Chapter 71
The next morning, the first light of dawn barely filtered through the blinds of Ron’s apartment as he sat at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee. He hadn’t slept much, his mind too restless to find peace. The previous night’s conversation with Ghost echoed in his head, the weight of their impending confrontation with Russell pressing down on him.
Ron was lost in thought when the sound of the front door opening snapped him back to the present. Amanda stepped into the room, her expression determined. She had been staying with Ron for the past few weeks, ever since things started to escalate with Russell. She’d insisted on staying close, wanting to support Ron in any way she could.
“Morning,” Ron said, trying to keep his tone light. But Amanda saw right through him, as she always did.
“Morning,” she replied, her voice steady but laced with concern. “You look like you haven’t slept at all.”
Ron shrugged, taking another sip of coffee. “There’s a lot on my mind.”
Amanda sat down across from him, her eyes searching his. “I know something’s going on, Ron. You and Ghost are planning something big, aren’t you?”
Ron hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “We’ve got a lead on Russell. Things are moving fast, and we have to be ready.”
Amanda leaned forward, her gaze intense. “Then let me help. I can be useful—I know how to handle myself in tough situations.”
Ron’s stomach tightened. He knew Amanda’s offer came from a place of genuine concern and strength, but the thought of her getting involved in something this dangerous sent a chill down his spine. He’d seen firsthand what Russell was capable of, and he couldn’t bear the thought of Amanda being put in harm’s way.
“No,” Ron said firmly, setting his coffee mug down. “I need you to stay here, where it’s safe.”
Amanda’s eyes flashed with frustration. “Ron, I’m not a helpless bystander. I can contribute, and you know it. We’re in this together, and I’m not just going to sit on the sidelines while you and Ghost take all the risks.”
Ron reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “It’s because we’re in this together that I need you to stay here. If something goes wrong… I need to know that you’re safe. That you’re out of harm’s way.”
Amanda’s expression softened, but the resolve in her eyes didn’t waver. “And what about you? What if something goes wrong for you or Ghost? How am I supposed to just sit here, waiting, not knowing if you’ll come back?”
Ron squeezed her hand gently, trying to convey the depth of his feelings. “We’ve thought this through, Amanda. Ghost and I have been at this for a while now. We’ve faced danger before, and we’ll face it again. But you… I can’t let you put yourself in that kind of danger. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you.”
Amanda pulled her hand away, standing up and crossing her arms, her frustration palpable. “So I’m just supposed to stay here, twiddling my thumbs, while you go off to face Russell? That’s not fair, Ron. You can’t ask me to do that.”
Ron stood as well, his voice firm but gentle. “I’m not asking, Amanda. I’m telling you. I need you safe. If anything goes wrong, knowing you’re here, out of harm’s way, will help me focus on what needs to be done. I won’t be able to do that if I’m constantly worrying about you.”
Amanda’s eyes glistened with emotion, and for a moment, Ron thought she might argue further. But then she sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “I hate this, Ron. I hate feeling powerless.”
Ron stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned into his embrace, resting her head against his chest. “I know,” he whispered. “But keeping you safe is what gives me the strength to do this. It’s what keeps me going.”
They stood like that for a long moment, the quiet of the apartment wrapping around them like a cocoon. Ron knew he was asking a lot of Amanda, and part of him hated himself for it. But he couldn’t risk her getting involved, not with someone as dangerous as Russell.
Finally, Amanda pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a mixture of worry and determination. “Promise me you’ll be careful, Ron. Don’t do anything reckless.”
Ron nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I promise. We’ve got a plan, and we’re going to stick to it.”
Amanda searched his eyes, as if trying to memorize every detail. “And promise me you’ll come back. No matter what happens, come back to me.”
Ron’s heart ached at the fear in her voice, but he forced a reassuring smile. “I’ll come back. I promise.”
Amanda nodded, though the worry in her eyes remained. She stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to ward off the anxiety threatening to overwhelm her. “I’ll stay here, like you asked. But I’ll be waiting, Ron. So don’t make me wait too long.”
Ron nodded, his heart heavy with the burden of the promises he had made. He leaned down to kiss her forehead, lingering for a moment as he tried to imprint the warmth of her touch in his memory.
“I won’t,” he said softly, though deep down, he knew there were no guarantees in the dangerous game they were about to play.
As Amanda watched him gather his things and prepare to leave, she forced herself to stay strong, to trust that Ron would keep his promises. But as the door closed behind him, the weight of the unknown settled over her like a dark cloud.
Ron stepped into the morning light, his mind already shifting back to the plan he and Ghost had laid out. He knew the risks, but he also knew that protecting the people he cared about—protecting Amanda—was worth every one of them.
As he walked away from the apartment, his resolve hardened. Russell was out there, plotting his next move, and Ron and Ghost would be ready. Whatever it took, they would stop him.
But even as Ron focused on the task ahead, he couldn’t shake the gnawing fear that this might be the last time he saw Amanda’s face—the last time he held her close. It was a thought he quickly pushed aside, forcing himself to concentrate on the mission.
Because in the end, there was no turning back now. The storm was coming, and all Ron could do was hope that when it finally broke, he and Ghost would still be standing.