I Told You To Run But You Didn't (Georgia) novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Georgia’s POV

Finished

I finished packing my things first thing in the morning, the simple act feeling like a final goodbye to a life that was never really mine.

I left the bags and suitcase lined up in the living room like soldiers waiting for orders. I’d be back for them after I told Patricia everything. I couldn’t start this new, dangerous chapter of my life by lying to the only family I had left.

I walked to the coffee shop on the corner, the morning sun feeling unnaturally bright. I saw her through the window, a splash of color and warmth in the bustling café.

She waved happily the moment she saw me, her smile a beacon of normalcy in my chaotic world.

“There she is!” she said as I slid into the booth. “I took the liberty of ordering for you-they had one slice of your favorite apple pie left and I fought a very persisten-looking businessman for it.” She winked. “And oh, your coffee milk is on its way. Perfect timing.” She leaned forward, her cheerful expression turning to one of curious concern. “So, what is it? You sounded so serious on the phone. What did you need to tell me?”

I took a deep breath, looking into the eyes of my best friend, the one person on earth I trusted implicitly. There was no point in hiding the truth. She deserved to know.

11

“Tricia,” I began, my voice low and heavy. “First… I have to resign. I can’t work for you.”

Patricia’s smile faltered, replaced by a confused frown. What? Resign? Gia, you just started! What’s wrong? Is it about the money? The condo? We can figure it—”

“No,” I cut her off gently. “It’s not that. It’s… complicated

And then, the whole story tumbled out of me in a hushed, frantic whisper. Estevan’s true identity as the head of the Salvatore syndicate. The shocking revelation that my brother, Zane, was alive and working to bring him down. The sniper attack. The conditional promise of help. The contract.

Patricia’s reaction was a slow-motion train wreck. Her jolly demeanor dissolved, her fork plate.

Her jaw literally dropped, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and horror.

“Wait, wait, hold on,” she finally managed, holding up a hand as if to stop the flood of insan “Let me get this straight. Estevan Salvatore, the man who has been playing your knight in shi actually the crime lord your brother was hunting? And now he’s forcing you to be his bodyguar exchange for information about Zane, who is apparently alive?”

g onto her

“It’s the only way, Tricia,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “He’s the only person who can tel what really happened. Not just to Zane, but to our parents. He knows, I can feel it.”

Patricia stared at me, the full, tragic weight of my words finally landing. The shock on her face softened, replaced by a fierce, unwavering loyalty that brought tears to my eyes.

She reached across the table and grabbed both of my hands, her grip firm and grounding.

“Okay,” she said, her own voice low and steady now. “Okay, This is, without a doubt, the most certifiably insane, bat-crap crazy thing I have ever heard in my entire life.” She squeezed my hands. “But I get it. I see the look in your eyes. This is something you have to do

O

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Sat, Mar 2

Chapter 29

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Finished

She took a deep breath. “So, here’s what’s going to happen. You are not alone in this. I am your backup. Your intel. Your escape plan. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, you call me. We are family, Georgia. And we will get through this. Together.”

I leaned across the table and pulled her into a tight, desperate hug. We both shed a few silent tears-for the past I was leaving, and the dangerous future I was walking into.

“Tricia,” I whispered urgently against her shoulder. “I signed a non-disclosure agreement. A real one. What I told you stays between us. His public identity is everything. If he finds out I was the one who breached the contract…” I didn’t need to finish the sentence. She knew it.

“I know,” she whispered back, her voice fierce and protective. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. Always.”

We pulled apart, and I gave her one last, grateful look before stepping out of the coffee shop.

The short walk back to the condo felt like the longest of my life, each step taking me further away from my old reality.

Just as Patricia had said, a sleek, black sedan was waiting at the curb. Harvey was standing beside it. He stepped forward as I approached with my bags, taking them from me with an efficient, practiced motion and loading them into the trunk. He then opened the rear door for me.

“I will take care of your belongings, Ms. Sinclair,” he said, his tone crisp and professional. “They will be waiting for you at the residence.”

As we pulled away from the curb, he glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “The Boss is waiting for you at the office. The rule is simple: from now on, wherever he is, you are. No exceptions.” He paused. “Your starting salary is ten thousand a month. Tax-free.”

He met my gaze in the mirror again and gave me a quick, almost imperceptible wink. “Good luck.”

A few minutes later, he dropped me off in front of a gleaming skyscraper of glass and steel. Etched in discreet silver letters above the grand entrance were the words: Salvatore Pharmaceuticals. The perfect, barren cover for a world of crime.

འཁའ་འ་ང

I looked up at the imposing tower, took a deep, steadying breath, and squared my shoulders.

Damn it all. I thought, as I walked toward the revolving doors. Let’s begin.

The access card Harvey gave me slid the elevator doors open onto the top floor. I walked down the hall and stopped dead at an open conference room door, Inside, just finishing a meeting, were Lucas, Kiara, Jasmine, and at the head of the table, Estevan,

Before I could back away, Estevan’s eyes met mine. The meeting was over.

“So, Mr. Salvatore,” Lucas said, trying to hold his attention. “Can we expect an answer on the partnership soon?”

Kiara jumped in, smiling brightly. “The Helios Project is a guaranteed win. Our projections are solid.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Estevan said, his voice flat, His focus was entirely on me now.

Lucas followed his gaze, and his face tightened when he saw me. “Georgia. What are you doing here?”

III

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