AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ashley grabbed my hand, her palm clammy but grip firm. "Nat, please listen to him. I just want us all far away from here and safe." Her soft plea drained the fight from me. She was right - enough damage had been done tonight already. Perhaps the wiser path was simply freedom.
I looked to Leonardo uncertainly. "You said we could disappear, if I wanted. Leave all this behind." It seemed our only chance at a future now.
Leonardo met my gaze solemnly and gave a single grave nod. No more running or resisting fate. "Together, we'll start over somewhere new. Tonight."
The promise sent a shiver through me. Our world here lay in ruins, but hope still lingered. We had each other - and Leonardo was right, that bond was unbreakable, no matter where we found ourselves.
I looked down to where Ashley still clung tightly to my hand. "Come with us," I implored her.
But she just squeezed my hand and gave a sad smile. "My life is here Nat. But you two...go and be free." Always selfless, even when she'd lost so much already. I wished I had her courage.
----
The sleek car sped through the darkened streets toward Ashley's family estate on the outskirts of the city. None of us spoke, each lost in our own turbulent thoughts after the confrontation at the warehouse.
I kept replaying those chaotic moments in my mind - the guns firing, dragging Ashley to safety behind the bulky machinery, pressing a stolen pistol to that thug's throat and threatening to end him if the others didn't let us go.
Part of me still couldn't believe I had been capable of such ruthless violence, driven by primal instinct to protect those I loved. But another part acknowledged a simmering fury had awaked inside me back there, a dark rage I sensed would not be easily quelled.
Perhaps Leonardo noticed my hands fisting unconsciously in my lap, still amped up on adrenaline and unspent fury. His eyes kept meeting mine in the rearview mirror, wordlessly conveying urgency to stay calm. Seeking revenge now would only continue the vicious cycle endangering us all.
Curled up against my side, Ashley remained unnaturally quiet, arms wrapped around herself as delayed shock set in. I hugged her shoulders, wishing I could erase the trauma of all she had witnessed tonight because of my recklessness.
Ashley had been an innocent pawn in Bree's sadistic revenge game meant to torment me. I hated that my own defiant spirit had put my steadfast friend directly in harm's way, forced her to see such ugly violence. The risk never should have touched Ashley's light.
When we finally pulled up the long drive to her family's sprawling estate, I realized with sinking certainty this was goodbye. After tonight, I could never endanger gentle Ashley again by drawing her further into the dangerous chaos surrounding me. Letting go would devastating, but necessary to shield her spirit from the dark roots I came from.
The ornate gates swung open automatically, allowing Leonardo to pull the car right up to the imposing carved doors. He and I would not be staying long - we needed to get to the private airfield and be safely away as soon as possible. But I couldn't leave without a proper farewell.
Ashley seemed to sense the difficult finality of this moment too. She turned and wrapped me in a sudden crushing embrace as soon as Leonardo cut the engine, both of us clinging tightly without words. I stroked her hair as she trembled, overwhelmed by the painful enormity of this goodbye.
"Thank you for everything, Ash," I finally managed hoarsely. "You've been my light through all of this."
Ashley pulled back, eyes glistening with tears but a sad smile on her lips. "Right back at you, Nat. You'll always be my best girl." She cupped my face in her hands. "Promise you'll go be happy now. No regrets or looking back."
I could only nod mutely, not trusting my voice. Sensing this was our last moment alone, Leonardo tactfully stepped out to scan the exterior grounds, granting us privacy to say everything that needed to be expressed.
Taking both of Ashley's hands in mine, I met her glistening eyes earnestly, willing her to truly understand. "You have been my truest friend through it all. Please don't ever doubt that."
Ashley gave a wet little laugh. "Never. Like you said, we're sisters. Distance doesn't change that."
She pulled me into one more long fierce embrace. I clung tight, memorizing the feeling of unconditional love and support she radiated. My life had been infinitely better with Ashley's light in it. Letting go tore my soul, but it was necessary now to protect the most precious thing in my world - this extraordinary friend who had never wavered.
As we finally separated, Ashley gave me a tremulous but brave smile. "We'll see each other again someday. I just know it." Her relentless optimism in the face of loss made my heart ache.
I didn't trust my voice enough to respond. So I just squeezed her hands tightly once more, hoping my overflowing gratitude and love still came through clearly. Ashley had been my shelter from the storm through it all. I would be forever changed for knowing her.
With immense effort, I forced my leaden feet to turn and walk back to where Leonardo waited tensely by the sleek car. As soon as I was inside, he had us speeding back down the palatial drive before the sorrow could fully cripple me.
I twisted around to watch Ashley's standing alone on the grand steps until she disappeared from view. Saying goodbye felt like tearing out some vital piece of my soul. But I knew this sacrifice was the only way to truly protect her now from the ugly chaos always surrounding me.
Leonardo reached over and grasped my hand firmly, grounding me when grief threatened to pull me under. His dark eyes in the rear view mirror reminded me I didn't have to face the uncertain future alone. With Leonardo by my side, I could weather any storm yet to come.
We drove the remainder of the way to the private airfield in silence. My nerves jangled anxiously the closer we drew to escape. Adrenaline spiked again knowing freedom was finally within reach.
The sleek jet waited alone on the tarmac when we pulled up. Leonardo did a quick perimeter scan, then nodded for me to board ahead of him. I had just placed my foot on the stairs when an instinctive prickle on my neck made me freeze - we were not alone here.
I opened my mouth to warn Leonardo, but before I could make a sound, blinding headlights flared to life, pinning us in place. The squeal of tires announced several nondescript sedans skidding to a stop nearby. Dark figures spilled out armed and advanced toward us swiftly.
