Chapter 6 - The Betrayal
Danny ordered the house sealed.
Luke arrived within minutes, calm and confident.
“What happened?”
“Someone entered the west wing,” Danny said.
Luke looked at Emma. “Was it her?”
Emma stepped forward. “You were outside the door.”
Luke smiled. “Careful.”
Danny’s hand tightened around the wheel.
“Why were you listening?”
“I was checking security.”
“You didn’t have permission.”
“I don’t need permission to protect you.”
“You stopped protecting me two years ago.”
Luke’s expression hardened.
Then he pulled a gun.
Emma stepped backward.
Danny moved his wheelchair between them.
Luke laughed. “You still think you can play the hero?”
“You shot Ethan.”
“I gave you a choice. Your brother wanted to expose everything. You chose survival.”
Danny’s face went cold.
“You betrayed us for money.”
“I betrayed a dying empire. You were supposed to die beside him.”
Luke raised the weapon.
Emma grabbed a heavy brass lamp and struck his wrist. The gun fell.
Danny slammed his chair into Luke’s knees.
Luke collapsed.
Security rushed in and restrained him.
When the room was quiet again, Danny turned to Emma.
“You could have been killed.”
“So could you.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He looked at her trembling hands.
“You were afraid.”
“Of course I was afraid.”
“Then why did you do it?”
Emma met his eyes.
“Because you were in front of me.”
Danny had spent years believing he was protecting everyone by keeping them distant.
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Now he understood that distance had never protected him.
It had only left him alone.
