Killed Me for Your Precious Angel? Now Pray She Can Save You from Hell - Chapter 48: Chapter 48

When Brooklyn woke up, harsh hospital fluorescents made her squint.
"Brooklyn, how are you feeling? Are you hurt anywhere else?"
A familiar voice drifted to her ears, followed by a concerned face coming into view.
Alistar Roosevelt sat beside her hospital bed, dark circles under his eyes like he'd been keeping vigil all night.
"...Alistar?"
The memories before she'd blacked out came rushing back. She struggled to sit up. "You're the one who found me?"
Alistar nodded, his voice still shaky. "I kept calling but you wouldn't pick up. When I got to the Sheridan place, the staff told me you were locked in the freezer..."
He was interrupted when the TV in her room suddenly blared breaking news—
"In a stunning announcement today, Sheridan Industries and Wingston Corp confirmed their merger through marriage. CEO Kaiden Sheridan and heiress Karina Wingston will wed next month in what's being called the wedding of the decade..."
On screen, Kaiden looked every inch the billionaire in his charcoal Armani suit, jaw set like granite, while Karina hung off his arm with a megawatt smile that screamed 'I won.'
Perfect. They look perfect together, Brooklyn thought bitterly. Two beautiful, rich, soulless people.
Alistar quickly grabbed the remote and killed the TV.
The hospital room went dead quiet.
After a few seconds, he took a shaky breath and met her eyes. "Brooklyn, I know everything that's been happening."
"You couldn't get away before, but now... Kaiden doesn't remember shit." His voice was quiet but determined. "Let me get you out of here. Please."
Brooklyn stared at her hands. "Thanks, Alistar, but I'm already getting my papers together to leave for France."
"The Sheridan family's had people in intelligence and national security for three generations. They can't leave the country without massive government clearance." She paused. "Once I'm in Paris, he'll never be able to follow me."
Never. Because they'll never let him leave, and I'll never come back.
Relief flooded Alistar's face, and he almost grabbed her hand before catching himself. "That's amazing! I can help you with all the paperwork!"
She pulled back slightly, and he noticed.
"Shit, sorry. I'm just..." He ran a hand through his hair. "Really fucking relieved, you know?"
He hesitated, then looked at her with those earnest brown eyes. "But I need you to know something."
"How I feel about you. You've gotta know by now, right?"
Brooklyn's chest tightened. She stayed silent.
Of course I know.
From day one of Kaiden's obsession, Alistar had been her only friend. Her only ally.
He'd offered to help her run away countless times, but she knew what Kaiden was capable of better than anyone.
She'd tried escaping dozens of times. Never made it more than a few blocks before his security dragged her back.
One time, some investment banker had bought her a drink at a charity gala—purely innocent. The guy disappeared. Not just from New York. From fucking existence.
Kaiden's reach extended everywhere—FBI contacts, CIA connections, judges, senators. She couldn't escape, and she sure as hell wasn't going to get Alistar killed trying.
So she'd kept him at arm's length, no matter how much it hurt.
She closed her eyes, her hands shaking. "Alistar, I can't—"
"Hey, no." He held up his hands. "I'm not asking you to feel anything right now."
"I just want you to know..." He took a deep breath. "Once you're free, you can actually live again."
"Do whatever job makes you happy, travel wherever you want, and... maybe fall in love with someone who won't treat you like property."
His smile was sad but genuine. "Even if it's not me, I just want you to be happy."
"I want you to remember what normal feels like. Don't let this year destroy who you really are."
God, he's too good for this world, Brooklyn thought, tears pricking her eyes. Too good for me.
After a long moment, she whispered, "Thank you."
"Once I'm in Paris, I'm going to live like a normal person again." She looked out at the bright afternoon sun, her voice stronger now. "See the Louvre, drink wine at sidewalk cafes, maybe even fall in love with some pretentious French artist."
Someone who doesn't know my name. Someone who'll never know what I've been.
Alistar's whole face lit up. "Then let me help you get there."
That afternoon, Alistar drove her to the French consulate and waited while she rushed through her visa application.
"With expedited processing, you should have approval in ten to fourteen days," the consular officer said, handing back her passport. "Bon voyage, mademoiselle."
Walking out into the Manhattan sunshine, Brooklyn felt something she hadn't experienced in over a year—hope.
Two weeks. Just two more weeks and I'm free.
Alistar drove her back to the Sheridan mansion, chatting about practical stuff the whole way—where she should live in Paris, how to set up a French bank account, whether she'd need a job or if her settlement money would be enough.
"My family's got some business interests in Europe," he mentioned casually. "I might be able to transfer to our London office. You know, just to be in the same time zone if you need anything."
He's following me to Europe. For me.
Brooklyn's stomach twisted with guilt. "Alistar, don't uproot your whole life—"
"I'm not," he said quickly. "We've been wanting to expand anyway. It's not just about you."
Liar. Sweet, wonderful liar.
They pulled up to the mansion's circular driveway. Brooklyn was reaching for the door handle when Alistar suddenly said, "Wait."
He leaned over and gently smoothed down a strand of hair that had escaped from her ponytail, his fingers barely grazing her cheek.
So gentle. So different from...
Brooklyn automatically looked up at him, but then her blood turned to ice.
On the mansion's front steps, Kaiden Sheridan stood like a statue, his dark eyes locked on her face with laser focus.
How long has he been watching us?