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to stand and take her from the room, but she shook her head no. She didn’t need to know that she had been completely betrayed by them for years.
    “Tell me all.” Said the stubborn woman.
    “It started about four years ago. Your parents had gotten into a world of financial trouble with some unsavory people and you were the only thing they had to barter with.”
    “But we had priceless things, we already moved into the mansion by then.”
    “Yes, they needed to fund their extravagant lifestyle and you were their meal ticket.” It was clear that she had realized that their possessions were more important to them, than she had been.
    The district attorney decided to take over. “By the time you had run away they had owed more than five million dollars, to all sorts of people, in all different countries. When one of our informants gave us the tip we sent in, Federal Agent, Travis Williams to go undercover for your protection.”
    She turned to the man who was her friend, and I saw the pain written in her eyes. I knew he cared for her as more than just a case, but I am sure she wouldn’t see it that way.
    “I was just an assignment to you. I thought you were my friend.” She had tears welling in her eyes. I tried to console her when she turned her wrath on me, too.
    “You knew, didn’t you?! You asked why Travis was leaving my apartment, you thought he was my lover that night. What is wrong with you? With either of you, with friends like you two lying asses, who the fuck needs enemies. I am done here,” she looked at me and Travis with anger “with all of you!”
    She stormed out of the room out the door, on to the sidewalk.  She tried to push me away. “Let me go, you don’t love me. You lied to me.” She tried to take off her engagement ring and I grabbed her hand in anger and fear, and turned her to me, and held her by her upper arms, so she couldn’t leave me.
    “Don’t you ever try and take that off again. You are going to be my wife and we will get past this. I will never let you go. I love you. It wasn’t for me to tell you. It was a part of protecting you and I would die to protect you.” I wasn’t above begging and pleading, but she saved me from having to do that.
    “Rick, I am sorry. I love you too.”
    It was then that out of nowhere a car of masked men appeared and opened fire. I pulled her down and reached over her. I guess, I had to live up to my words, or die by them. The loud pops were going off until all I could hear was screeching tires and my Red screaming. My head was ringing as I fell to the ground, and all went black.

Chapter 14: Samantha
    I sat there in the waiting room, with his family, as they operated on him. I was still covered in his blood, but I didn’t want to change. He touched these clothes as he protected me. His smell had still been all over me and I didn’t want to lose it.
    I couldn’t stop the tears that cascaded down my face. It was all my fault. If I hadn’t stormed out of there, they wouldn’t have attacked. If I hadn’t had rotten parents, none of this would have ever happened. If I hadn’t gone to the salon, after my mother’s begging, I wouldn’t have met him.
    But the thought of not meeting him, was something my heart couldn’t bear. His sister came up to me and hugged me tight. I sobbed harder. I knew they felt the same way I did, it had to be devastating to them too, yet they were comforting me.
    “I am so sorry.”
    “No, it is not your fault. My brother chased after you, remember.” I cried my heart out. He told me how we needed to seize the moment. I told him we should wait and that we needed time to plan a wedding. Now, all I needed was him.
    While everything was happening, I felt like that time went into slow motion. The gunmen drove up, and I didn’t even get a look at them.  Rick had just told me that he would do anything to protect me, and he had. I didn’t even notice that I had been bleeding until they had carted him away and the