Chapter 22

On the fourth morning, Willow stood in the living room. Her gaze was steady as she faced Alden. "The seven days are up. I'm leaving." Alden's hand froze over the coffee maker. "I did say I'd let you go." He turned, and his eyes were dark. "But only after you made a choice—going to Clive or staying with me." Willow scoffed. "I'll go to—" Before she could finish, Alden drew a revolver and pressed the barrel to his own heart. "Two options." His voice was unnervingly calm. "You stay, or you go to Clive. This gun has four chambers. Three are empty. One's got a live round." Alden cocked the gun. "For every word you say, I'll pull the trigger." That meant the only way she wouldn't kill him was if she said, "I'll stay." And if she chose to leave, he'd be dead for sure. Willow's eyes went wide. "Are you insane? Threatening me with your life?" "No." Alden's smile was faint. "I'm just gambling on… whether you care about me at all." She stared at him. Her chest rose and fell with each sh