Chapter 32: Heartbreak and Confrontation

The vast warehouse reverberated with gunshots, the piercing cracks slicing across the air like lightning. As Aidan dove behind a stack of goods, Dominic close at hand, his heart surged. Emily was across the room, the occasional bursts of light lighting her face as gunshots bounced off the metal walls. Though it felt far from the turbulence erupting inside Aidan, the anarchy was instantaneous.

"Get down!" Dominic yelled, dragging him down as even another round of gunfire blasted their location.

Aidan fixed his gaze across the room at Emily. Her hands lifted as though to prove she was unarmed, her face frantic. The uncertainty, the hurt—all there, right out for him to see. It did not, however, help to extinguish the burning resentment within of him. She had turned on him, and now Victor was caught in the crossfire of another of his traps.

" Emily!," he said, his voice raspy as he fired a pistol toward the assailant. You are the one doing this.

Emily stiffened but did not move. Her voice just audible above the shooting, "Aidan, I swear, I didn't set you up!" she cried back. Victor had to have discovered something! Not meant to happen was this!

Aidan's hand on his weapon tightened. "How handy," he said, eyes flashing as he evaluated the circumstances. "Cover me, Dominic."

Dominic nodded and raised his rifle to launch a series of under control rounds toward the door Victor's men had burst in. Aidan moved closer to Emily using the cover fire; the conflict inside him slowed every step he took.

His eyes gone, he arrived at her position and dragged her behind a steel column. "Why should I believe you?" his snarled, his voice low but sharp. Every time I trusted you, I became blindsided.

Emily's eyes were wide and begging. "Because I had no idea they would show up. Aidan, I wanted to establish myself. I wanted to demonstrate for you my truthfulness.

Though the tug of emotion in her voice and her words stung him, the wounds of betrayal were still hot and fresh. His voice faltering with the weight of his irritation, he asked, "And how am I supposed to know this isn't just another lie?" You missed every chance to come clean.

"I fretted!" Emily's speech stopped. "Victor has my family. Should I fail to do as ordered, he threatened to kill them. That does not mean, though, that everything between us was manufactured.

Aidan's eyes grew steely. "You performed Emily, dear." You got near using our relationship to control me. How am I expected to find any of it credible?

She blinked tears, her face reflecting real suffering. Her voice just above a whisper, she insisted, "because it was real." " None of this appealed to me. I never wanted to treat you badly.

Emotions ranging from anger to betrayal to something deeper—something that hurt more than any physical ailment surged through Aidan. His voice tense, he replied, "I don't know if I can trust you anymore." Not after all.

Emily's face sank, but she did not back off. "I'm still working on helping you. You have to believe me; Victor's enemy here, not me.

They dove, pushed against the hard steel for safety as another wave of gunfire tore through the air. Dominic's voice burst across the comms. "We are becoming pinned down right here! We must migrate; else, we will not be leaving this planet.

Aidan tightened his teeth. Every instinct urged him to turn away, to leave Emily behind and reorganize with his staff. But he stopped—a residual hope that perhaps she was speaking the truth. Just maybe. Should she be, their finances would not allow them to squander this opportunity. Still, they were all as good as dead if she wasn't.

"Fine," he answered, his tone wary. But, if you are lying, it is finished.

Emily nodded, relief and terror playing in her eyes. Aidan, I am not lying here. On your side here is me.

Though he wasn't sure he believed her, there was no time to consider it. Victor's soldiers were closing in while the gunfire never stopped. They needed quick escape.

Using the cover to hide from Victor's soldiers, the three negotiated the labyrinth of machinery and containers. As they progressed, Dominic fired precisely, down one enemy after another. Emily stayed near Aidan, and every time their eyes locked, he felt the sting of betrayal all over once more.

Aidan indicated for Dominic to inspect a side door they came upon. "We have to start right now. Can you arrange for an exit?

Dominic nodded, fast turning off the alert system and breaking into the lock. Aidan pulled Emily into the open door, keeping his weapon elevated as he looked about. As they emerged into the wide passageway, the sounds of the gunfire echoed far away. The night air assaulted them.

Aidan murmured, his voice tight: "We cannot stay here." We have to reach the phase of secondary extraction.

Leading the route, Dominic went fast and stayed to the shadows. Emily's weight next to Aidan reminded him of the decisions he had taken and the results they now found themselves with.

