Sin Of Innocence

Episode 14

The purr of my car’s engine only made me think about Christina. I couldn’t believe what just happened. It was like something switched off in her mind. She went from holding my hand in front of every employee, to pushing me away the moment she saw her father standing there. I tried to be fair and reasonable, but it was challenging to pretend I was okay with the secrecy when I truly wasn’t. For weeks, we had gotten closer and closer but never evolved to tell her father about our relationship.

When she lied, something in me snapped. Just like that, I was reminded of every possible reason why we wouldn’t work out. Christina was insecure in a way that I couldn’t mend. She was young, and she cared too much about what her father would think of her. She wanted him to believe she was innocent and would never commit a sin, but it was stupid. It was so damn stupid, and it made it so hard to love her in the way I really wanted to.

Still, I knew those thoughts wouldn’t last long. My anger subsided the moment she left. My little vixen was only scared, and I had a duty to protect her from any fears. As much as I wanted to tell Jason the truth as he blabbered on and on about the increase in profits of my company, I stayed quiet. If she wanted to wait until she was ready, then I would wait. I would do anything for that girl.

That was why I found myself in my car, racing to her house. Not only was it to hold her close and wipe the tears I knew were probably falling from her eyes, but there was also this gut-wrenching feeling that told me to go to her. Something was wrong, and I could feel it. 2

When Luca showed up at my office, bringing me more information about Liam, I couldn’t contain my anger. So many women got close to him and mysteriously went missing without a trace. It was disgusting, and there was nothing in the world that could erase my dream of beating the shit out of Franco.

Then, I started thinking about Christina. She worked with him for a short duration of time, but he seemed fond of her. It was hard not to be attracted to her bright persona. However, I was afraid that only this time, her spirit only did more harm than good.

Just as I pulled into her driveway, I noticed a big black truck parked just outside of her house. Instincts took over as I got out of my car and ran into the house. Things were broken, glasses were smashed. The house looked so opposing to the neat one I had seen not too long ago.

“Let go of me! Let me go!” Christina’s voice cried out.

I ran over to the source of her voice, only to be led to her bedroom. The sight in front of me was enough to make me grab a hold of the sick bastard who dared tried to mess with my woman—Liam. I threw him across the room, and off of Christina who had tears falling from her eyes. I scanned her body to make sure no harm was done and was pleased when I found she was untouched.

Abruptly, Liam came from behind me and tried to push me, but he failed miserably. I turned towards him where I gripped his shirt by the collar and slammed him into the wall. The sight of the idiot’s face urged me to collide my fist with his face over and over, and I happily complied. I wasn’t satisfied until he was spurting blood. Simply thinking about what would have happened to Christina if I showed up even a minute late was enough to motivate me to never stop.

“Emanuel, call the police!” Christina shouted. 26

I harshly threw the boy down onto the floor, my breathing growing heavier. All I could see was red, and it was taking over my every thought. If I was anything like my younger brothers, I would have called them and told them to get rid of Liam Franco for good, but I wasn’t like them. I wanted to be a good person for not only myself but Christina as well. So, I threw my phone over at her, and I waited for her to dial the number to the police department.

My eyes stayed locked on the idiot, daring him to make a move. Liam was groaning in pain as he rolled around on the floor like a bug. I wondered if Stephanie Hearse was put into a position like this, and it made me question whether there were others. If Christina wasn’t chatting to the cops, alerting them of her address, I probably would have killed him with my own hands.

“Get the hell up!” I ordered Liam. He didn’t bother attempting to stand, so I gripped him by his shirt and pulled him up. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I should be asking you the same thing. Oh, wait, I know the answer already. You are fucking your friend’s daughter! Little miss innocent, Christina Thomas is nothing but a slut who fucks older men behind her daddy’s back. She deserves everything coming to her,” he spat out distastefully.

I cocked my hand back, ready to punch him again, but was stopped when I saw Jason standing in the doorway. The last thing Christina needed was the drama from her father. His view on her mattered most, and I just knew his disappointment would pull the trigger on a gun of secrets aimed right at her skull.

Liam laughed when he noticed where my eyes had traveled to. “Oh, Dad made it to the fucking party! You heard what I said, Jason? Your boss is fucking your little, precious daughter!”

When I turned to look over at Christina, Liam decided to make a move. The sound of the click to a gun echoed through my ears. I practically froze in place as a gasp fell from Christina’s lips.

“Not so tough now, are you?” Liam laughed out.

I turned to look at him, only to see a barrel of a gun pointed directly at me. He may have thought he was scaring me, but I had seen more guns aimed at me than any person should ever even think about. The only difference was that they actually knew how to hold a gun. This incompent idiot was capable of absolutely nothing, including accurately aiming a firearm.

Jason moved before I could stop him. Liam was quick to react as he moved the gun away from me and over to Jason, aiming at his torso. I tried to protect him, but I was already too late. The pistol blasted through our ears in the blink of an eye, leaving Jason to groan out as he gripped his leg in pain. Liam stared down at Jason behind a widened gaze with his hand profusely shaking. I swiftly took the time to elbow him in his face just before gripping the gun. 5

“Fuck!” Liam groaned as he gripped his nose.

Christina was trying to run over to her father as she screamed out, but I was blocking her way. I needed her to stay as far away from Liam as possible.

“You okay, Jason?” I questioned, praying to get some response from him to put an end to Christina’s panicked state.

“It hurts, but I… I’ll be… fine…” he stammered out. Sirens quickly pounded through my ears as the lights of blue and red flicked from the windows. Police were fast to move in and take in the scene in front of them. Some looked surprised to be seeing two millionaires in a small suburban home, one with blood covering every ounce of their face, and the other with a gun.

“Drop the weapon!” A cop shouted before a huge flash blinded my vision. I slowly set the gun down on the floor before raising my hands.

Christina quickly got off the bed and walked over to me where she embraced me in a hug. Tears fell from her eyes as she held me. The cops dispersed around the room and quickly gathered Liam in handcuffs.

“I thought I was going to lose you,” she cried.

“Never. You would never lose me.”