CHAPTER 64
LILY’S POV
“But it’s all my fault,” the storm of emotions raging inside reached its peak, escaping as I burst into tears. “I took that shortcut. If I had just followed the main road and waited through the traffic, I wouldn’t have crossed paths with those bastards. Now look what they’ve done to me. What if they got to me and something worse happened, what will I tell my kids? Who will take care of them?…”
My tears choked me and I found it hard to continue speaking. Nonetheless, I struggled past the barrier, desperate to make my point known. Desperate to let out all that was eating me alive on the inside though my voice was shaking and unsteady.
“Ever since we met, all I have done is drag you into my mess. You suspended Cassandra, one of the company’s important workers because of me. You risked your life twice now to save me. You probably have important matters to attend to but instead, you’re here with me. I’m really scared Noah… What if we don’t get lucky next time? What if something bad happens to you? What if the people after me come for you seeing how you’re always saving me?…”
Noah stared at me wide-eyed before narrowing them in a predatory manner and tightening his jaw. His subtle brown eyes glistened with pity but more, burned with a savage inner fire that hinted at a fierce protectiveness and determination I had never seen before.
Seeing how I was suffering and crumbling in my world, he reached out and pulled me into his. He hated seeing me like that, all broken and vulnerable. I knew I was strong. Everything I have been through in the past and the birth of my kids has toughened me up for good and given me a reason to keep fighting. But at that moment I couldn’t help it. Everything was becoming too much and too bulky for me to handle. I keep running into problems. Even after solving one, another bigger one emerges from nowhere. If this continues, I’m not sure I can keep going.
The only sound heard in the car was my sharp intake of breath to the extent my chest hurt as I buried my face in his chest, his deep masculine scent filling the air around me. I tried to stop my sobs and catch my breath, calming the storm of emotions raging inside me and tearing me apart.
Noah was in a white dress shirt which I was ruining with my tears. His entire outfit had become a mess because of that fighting because he was defending me. I felt guilty knowing he’d cancel whatever plans he had today because of me.
He held me so fragilely like I was made of glass, ready to shatter at any moment. As he rubbed my hair softly in an attempt to make me feel better, he spoke.
“I made it clear to you that as long as the air is still pumping through my lungs and blood through my veins, I won’t let anyone hurt you or your kids. Through thick and thin, I will be here for you, Lily. Anyone who messes with you will have me to put up with and I don’t care if they come for me because I’m not an easy shell to crack. I will give them the toughest time of their life and make sure they pay with their blood if they have to. Even if I’m being dragged into your mess, I’m not complaining. Meeting you and spending time with you has been one of the highlights of my life. I haven’t felt this alive in a long time and I’m grateful to you for that. So please stop dwelling in the past, stop eating yourself up and let me in. Let your worries be my worries and your struggles, my struggles.”
His voice although velvety-edged and strong, was like a balm that soothed wounded hearts, lulling me into a relaxed mood. I stopped sobbing, my breaths evened and my tears dried up. I now felt better, knowing I had a shoulder to cry on, a pillar to lean on. I realized that no matter how hard or far I try to push him away, he won’t give up and will keep coming. Perhaps this was the universe’s unique way of letting me know we were meant to be. That I can finally move on from Robert.
“But I just don’t get it,” I croaked after taking a moment to get hold of myself. “That street was lonely with no single soul when my car broke down. Those guys appeared from nowhere. It was as if they were following me and knew my car would break down at some point. The same car I just retrieved from a few hours ago from the mechanic shop.”
I lifted my head from his chest and looked at him with a suspicious frown, trying to put the puzzle pieces together.
“Do you perhaps think the mechanic that worked your car and those bastards are working together?” He asked, wearing a malicious look. “Send me the mechanic’s details. I think it’s time I paid him a little visit.’
I looked away and sighed, worry plastering on my face. “I don’t think. Diesel isn’t that type of person.”
Even though he did a bad job of repairing my car, and I wanted to convince myself he might be involved, deep down, I knew Diesel couldn’t have anything to do with this. Despite knowing him for just two years, that was enough to tell he couldn’t have had a hand in this. He was married with kids. He respected women, was content with his job and went out of his way to avoid any form of trouble or unnecessary drama.
“But one thing is for sure,” I said as I looked back at Noah as if having a light bulb moment. “I think whoever sent that taxi driver could be behind this too. How did the interrogation go? What did he say?” I asked eagerly as I wanted by all means to know who it was that wanted me to suffer and die.
Noah let out a heavy sigh, his expression showing the interrogation hadn’t gone as planned. “Turns out the smack I gave him at the back of the head was harder than I thought. He isn’t waking up and had to be hospitalized when I got to the station this morning.”
“But he’s still alive?”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “He has a steady pulse and should be waking up at any time. I’ll just have to be checking in occasionally.”
Letting out a quick sigh, I lowered my head and bit my lower lip as if in deep thought. There wasn’t enough time to wait. What if the taxi driver ends up falling into a coma and never wakes up? I needed to know the identity of the person who wanted me dead before he or she struck again. At this point, it could come from any direction as I didn’t know what to expect again and might be more fatal than the previous ones. That was when the second question crossed my mind like a flash. I had forgotten to ask Noah last night.
“Noah…” I called out urgently and he raised his brows slightly in response. “Those prison records. Where did you get them? Who sent them to you?”
“No idea,” he said with a slight shrug. “It showed up on my doorstep two days ago, delivered by someone anonymous.”
“And your security cameras didn’t pick up anybody’s image?”
He folded his lips together and shook his head sadly.
Fuck! I cursed inwardly, squeezing my eyes shut in a painful frustration. My chances of figuring out the identity of whoever was trying to kill me have been shattered. What do I do now? I couldn’t just jump to conclusions. I had to be sure before making any assumptions. If all my chances were busted that meant we’d have to wait for the taxi driver to wake up and hope he gave us the answer we’re looking for. But wait…
I knew I shouldn’t be thinking this way right now. My paranoia was probably kicking in since I had nothing to hold onto. But something just popped up in my head, hinting at Noah being the one behind this. How does he always manage to show up in the nick of time to save me from every danger? Perhaps, he was orchestrating all this to look like the hero so I could let him into my life and lean on him for help and support. Was he really capable of doing something so manipulative while pretending to be my saviour and playing dumb all along?
I looked back at him with my brows furrowing deeply in suspicion but worse, with tears stinging at the back of my eyes. “Noah… How did you manage to find me and know I was in danger?”