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As I’m folding a sweater, my door opens, and the pine-scented cologne hints Alek stands at my back. “Please, don’t do this.”
My hands tremble once again, but I tighten my grip on the material to stop myself from wavering. “I have to. I can’t leave Saint there.”
It’s been the giant elephant in the room since the night we escaped. Alek hasn’t spoken about Saint or acknowledged Saint’s feelings for me. But he also hasn’t addressed the reason Saint let him live.
“I need someone who…loves you…as much as I do.”
That’s what Saint said.
Saint acknowledged Alek loving me as much as he does, but that’s absurd. Just the notion leaves my stomach in knots. However, Saint wouldn’t leave me with Alek if he had any doubt. Of that, I’m certain.
He believes Alek loves me…
“I know that, but this is just plain crazy,” Alek says, interrupting my thoughts. “We will think of another way. I will get him out.”
Spinning around, I pin him to the spot where he stands. “Why? Why do you even care? This doesn’t involve you. This might even be your way out. I surrender to Oscar, pretending you’re dead, and you can slip away to someplace where no one knows you. You can start again.”
Alek inhales sharply. “I will not run away like a coward. And I most certainly will not hand you over to Oscar!”
“Why not?” I cry, not understanding any of this. He doesn’t owe me anything. He never did. This is his chance to wash his hands of me, once and for all.
“I made a promise to Saint,” he replies, but he’s using that as an excuse.
“That promise was made when you believed he was sacrificing himself to save me,” I stubbornly argue. “He’s not dead; therefore, you owe him nothing. You’ve held up your end of the bargain by keeping me safe here, and I thank you for that. But now that Saint is alive, I’m going back to him. And you can’t stop me.”
Alek interlaces his hands behind his neck and tips his face to the ceiling. He clearly needs a minute. “I didn’t do it for him. I did it…for you.”
He speaks in barely a whisper, but I heard him, loud and clear.
When he finally meets my eyes, the sincerity I see unsettles me beyond words. “The reason he left you with me was because he…” Alek pauses, wetting his lips. “Because he could see that my…feelings for you are—”
But I quickly intervene, not wanting to hear whatever he has to say. “Stop!” I thrust my palm toward him. “I don’t want to hear any more.”
Alek’s frown reveals my admission has hurt him. But hearing him use the word “feelings” has left me uncentered, and I can’t afford any distractions. The only thing that matters is getting Saint away from Oscar.
Nodding firmly, he suddenly appears thankful for the distraction.
“You are making a big mistake. Oscar will see through your lies.”
“Well, it’s my mistake to make,” I reply, turning my back so he can’t see my lip quiver.
“How can you trust her? After everything she’s done.”
There is no need for him to specify who. And he’s right. But what I say next cements my decision. “I trusted you, didn’t I?”
Silence.
But it speaks volumes.
“Very well, I can’t stop you. But know that if you leave here, I won’t come and find you. You’re on your own.” A bitterness accentuates every word as though he’s hurt I’ve chosen Saint over him. However, it was never a choice.
Saint willalwayswin.
“Nothing has changed then,” I reply, folding my T-shirts as I need to do something with my trembling hands. “I’ve always been on my own.”
A heavy sigh fills the room, hinting this conversation is over. Alek can hate me all he wants, but nothing will change my mind.
What he says next, however, has me wishing I’d kept my mouth shut. “If you really think that, then I’ve failed you, ???????. I wish you all the best.”
