Chapter 14 - THE JUDAS KISS AT THE EDGE OF THE FROZEN LAKE
The lake house was a glass and steel monstrosity that sat on a cliff overlooking Lake Michigan.
In the summer,
it was a place of parties and laughter.
In the winter,
it was a lonely lighthouse in a sea of gray ice.
Roman stood by the fireplace,
watching the orange flames lick at the logs.
He heard the front door open,
the sound of heels clicking on the hardwood.
Claire Bennett walked into the room,
wrapped in a fur coat that cost more than most people made in a year.
She looked beautiful,
but her eyes were darting around the room,
looking for an exit.
"Roman,"
she said,
her voice trembling.
"Elias said you wanted to see me."
"I did,"
Roman said,
not turning around.
"I wanted to ask you a question,
Claire."
"Of course."
"Who have you been talking to?"
The silence that followed was heavy,
filled only by the crackling of the fire.
"I don't know what you mean,"
Claire whispered.
Roman turned then,
his face a mask of cold fury.
"Don't lie to me."
"I've seen the records."
"I know you've been talking to the Morettis' lawyer."
"I know you've been offering to testify against me in exchange for immunity."
Claire went pale,
her hand going to her throat.
"Roman,
I had to."
"They were coming for me too."
"They said you were going down,
and I didn't want to be caught in the crossfire."
"You were supposed to be my partner,"
Roman said,
walking toward her.
"You were supposed to be the one who stood by me when she left."
"I was!"
"But you don't love me,
Roman."
"You only loved the way I made you feel when you were angry at her."
"And now that she's gone,
you're just a man with a target on his back."
"I'm not going to die for your secrets."
Roman reached out and grabbed her by the jaw,
his fingers digging into her skin.
"You're not going to die at all,
Claire."
"You're going to tell me where she is."
"I don't know!"
"She didn't tell me anything!"
"Then how did you know the Morettis were looking for her?"
"Because everyone is looking for her!"
"She's the only one who has the keys to your kingdom,
Roman."
"And she's not coming back."
Roman shoved her away,
his disgust evident.
"Get out."
"Roman—"
"Get out before I change my mind about letting you live."
Claire didn't wait.
She turned and ran,
her heels slipping on the floor as she scrambled for the door.
Roman watched her go,
feeling a strange sense of relief.
The traitors were showing their faces.
The world was finally becoming clear.
He looked at his phone.
A new message had appeared.
It was an address.
An address he recognized.
The old textile mill.
And beneath it,
a single line of text:
"I'm waiting for you."
It was from her.
Savannah.
He felt a surge of energy,
a primal thrill that made his blood sing.
She was calling him out.
She was inviting him to the end of the world.
He grabbed his coat and walked out into the snow.
He didn't call Elias.
He didn't call his security.
This was personal.
This was between the king and his queen.
He drove his car through the blizzard,
the engine roaring like a beast.
He didn't care about the files,
the Senator,
or the empire.
He only cared about her.
He wanted to look into her eyes and see if the woman he loved was still there,
or if she had been replaced by the monster he had created.
As he reached the mill,
he saw the faint light glowing from the basement window.
He stepped out of the car,
the wind screaming around him.
He walked to the iron door and pushed it open.
The silence inside was heavy,
waiting.
"Savannah!"
he yelled,
May you like
his voice echoing in the darkness.
"I'm here."
