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He was supposed to be careful.
And why was my uncle there? I was equally concerned about him.
"He shot the boss despite his desire to spare him for your sake."
"Oh God," I exclaimed as Tristan informed me thatEthan would be dead if hehadn't been wearing a bulletproof vest.
That single act made saving my uncle's life appear like aHerculean task. Even if I groveled, I doubted Ethan would give me his ear.
Tristan stood up. "I should leave. He wants you to remain inside until he comes toyou, which will besoon."
When he walked away, I heard the door lock and dashed to it. I turned the doorknob, but nothing happened. They wanted me to stay away from my uncle.
I felt like I was going to collapse at any moment, my nerves racing as I waited to see both Ethan and my uncle. I returned to the couch and sank into it, my head in my hands.
It was entirely my fault, I realized. I knew I should not have kept the secret from Ethan for so long, knowing that he might retaliate by rescuing me or Anna's family. Hehad nearly been killed, and my uncle was in danger.
I'm not sure how long I had my head buried in my hands before hearing the door open again. Ethan stood by it.
I had so many things to say to him, but instead I leaped into his embrace. He encircled me with hisarms and buried his face in my hair. I couldn't breathe because I was pressed up against him, but I didn't complain. I had missed him terribly.
"I missed you," he said as though reading my thoughts.
I would have hugged him tighter and said the same thing, but my uncle's recent memory returned to me. My arms loosened around him.
He held me still and raised my chin to meet his gaze.
"I tried it with your uncle. I truly gave him the opportunity to come of his own accord, but he shot at me. Tristan went ballistic. He was only trying to keep me safe,"Ethan assured me.
I trusted him. My eyes welled up with tears as I considered my uncle's slim chances of survival.
"Hey, hey, nothing bad will happen to him," Ethan assured me, but I feared he waslying.
His hands cupped around my face, and he planted a gentle kiss on my cheek. It did nothing to calm my nerves. He tried to comfort me, but I couldn't stop the pain in my chest. I was helpless at the time, angry at Ethan for being at odds with my uncle while still wanting to keep whatever we had.
"Are you still planning to kill him?" I asked him, hoping for a different answer but expecting the same.
"He must first tell us what he knows. Vanessa, if he cooperates, there's a chance—"
I drew away from him, cutting his promises short. "Ethan, you're going to kill him."
"I didn't say I was going to," he said, his words becoming less credible with each denial.
"Then promise me you won't," I said, and he stopped.
He sighed heavily and looked at me. The helpless expression on his face was one I was willing to accept. He, like Anna and me, possessed the ability to keep my uncle alive.
"You know it's not that easy," he explained.
"But I know it is. I know you're in charge around here. You are the head of the family, and whatever you say is final. My uncle made a serious error, and even your uncle claims to have forgiven him."
"My uncle, he doesn't mean it. I am sure of it. Besides, he tried to murder me, Vanessa. He shot me in the chest with the intention of killing me. How am I supposed to let that go unpunished? I might have died. I could never have returned to you, to this house."
He asked questions that I couldn't satisfactorily answer because I wanted both of them to be well. But, with Ethan still alive, my main concern was for my uncle, who was almost certainly imprisoned in an underground cell.
"He was simply trying to save me," I blurted out before I could catch my breath.
I was taken aback by Ethan's hurt expression. "Do you want to be savedfrom me?"
