CHAPTER 81
LILY’S POV
The tyres of the SUV screeched noisily as I hurriedly found a parking spot at the hospital. I had never driven so recklessly in my life. I sped like I was being chased and nearly ran into three trucks. Thank goodness there was no police checkpoint on the road and we weren’t stopped or followed by them.
“What the hell, Lily?!” Noah screamed at me madly, his eyes wide and bulgy with shock. “That is no way for a lady to drive. You could have gotten us killed…”
“But I didn’t,” I said as I turned off the ignition, took out the keys and got out of the car.
I stared at the building in front of me. It was a federal hospital with the name displayed in bold letters above the entrance. It stood tall with so many floors it was nearly impossible to count them all, with the walls painted in a clean, pale white.
Noah said the taxi driver had to be brought here because the smack he gave him on the back of the head with a log that day he tried to shoot me turned out to be more severe than expected. He also said he was responding to treatment and would be discharged and transferred back to the station in no distant time possibly to face trial. Maybe that’s why they’ve been going soft on him, making him refuse to talk. But all that ends today because one way or another, I will squeeze out every bit of information I can from him to find my kids even if I have to go to extreme lengths to do that. After all, he did try to kill me even though I was innocent and had done nothing to him. Maybe it’s time I returned the favour.
My eyes glinted like one possessed with murderous intent as I clutched my purse tightly to my chest. Inside it was an array of weapons: pepper spray, pocket knife, stun gun and a small hammer and I was putting on stilettos this time. I wear them more often now. After the incident where I was almost raped by those filthy bastards, I couldn’t take any chances now. I carried my weapons wherever I went as though my life depended on them.
In this case, the pocket knife and stun gun or even the hammer will do the trick. I won’t hesitate to use them on the body part precious to that man if he refuses to answer my questions. I don’t care what happens and Noah won’t do anything to stop me or else I’ll face him too. That’s the length I’m willing to go for my children. I can’t imagine where they are now and how scared and hungry they’ll be without me. Thinking about all that made painful tears burn at the back of my eyes and my heart break in my chest. I could almost hear the cracks. I must find them before the end of today, no matter what it takes.
I unzipped my purse halfway for easy access just in case. I would have taken out the weapons I needed and held them in my hands. But I don’t people staring at me like I was a psycho or the hospital security to perceive me as a threat.
I heard the car door of the passenger’s seat open and slam shut. Noah appeared in front of me looking flustered. Perhaps, he was still reeling from the shocking effects of my reckless driving.
“Here,” I tossed him his car keys and he caught it a bit clumsily. “Which ward is he admitted in and what’s the room number?” I asked dangerously with a stone face.
I think Noah noticed because he stared at me with a scrutinizing gaze that lingered as if sensing something wasn’t right with me. I tore my gaze from his, impatience and the urge to inflict harm spreading like venom inside me.
“Lily…” he called my name cautiously. “What are you planning on doing? Please don’t do anything that you and I will both regret. We need that man alive and well for this investigation to carry on.”
“You don’t have to worry, Noah. I won’t do anything either of us will regret,” I looked back at him and said with a fake smile. “Now, take me to where he is. It’s getting late already and I have a lot of questions to ask him so we can find my kids before it gets dark.”
He breathed in relief, believing me.
Since the taxi driver was dealing with a possible head trauma, he was placed in the neurology ward and in room number 305, which was on the third floor. We took the elevator.
On getting there, I saw that no security was guarding the post which made me confused because I remembered clearly when I had blacked out and was taken to hospital from the police station nine years ago, two policemen and that kind male detective kept watch over me as though I was going to escape at any moment. I remember even being cuffed to the bed frame. But on the bright side, the absence of security or police in the room will make things a whole lot easier for me.
Noah was about to open the door for us to go in when I held his wrist, stopping him.
“What’s the problem, Lily?” He asked in a gentle tone. Typical Noah always kind and concerned about my well-being.
“Noah,” I pronounced with a voice barely above a whisper, my soft gaze unflinching in his. “Do you love me?”
I know this wasn’t the right time to ask such questions but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to be sure he wouldn’t get in the way of what I was about to do.
As expected, the question put him in a tough spot because he looked like a volcano about to explode. And with me standing so close to him, our breaths mingling, staring so deeply into his brown button eyes, made it even more uncomfortable and impossible for him to hide his emotions.
“Lily…” He scratched the back of his head in nervousness, worry distorting his striking features but he still looked handsome nonetheless. “Is this really the right time and place for you to be asking me this?…”
“Just answer, Noah,” I pressed on gently with a pleading expression. “Please…”
He looked away and breathed out heavily in overwhelm before saying. “Yes Lily, I do love you…”
He wanted to say more but I stopped him. I wanted to hear it all but there was no time. Maybe next time after all these have been resolved.
“If you truly love me Noah and want to help me find my kids and whoever is messing with me, then please don’t stop me from what I’m about to do.”
His eyes grew wide and a low gasp escaped from his parted lips on seeing me draw out the small hammer and Taser from my bag.
I wanted to enter when a whisper from him stopped me.
“Lily wait…” He said. “I’m not going to stop you but we need to act carefully. I think there are security cameras inside.”
“You’re not listening, Noah,” I replied, my mind already made up. “I don’t care…”