Chapter 9 - THE LAST LOCKED DOOR
Sadie had spent two years obeying dangerous men.
She was finished.
So when Thomas demanded she come alone, she agreed.
Then she brought the FBI.
Ronan almost looked proud.
Almost.
The Continental had been evacuated after Thomas leaked evidence connecting several employees to his operation.
At midnight, Sadie entered through the kitchen wearing a wire.
The same fluorescent bathroom light still flickered.
She stopped before the mirror.
For a moment she saw herself from that first night.
Concealer.
Bruises.
Fear.
She touched her healed cheek.
Then continued.
Thomas waited inside the Obsidian Room.
He sat in Ronan's chair.
“Sadie.”
She remained near the door.
“You wanted me.”
“I wanted the card.”
“The FBI has copies.”
His smile disappeared.
“You're lying.”
“No.”
Thomas studied her.
“You were easier when you were afraid.”
“I was never easy. You just confused silence with weakness.”
His face hardened.
He placed a pistol on the table.
Sadie's heart hammered.
“You know what your father did?” Thomas asked.
“He told the truth.”
“He got himself killed.”
“No. You killed him.”
Thomas smiled.
There.
The confession.
Sadie knew agents were listening.
“He should've minded his business.”
“And Ronan's mother?”
“Same mistake.”
Sadie's fingers curled.
Thomas leaned back.
“People imagine evil looks dramatic. Usually it's just somebody refusing to understand how the world works.”
“No.”
Sadie's voice was steady.
“It's somebody convincing himself everyone else deserves what he does to them.”
Thomas's smile vanished.
She had heard Carl make the same excuses.
Power.
Respect.
Rules.
Different men.
Same cowardice.
Thomas reached for the gun.
The lights died.
Sadie dropped.
A shot shattered glass.
Federal agents breached both doors.
Thomas ran through the private corridor.
Sadie stayed down.
She was supposed to stay down.
Then she heard something.
A second gunshot.
Ronan.
She knew he was outside.
Against orders, Thomas had found another exit.
Sadie ran.
She reached the alley.
Thomas stood twenty feet away with his weapon aimed at Ronan.
Ronan had his own gun drawn.
Neither moved.
“Do it,” Thomas said.
He smiled at Ronan.
“Your father would.”
Ronan's finger rested near the trigger.
Thomas laughed.
“You spent your entire life pretending you're different.”
Sadie stepped into the alley.
“Ronan.”
His eyes flicked toward her.
Thomas fired.
Ronan moved.
The bullet struck brick.
Ronan had a clean shot.
Sadie saw it.
Thomas saw it.
“Kill me.”
Ronan's face became empty.
Then he lowered his weapon.
Thomas stared.
“You're not worth becoming him.”
Federal agents tackled Thomas seconds later.
It ended without thunder.
No dramatic execution.
No body in the street.
Just handcuffs clicking shut.
Thomas screamed as they dragged him away.
Ronan watched silently.
Sadie approached.
“You kept your promise.”
“Barely.”
She smiled.
“Still counts.”
Then his knees buckled.
Sadie's smile disappeared.
Blood spread beneath his jacket.
“Ronan?”
He had been hit.
The first bullet inside the building had passed through his side.
He had followed Thomas into the alley anyway.
Ronan collapsed.
Sadie caught his shoulders.
“No. No, no, no.”
His eyes struggled to focus.
“Sadie.”
“Don't talk.”
“I need to tell you something.”
“You can tell me at the hospital.”
“You're very bossy.”
She laughed through tears.
“Shut up.”
His mouth moved faintly.
“I love you.”
Sadie froze.
This was not how she wanted to hear it.
Not with blood on her hands.
Not with sirens approaching.
“You don't get to do that.”
“What?”
“Say that and die. That's emotionally manipulative.”
Despite the pain, Ronan laughed.
“I'll file a complaint.”
“You better.”
Paramedics rushed toward them.
Sadie held his hand.
“I love you too.”
His eyes closed.
“Ronan?”
No answer.
“Ronan!”
The paramedics pulled her away.
For the second time in her life, Sadie watched someone she loved disappear through hospital doors.
But this time she was not eleven.
She was not powerless.
She followed.
Six hours later a surgeon entered the waiting room.
Sadie stood.
The surgeon removed his mask.
“He's going to be okay.”
Her knees nearly gave out.
Mara caught her.
Sadie laughed and cried simultaneously.
Three days later Ronan opened his eyes to find Sadie sleeping beside his hospital bed.
He watched her for several seconds.
Then whispered:
“You snore.”
Her eyes opened.
“I absolutely do not.”
“Terribly.”
She stared at him.
Then burst into tears.
Ronan smiled.
“Come here.”
Sadie leaned toward him.
Stopped.
“Ask properly.”
His smile widened.
“May I hold you?”
She nodded.
May you like
“Yes.”
And for the first time, being held felt nothing like being trapped.
