The bald guy’s eyes widen, but before he has the time to retract, I’m grabbing his head and bash mine right against his nose with a guttural scream, the sound of bone breaking resounding in the air, but shadowed by the downpour.
The glass shard clatters to the ground, and I’m serving him punches after punches until his wail fades out and he crumples to the ground like a bag of wheat. By the time I’m done with him, he’s unconscious, severely bruised, bleeding, and has more joints and bones broken than he knew existed.
My chest heaves like an animal that has finished hunting as each breath tears through my lungs.
I’m so lost in glaring at the slumped man for daring to touch Andie that I don’t even notice when she walks around to my side.
Her hand reaches out, tearing my eyes away from his figure and turning me until my vision is filled with nothing but her. Seeing her for the first time in so many days has me dragging in a ragged pull of air, my lungs greedily expanding to breathe the air she does.
As my heart thumps in my chest at an abnormal rhythm, there’s only one thought that has my shoulders sagging in relief and unrivaled acceptance.
My life only has meaning as long as her heart’s beating.
Forty Five
Noah
Iremember where we are when her touch sears my skin.
Grabbing her shoulders, my eyes frantically scan her for any sign of injury, and I breathe a little easier when I find none.
“I’m okay, Noah. I’m okay,” she assures me, driving the point home as her hands wrap around mine and squeeze. Her hoarse voice pinches my sternum. I hate that she had to scream so much.
I hate that I wasn’t there when sheneeded me most.
I hate that she had to fight these men off herself, even if I’m immensely proud of her for it.
Ihatethat I put her in harm’s way.
But this is where I draw the fucking line.
“I’m sending that bastard to the fucking jail,” I growl, promising her, fury licking my veins, begging for retribution.
Her brows furrow. “Who? These men?” she asks, unaware of where my mind has gone.
“Them and Henry fucking Miller.” My jaw clenches, my body vibrating with the need to throttle his fucking neck.
Her eyes widen, shock flashing across her face. “Your father?” Disbelief coats her voice.
I give a curt nod, shame and guilt from his filthy blood running in my veins, drowning me whole. “My father’sdeadto me.”
I tell her everything—the debt my father owed, the men he sold her out to, and the messages I received at the airport.
Her eyes rake over me, concern flaring when they land on the bleeding cut on my chest. And I watch her watch me.
Wondering how this woman can even bear tolook at me after knowing it was my father who put her life and dignity in danger.
After what feels like an eternity, she pulls away and sighs, craning her head to look me in the eyes, water gliding down the curve of her neck. “Why are you here, Noah?” she asks, exhaustion bleeding into her voice.
My breath stutters at her question.
I drop to my knees, her feet the only place I belong.
Andie stumbles back with a gasp. “What are you doing?”
“Doing what I should’ve done a long time ago. Grovelling at your feet.” I settle on the heels of my feet, tilting my chin to look at her as the rain continues to beat down on us, our hair and clothes clinging to our skin, our eyes barely open.
“What’s that?” she asks, apprehension lining her face.