One foot in front of another.
Because I couldn’t do it.
I couldn’t do it because of her.
Reid Shaw.
FBI Art Crime Special Agent in Charge Reid Shaw.
The person who is everything I stand against.
And yet, I could not do it.
I failed once more.
Because of her.
So I run.
Run before anyone can stop me.
I run until I slip under an archway and press myself into a wall.
Too many thoughts in my head.
Memories stream into my consciousness.
“Go! I’ll be right behind you.”
That smile.
The blonde hair up in a high ponytail with the dark eyes.
“5773 Green Oak Drive”
“She was a con artist, like you.”
“One day we’ll run away together.”
My head twitches, but I can’t stop the memories. I need to get them out of my head.
I dig my face into my hands.
“Always know your target,” he says. “And when you know it, you make them love you, or hate you.”
“But Dad, why would I want someone to hate me?”
“Because love makes them take everything from you, while fear makes people respect you.”
The images in my mind blur.
“Look at that,” Emily says and holds the crown to her head.
“I’ll make you my queen one day,” I say as I kiss her.
“I love you,” she says. “To the moon and back, sky is no limit,” Emily says, with the most epic smile on her face. I am happy. For the first time in my life, for this one single moment, I am happy. And then, shots are fired from behind her.
“Noooooooo!”