught our attention. With a shared glance, we decided to stop for ice cream and fries-comfort food that offered a momentary reprieve from the chaos that had engulfed us. I grinned as I ordered my usual combination of ice cream and fries, a guilty pleasure that never failed to put a smile on my face.
Seated in the car, I dipped a fry into the creamy ice cream, savoring the contrasting flavors and textures. As I ate, my thoughts drifted back to the events that had transpired at the warehouse. The memory of Leon’s demise was still fresh, a surreal blend of shock, relief, and a lingering sense of disbelief. One moment, he had been a menacing presence, and the next, his life had been extinguished.
Despite the gravity of the situation, a sense of relief washed over me-the burden of his blackmail and his ominous presence were no longer hanging over my head. The weight that had weighed on my shoulders for so long was finally lifted, replaced by a newfound sense of freedom.
As I contemplated the events of the past hours, Ace’s phone buzzed, disrupting the quiet. His reaction was immediate-a string of expletives tumbled from his lips as he read the message. My heart raced, and a knot of dread formed in my stomach. What had gone wrong? Had they been discovered? Panic bubbled within me as I grasped for answers.
“Everything is wrong!” Ace’s frustration was palpable, his grip on the steering wheel tightening as he tried to compose himself while navigating the road. My voice trembled with concern as I pressed him for answers. “Ace! Focus on the road! What happened?!”
In a burst of anger, he tossed his phone in my direction. I caught it instinctively, my eyes scanning the screen for the source of his distress. And there it was-a chilling sight that sent a shockwave through me. The video, the very one we had fought so desperately to prevent from seeing the light of day, was now posted for the world to see.
My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of fear and fury surging within me. “That bastard posted the video seconds before he stepped out of that car!”
And just like that. My world collapsed.