The Defiance novel

---- Chapter 16: To The Truth and Revelations (part 2 ) Ralph Clemente. An ex-marine. A murderer. Shot Dean. "Why did he do that?", Seth's expression softening at the moment. "Calm down, Alice. I need you to cam yourself so you can understand what I'm about to say", he said convincing me to sit back down, "Please" I suck both of my lips into my mouth. He was right. Seth stood to pick my chair and repositioned it behind me.

He held my waist to help me rest back on it; he got down on his left knee looking up at me, holding my hand in his. "What do you know of Ralph?" "J-Just what I heard from the court room. I didn't spend much time knowing him because he's a murderer . I was just thankful I helped the family to send him where he belongs at that time" Seth let out a lungful of air and held my hand tighter. "He's an ex-marine. He had a family, Alice", my forehead creased at what he was saying.

"And like us, he is part of an illegal organization", it made me tremble harder, "He's an assassin at that. It's his job ---- to kill people with an order was given to him" "Even if they're women or children?" He nodded, "Yes. It doesn't matter. An order is an order." "and?", there was something more that was why he was telling me all of this.

My heart started to throb painfully of all the things I heard and learned but I wanted to know more, "Was he ordered to kill Dean?", those words tasted like vile in my throat. "No, sweetheart" "Then why he did that to my brother?" Seth just settled his gaze on me. He came silent. I was waiting for him to tell me more. To answer more but he just kneeled muted for minutes squeezing my hand. Silence. "Ts it...", there was a notion in my mind.

Gulping and tilting my head up, I said, "Is it because of me?" How hard would it be to know you cause danger to people you care about? His feature softened again. And his silence was all I needed to know that indeed , I was the reason Dean almost died. I bawled loudly as my chest hurt so much. "Why?", Icouldn't help but ask. ---- "Because you're the only one he blamed why his own family was killed", Seth whispered but it was as clear as the truth. "What?

What did I do?" "J told you, he's part of an organization. Theirs is much worse than the others. His failure cost him his family", he kissed the back of my hand and I burst to another screaming cry. I caused his family to die. Because I was one of the reasons why he was sent to jail while his family died, he wanted me dead, too. "How did you know all of these?", I knew I was a mess but I couldn't care.

"Tt's been a while when we started to try and solve this without getting you involved 'cause Dean didn't want you to and I agreed . But yesterday and today , everything got out of hand. I can't tell you in details but Ralph is getting desperate to... get you", he looked down. "'m sorry", it was all I could say at the moment. "It's alright, sweetheart", he smiled sadly and gently grabbed my head and cradled it to his hands. "Tm sorry", I repeated .

I didn't know how I should react or what should I say. I couldn't even breathe properly. My chest felt small for oxygen. "Breathe", he pulled my head closer to him. Forehead