Stolen Hearts

Chapter 7: unveiling trust

Killian moved deliberately, pulling a chair over from the small, cracked table in the corner of the room. The chair scraped across the floor with a dull, scratching sound, and he set it down a comfortable distance from the bed, making sure to respect the space between them. Sitting down, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. The posture was one of earnestness, his hands clasped together, fingers interlocked as he tried to find the right words.

"What I said at the station," Killian began, his voice carrying a note of sincerity that he hoped would reach her, "I'm sorry for how my words came out. I didn't mean to push you or make you feel like I was prying into something you weren't ready to share. No one can truly know what you've gone through or what you've had to deal with. All I want is to help you. You can choose to believe me or not, but I'm not giving up this easily. Even if you run, I'll keep coming after you."

He paused for a moment, his gaze steady as he met her eyes, hoping to convey his genuine intention. "It's up to you," he continued, "whether you let me help and talk to me openly, or we keep playing this cat-and-mouse game. I'm here because I want to offer support, not to cause more trouble."

Emma listened intently, her eyes darting to the door as if contemplating an escape route. Her fingers twitched restlessly, and she could almost feel the tension crackling in the room. After a moment of indecision, she turned her attention back to him, her expression a mixture of guarded skepticism and weary resolve.

"I've had people say they're going to help me before," Emma said, her voice tinged with a deep-seated frustration. "They've promised that everything will be alright, that they'll make sure I'm safe. But they don't follow through. They don't keep their promises because, in the end, I don't matter to anyone." Her words were laced with the bitterness of countless disappointments, each one a reminder of her struggles and betrayals.

She stared at Killian, her gaze hardening. "You're a cop. Cops don't care about runaways; they're just doing their jobs, and most of them are quick to judge without understanding. So why should I believe you're any different? You're just another part of the system that's failed me time and time again."

Despite her words, a small, nagging voice in the back of her mind recognized the sincerity in Killian's tone. Her instincts, honed over years of survival, told her he wasn't lying. She could see the lines of genuine concern etched into his face, the earnestness in his eyes, and it conflicted sharply with her hardened perception of law enforcement.

Killian's face softened, the strain of the conversation evident in the deep lines around his eyes. "I get it," he said quietly. "I know trust isn't something that comes easily, especially when you've been let down before. But I'm asking you to give me a chance. I want to help, and I'm willing to prove it to you, step by step."

Emma's shoulders slumped slightly, her defenses lowering just enough to show a flicker of vulnerability. The room felt smaller now, the space between them charged with a tentative hope. She was caught between her instincts to flee and the reluctant willingness to trust this man who seemed different from the rest.

Emma's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him, searching for any hint of insincerity, any sign that this was just another empty promise like so many she'd heard before. Killian remained still, his expression unwavering, and in that silence, she felt the weight of his words. There was something different about him, something that made her want to believe—though every survival instinct she had told her to run, to protect herself, to keep her guard up.

She bit her lip, considering her options. The room felt stifling, the air thick with tension, but there was also a sliver of something else—an unspoken understanding that maybe, just maybe, this man was telling the truth. Finally, she exhaled a slow, measured breath, her gaze never leaving his as she made her decision.