Chapter 13: Mission
622 Words
*Tuesday, 10:58 PM. Thames Bridge. Rain.*
London was bleeding water.
I didn’t bring an umbrella.
Let me drown.
11:00 PM.
No Michael.
11:01 PM.
Footsteps behind me.
Not his.
Rose.
Black trench coat. No umbrella either. Water dripped off her red hair.
“You came alone.”
“So did you.”
“Michael’s late.” She smiled. “Or scared.”
My phone buzzed.
*Michael: `Don’t trust her. Run.`*
Then it died. 1%.
Rose saw my face.
“Ah.” She stepped closer. “He warned you.”
“Where is he?”
“Safe.” She pulled something from her coat.
The USB.
“Offshore accounts. IT guy. His confession.” She held it over the river. “This ends Kelvin.”
My hands shook.
“Give it to me.”
“Rip the contract first.”
I pulled the paper from my bag.
The 1-year contract. My signature. His.
£200,000.
Dad’s blood money.
“Do it,” Rose whispered. “Free yourself.”
I gripped it.
Behind Rose, movement.
Michael.
Soaked. Gun in his hand.
Not at me. At her.
“Don’t,” he said.
Rose didn’t turn.
“Michael. Lower it.”
“No.” His voice cracked. “She’s my sister.”
“Your sister married the man who killed your father.” Rose’s eyes never left mine. “Rip it, Jenna. Now.”
Rain in my eyes.
I looked at Michael. My brother. Guilt in every line of his face.
I looked at Rose. My father’s enemy.
I looked at the contract.
364 days.
Then I ripped it.
Half.
The sound was louder than thunder.
Rose’s smile was blinding.
“Good girl.”
Michael lowered the gun.
“You didn’t have to—”
“I did.” I threw the halves into the river. They vanished.
“You’re free,” Rose said. “Now give me the USB.”
“I don’t have it.”
Her smile dropped.
“What?”
Michael stepped forward. “I never took it. I lied.”
“You—” Rose’s hand went to her coat.
Knife.
She lunged.
Not at me.
At Michael.
I moved.
I don’t remember deciding.
I just hit her. Hard.
We went down on wet concrete.
The knife skittered away.
“Michael, run!” I screamed.
He didn’t.
He pulled me off her.
“Jenna!”
Rose was laughing. On her back. Bleeding from her lip.
“You think you won?” She spat blood. “He’ll never trust you now. You ripped it. You’re worthless to him.”
Footsteps.
Heavy. Fast.
Kelvin.
Black suit. No coat. Drenched.
He didn’t look at Rose.
He looked at me.
On my knees. Shaking. Holding Michael’s arm.
The ripped contract was gone.
His face... broke.
Not rage.
Hurt.
“Jenna.”
One word.
I couldn’t breathe.
Rose stood. Blood on her teeth.
“You’re late, Kelvin. She chose him.” She pointed at Michael. “Not you.”
Kelvin walked past her.
Like she wasn’t there.
He stopped in front of me.
Rain ran down his face.
“Are you hurt?”
I shook my head.
“Did he hurt you?” He looked at Michael.
“No.” Michael said. “I didn’t.”
Kelvin nodded.
Then he did something no one expected.
He took off his jacket.
Put it around my shoulders.
“You’re cold.”
Rose screamed. “YOU i***t! SHE JUST DESTROYED YOU!”
Kelvin finally looked at her.
“No.” He said. Quiet. “She chose.”
He picked me up.
Bridal style.
Right in front of them.
“Let’s go home, Mrs. Kelvin.”
Even with the contract ripped.
Even with no 364 days.
He still called me his.
---
- Writer
