Page 46 of Escape Clause

Surveillance footage had revealed the pods in which the fifty women had died hadn’t malfunctioned due to a manufacturing defect. Stervak had deactivated them, hoping the loss of life would turn the citizenry against Krogan. The man had become deranged in his hatred.

Krogan fired off a reply to his security chief praising him for his diligence. He couldn’t have gotten a better staff, and the vast majority of the citizenry supported him and understood he was fighting for them. But the fifty women who’d perished continued to weigh heavily on his conscience. He sighed.

Hope covered his hand. “Those deaths weren’t your fault,” she said softly.

“Not directly. But Stervak murdered fifty women to strike at me…” He shuddered.If Stervak had gotten an opportunity, he would have killed Hope.

She slipped out of her chair and slid onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Nothing can bring the women back, but you saved the rest, you captured the criminal responsible, and you don’t have to worry that more pods will fail. One day soon, your scientific team will develop a cure for the nano-virus, and all the women can be released from stasis. You’re a good man and a caring leader. The people love you, and I love you.”

Her love meant everything to him. He felt his burden ease. “I love you, too. My beautiful wife. How did I get so lucky?”

“My handsome husband. We both got lucky.” She kissed him.

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