Dominic's comms burst once more as they turned a corner. "I have a car ready a block away. We have to run before they follow us.

Emily started faster, but Aidan grabbed her arm to stop her. His voice icy and unbroken, he added, "Before we go any further, I need you to be honest with me." "Is there anything else you hadn't told me?"

Her eyes glittering, she raised her head toward him. No, Aidan. I swear, right now everything is out in the open.

Before he let her go, his hold tightened momentarily. "We'll see.," said

They arrived at the car, a black SUV quietly parked in a vacant lot. Aidan beckoned for Emily to enter as Dominic slid into the driver's seat. He trailed, still unsure, staring at her. The hush inside the automobile was thick as they flew across the city, negotiating alleys and side streets.

"Aidan, listen to me," Emily broke the quiet. "Although you have every cause to question me, right now I am speaking the truth. Victor is leveraging my family. He knew he would have the upper hand should I try to turn on him.

Aidan closed his hands into fists. Then why didn't you tell me earlier?

"Because I thought I could manage it alone," she said. "I reasoned that I could give him just enough to keep my family safe without endangering you."

He turned to meet her, the anguish carved on his face. And consider where that has landed us. The authorities believe I am a criminal; my mother's life is under danger; my empire is collapsing.

Emily seemed to be regretful. "I'm quite sorry, Aidan." Though I was terrified, I should have trusted you.

Though it lessened the sting of the betrayal, he sensed the deep feeling underlying her remarks. You had a choice, he whispered softly. You choose to lie as well.

For a few minutes, they drove silently; the city lights blurted by. Dominic peered back in the rearview mirror at Aidan. "We almost at the safehouse. We have to reorganize and decide what to do going forward.

Aidan nodded, but his head was elsewhere, entwined in the muck that now defined his life. Although he had always understood the stakes were enormous, he had never anticipated the treachery would come from someone he trusted so totally.

They fast locked the perimeter as they arrived at the safehouse, a little fortified structure tucked away in the industrial area. Aidan signaled for Dominic to arrange monitoring while he drew Emily apart.

"We have to talk," he continued, his voice tight and low.

Though Emily nodded, her eyes betrayed fear. I know.

They entered a little chamber out from Dominic's line of sight. Aidan slanted against the wall and crossed his arms. "Why earlier did you not tell me the truth? Why should one wait until everything collapsed?

She hesitated, and he briefly considered her maybe lying once more. Still, her voice just above a whisper. "For fear drove me. Fearful of losing you, of what Victor will do should he discover.

"You didn't think I would understand?" Sharp in his voice, Aidan asked. "You didn't think I would help?"

Tears flooding her eyes, she added, "I didn't want to put you in that position." "I was trying to guard you."

Aidan's look softened, but only momentarily. "And now? Everything is collapsing right now, and I'm not sure whether I should trust you.

Emily stretched out with a quivering hand. "Aaid, kindly... I ask for one more opportunity. I will prove it to you. I can assist in bringing Victor down.

He stared at her hand but ignored it. " Emily, it is not that straightforward. You don't just get to ask for a second shot following all of this.

Her eyes hurt, and she drew her hand back, crossing her arms to seem to be shielding herself. Knowing is great. Still here nevertheless, trying to right things.

Aidan experienced a range of emotions including despair and rage. Though the scars were too recent, he wanted to believe her and let himself trust her once more. "You have to prove you really want to help."

She nodded, will sparking in her eyes. "I'll."

Using whatever resources they had left to get ready for Victor's next action, the next few hours were devoted organizing their next steps. Emily gave data, therefore enabling Aidan and Dominic to put their strategy together. But even with her best attempts, Aidan's heart stayed weighty, and their trust broke.

Aidan watched the city out the window as morning broke. His decisions loomed over him, the road forward unknown.

Dominic came up, his face austere. "What's our next action?"

Aidan turned, his gaze fixed. "We target Victor. Still, we do it without Emily.

Emily's head shot forward, her eyes widening. What?

Aidan spoke in a cool voice. "I cannot afford to gamble these days. You will stay here, where you cannot compromise the goal.

She opened her lips to object, but Aidan's count stopped her. "This is my deciding point."

The room was still, and the tension thickened as Emily's face dropped. Her words were almost audible; she nodded. "Okay.."

But Aidan turned aside, his choice weighing down his shoulders. He realized he had to go ahead, regardless of the expenses.