Chapter 8

Charles Evans was gagged and locked in the trunk of a car when he was found in the basement of Williams Pharmaceuticals. Regina's eyes were cold and dark like those of a snake. Charles was terrified, but he couldn't even speak.

-I'm sorry, Charles -she pulled a gun with a silencer out of her purse and pulled the safety off-. But as it is, I have no choice. Besides, I already have what I want.

Charles tried to squeal, but his mouth was so dry from the panic that he couldn't. He felt the unmistakable smell of caustic soda.

A crash startled Regina. Chloe and Lucifer had broken down the door. But she quickly pulled Charles out of the trunk and pointed a gun at his head.

-Get back! Get back or I'll kill him!

-Regina, it's all over -Lucifer replied. Eileen got a really detailed confession from you, as well as an attempted bribe.

-You're lying.

-I never lie. And Eileen Sammuels had reason that you are nothing but a greedy motherfucker.

Regina jumped up. That moment of hesitation was taken advantage of by Charles, who kicked her leg and ran. Regina arched in pain and fell into the trunk. Chloe ran to her. While handcuffing Regina, Lucifer removed the gag from Charles, who could finally ask all the questions that were going through his head.

-Why did Eileen believe in me when my own son didn't?

-You saved her aunt's life. That's why she did everything she could to get yours back. She also did it because she loved your son, and she wanted to protect him from that psychopath Regina. Even if her life was at stake.

Charles looked at Regina, handcuffed, and his eyes were filled with rage and surprise. As they passed Charles, Lucifer asked him:

-Do you really think Eileen would go into the lion's den without taking any precautions, such as backing up what she had recorded? Eileen was brave, but not foolish.

Regina clenched her fists, furious at the fact that for the first time in her life, someone, even a semi-teenager fresh out of the bad years, had been smarter than she was.

Once at the police station, while Regina was being taken to the dungeons, Dan approached Chloe with good news. Eileen had come out of her coma and was asking about her family and Luke Evans.

-I've also learned that in addition to the press massacring of Regina Williams, her daughter Veronica has agreed to testify against her in exchange for not being charged as an accomplice in two attempted murders. Good work, Chloe.

-Yeah, but it seems to me that the real hero here is Eileen. She never gave up, and she was true to herself and to the people she loved.

Upon hearing this, Lucifer approached Chloe, who was finishing up the paperwork for the Sammuels case.

-You know what? -before Chloe asked him, he went on. -You're right about Eileen being a hero. But I don't think any of this would have happened if Luke had listened to Eileen. And to his heart.

Chloe understood what her partner wanted to tell her, and she smiled.

-Well, I understand that he was going to do what he thought was safest. People like Eileen are honest but impulsive, they make you feel alive but they turn your world upside down. Why take the risk?

-Because it is what your heart wants.

Chloe blinked, as if she had realized something important. Then she stood up.

-Speaking of that, I have to go.

-Where are you going?

-To take your advice.

In a park outside Los Angeles, Father Kinley patiently waited for Chloe, who had arrived on time for her appointment. But the conversation they had made him wish he had been late.

Well, Chloe Decker, have you decided what you're going to do?

-Of course -she took the vial out of her purse and threw it on the floor, breaking it into a thousand pieces-. I'm not going to send a good man to Hell.

Father Kinley was shocked, but then he tried to convince Chloe.

-Chloe, I remind you that he is the prince of lies, the Devil himself.

-Just because everyone believes that doesn't mean it's the truth. Appearances are deceiving. Today, in one case, I saw a girl who was despised even by the boy she loved, try to save him and his father from the manipulations of a psychopath who is highly respected by all

-A case has convinced you of this? -he couldn't believe it.

-No. It just opened my eyes. I will not collaborate with you. I am still assimilating that he is the Devil, but I definitely know that he was always honest with me. I don't know what I'm going to do with all that, but I certainly think it's time for me to give him back his honesty. To him and his best friends.

With the conversation over, Chloe got up from the bench and left, leaving Kinley confused, unable to believe what had just happened.

As Chloe walked home, she thought of Lucifer, Linda Martin, Ella, and Maze. The voices of the people she loved and the voice of her heart gave her the same answer.

She could start something new.