Strong For Too Long Trilogy ✔️

35. Risk or Reward

CHAPTER 35: Risk or Reward

I stare darkly into her eyes, she couldn't feel the ice running through my blood at her threat. Pursing my lips slowly, she points behind me and I look deeply into cognac brown eyes, the glass was no longer tinted and there they were. Watching, waiting as Candidate Eight stands up from where she is, her fists at her sides, "You threaten my husband?" I wonder, slowly.

Green eyes penetrate mine, "I'm merely talking, dear. You work with me in our travels and your man over there gets to live-unlikely to see you as often as he wants, but Candidate Eight over there can sleep on the other side of the glass if you step out cooperatively." She tells me, waiting. Before the gate between us cranks open and she drops a bag in front of me, "Get changed, new recruit. You have ten minutes to say your goodbyes." She smirks, stepping away while eight candidates pull out their guns and aim it straight for me.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

The banging on the glass behind me while Candidate Eight steps forward and grabs my hand, pulling to face her, I speak before her lips part, "You know I don't have a choice. Either he dies and I lose the father of my child, or you get to be with Javier, and my husband lives."

"You have no idea what she's even using you for." She argues, gripping my wrist while I hear Javier ripping a new one into the glass, I close my eyes, sensing Aaron bore his eyes in me while one of the Candidates behind me hands me a card with a PIN number on it and the glass reveals the small pod to open access.

"Only Candidate Eight can be verified to walk through." One of the candidates remind me, voice a complete void of emotion and a blank tone of voice. Robotic.

Candidate Eight stares at me, "Don't, we'll figure out another way. I can't let you do this. Do you have any idea what it will do to him? How much this will hurt him!" She yells at me, reaching for my arm again, they can see us fighting.

I grab her arms and make her face me, "I married him for a great many reasons, but one thing I know about Aaron Westlake is the man never gives up for anything, and he's one of the smartest people I know. He will know exactly what to do. Samsara can provide you aid and Javier wouldn't let another candidate take you from him again. You are better safe and I am better staying close to my enemy for now. She needs me for something and she's gotten too far to kill me. Trust me." I embrace her closely, closing my eyes for merely two seconds. She sniffles against my shoulder, shaking her head profusely.

I step forward and slide the card down, putting in the pin and slowly, the glass doors open, but laser lights are lined down it while Javier and Aaron step forward.

"Olive."

"Lillian."

Both simultaneous, strong and scared.

I stare at my husband, "It's the only way. She goes through if I cooperate. If you walk through it you'll both die. She's given me an ultimatum, Aaron." I tell him, moving Lillian in closer and it scans her while Javier steps in impossibly close and when the scan is complete, it opens. Lillian struggles but I move her in and instantly, Javier clutches her in his arms.

"Thank god, sweetheart." He breathes into her hair, she sighs in against his chest.

"Olive...what are you doing?" Samsara asks me, stepping in closer.

I discretely change my wedding ring for another one of my rings, before sliding it on my fourth finger, right hand. I stare at the love of my life, wishing we'd taken that honeymoon, wishing it were possible to remove ourselves from this feud, this biochemical war that could change humanity as we know it, his eyes darken, "What are you doing?"