This is the final excerpt before Broken World’s release tomorrow! I hope that you have enjoyed reading these previews!
Adam swallowed hard and momentarily Eric saw him hesitate. Then his expression hardened into one of resolve once more.
“We can still have that future, but only if you step aside and let me end this.”
“No,” Eric refused. “Adam, if you pull that trigger then you have no future. I cannot protect you from the consequences of this.”
“Then don’t!”
“You can’t mean that! Think about all the progress that you have made since we first met. You have proven to everyone that there is so much more to you than the villain that Williams tried to turn you into. You are brilliant, fearless, and compassionate. You have helped so many people, including me!”
“None of that matters anymore!” Adam snapped fiercely.
“Why? Why is killing him so important?” Eric demanded.
“How can you even ask that?” Adam’s tentative control over his emotions faltered again. This time he did little to reign them back in.
“You talk about our future as though it is so easy! That I can just put the gun down and we can live happily ever after!”
“Of course, it’s not going to be that easy. But it is the first step in the right direction. Revenge is for people who have nothing to lose, and you still do!”
“I don’t!” Adam cried out in anguish. “It doesn’t matter what I do! Ivan is inside my head! He got inside there years ago, and he has never left! And he never will unless I end this now!”
At this acknowledgment of the internal struggle that Adam had tried so hard to hide, something seemed to give inside of him. For the first time, Eric realised that he could see the true misery and pain that Adam was in. His hand holding the gun began to shake and his eyes welled up with untold agony. Without thinking of any consequences, Eric moved forward and embraced him. As he pulled Adam tightly against his chest, he could feel the cold press of the gun between them. Rather than resist, he felt Adam collapse into his arms.
“I’m sorry,” Eric whispered against his ear. “I am so sorry. I didn’t realise just how much pain you are in.”
“I can’t see an end to this, Eric,” Adam rasped as his breath began to catch in erratic sobs. “I don’t even remember a time when it did not hurt. Everything I am and everything that I have done is because of him.”
“I know, I know,” Eric eased back enough to take the gun from Adam’s trembling grip. He did not resist as his despair overwhelmed him.
“I’ll get you help,” Eric promised as he drew Adam against him once more. “You can come back from this. I told you I would save you, Adam, and I will.”
Shari Sakurai 