Chapter 10 - The Open Gates
The south garden was shrouded in heavy fog and an unnatural silence.
I moved through the shadows of the statues, wearing a dark coat I had stolen from the hall closet.
My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
I had ten minutes before Alexei's men breached the perimeter.
I reached the wrought-iron gates, finding them slightly ajar, just as the spy had promised.
Freedom was one step away.
My old life, my mother, my safety, all waiting for me on the other side of the stone wall.
But I wasn't alone.
Tucked tightly inside my coat, bundled against the cold night air, was Leo.
I couldn't leave him behind.
Suddenly, a massive shadow detached itself from the ancient oak tree near the gate.
Dante stepped into the moonlight, blocking my path.
He held a suppressed pistol in his right hand, the dragon tattoo stark against his pale skin.
He looked at the open gate, then at the baby hidden in my coat, and finally at my terrified face.
"You read the diary," Dante said, his voice completely devoid of emotion.
I froze, realizing he had known about it all along.
"You killed her," I cried, taking a step back.
"You burned my sister alive, and now you want me to play house!"
Dante did not raise the gun, but he did not lower it either.
"She sold my family to the Volkovs, Mara."
"She planted the bomb that was meant to kill me, but it detonated early."
"I did not kill your sister, her own treason did."
He stepped closer, the moonlight catching the profound exhaustion in his dark eyes.
"Alexei is waiting out there to execute you both," Dante warned quietly.
"If you walk through that gate, I cannot protect you."
"If you stay, you will never be allowed to leave this world again."
He lowered his gun, leaving the path to the gate wide open.
"The choice is yours, Mara."
I looked at the dark forest ahead, where the cartel assassins waited in the fog.
I looked back at Dante, the beautiful monster who offered a cage disguised as a kingdom.
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Leo let out a soft sigh, his tiny hand reaching out to grasp the collar of my shirt.
The wind howled through the iron bars as I took a breath and made my first step.
