Chapter 71: 71
I brought the power bike to a halt, seeing the huge traffic jam before me. I needed to get to the scientist before he had the opportunity to slip away.
And even if he ended up in jail, I still needed to question him about my mother and her whereabouts. I found it hard to believe that she was gone, especially after seeing all the evidence suggesting otherwise. It had barely been eighty hours since I woke up from a coma, and although I claimed to be fine, deep down, I knew I still needed time to get back on my feet but time itself wasn’t on my side.
I gripped the handlebars of the power bike, the engine growling like a caged beast beneath me. The wind clawed at the edges of my gown as I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing, focused solely on the sliver of space between the cars ahead. The traffic was a blur of metal and headlights, but hesitation wasn’t an option today.
With a quick flick of the throttle, the bike roared louder, the sound echoing off the surrounding vehicles. I threaded through the narrow gap so tight that my knees almost grazed the side mirrors. The rush of adrenaline was electric, my pulse drumming in sync with the bike’s steady thrum.
Every twist of my wrist sent the machine surging forward, weaving through the chaos with a fluid grace that felt both reckless and calculated. Horns blared, tires screeched, but I was untouchable. I was almost at my destination. Just one more detour, and I would be a step closer to the scientist.
Or so I thought.
Until I was sent flying across the room.
"Not again," I cursed, curling into a ball to protect myself. How many times had I escaped death? But this time was different. This time, I was quitting the call
I looked up to find someone wearing a black mask. On a second look, the figure seemed familiar. I sat up, trying to steady my breath.
"Who are you?" I asked, already sensing their intentions from their aura.
"Let me say this quickly I don’t hate you, and yes, we both have the same enemy. But I can never forgive you for causing the death of my family, even though you were instructed to."
I looked up to find Ella glaring at me, her eyes void of fear, guilt and regret.
"I still can’t forgive you," she repeated, raising the bat she was holding. I braced myself, shutting my eyes, waiting for the pain
But it never came.
I peeked through one eye to see what was delaying her, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Hey, little sis..."
I looked up to find
"Justin," I said, a bit surprised to see him here of all places.
"Thank goodness you still remember me. I thought you’d forget me after you left my island," he said with a smile, offering me a hand.
It had been months since I last saw him, but not a single thing had changed about his appearance. His enigmatic charm remained the same well except his aura.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, pulling me closer and inspecting me, which made me chuckle.
"I’m okay..." I said halfheartedly, searching around for Ella.
"Are you looking for Ella?" I met his gaze as he stared down at me.
"Don’t worry, my people already took care of her, and I’m sure Nix has also taken care of the scientist."
"How?" I questioned, since we had made no backup plan for this.
"He suspected this would be the outcome, so he asked me to close every route leading out of the city. He even had some of my men stationed at the airport for the last three days in case the scientist tried to run.." He sighed, signaling a car toward us.
"Zamiel had his suspicions, especially after discovering that you were the one ordered to kill her parents. So, he asked me to keep an eye on her and it turns out he was right."
Justin guided me into the car as if I were a child under his care.
"Take us home," he ordered.
"Home?" I raised an eyebrow, wondering where he was referring to, but he only smiled, patting me on my head before closing his eyes as the car moved forward.
I look outside the window to find medical personals rushing forward and backward as they picked up someone from the ground,the hand of the individual dripping with blood with blood as they raised the person from the ground
"Don’t look at such unpleasant scenes" Justin’s hand came over my eyes. I took a moment to observe him before looking out back at the window. And I could finally breathe in relief. It has all finally ended,the manipulation,lies and deceit has all ended. My memories may not be a hundred percent back but then I can finally sleep without worrying about someone plotting to have me six feet under.
I closed my eyes resting my head on the head rest as a knowing smile submerged on my lips. It may have all ended but then my journey with Nix is just beginning..
But then, what if he decides to also leave? After all, our wedding was a contract from the beginning.
Will I be able to start fresh? And even if I start fresh, what about the place he had occupied in my heart?
"Carmela wake up" I could hear someone call out of urgency
"Carmela" they called again and I opened my eyes to find strange gun men standing before me. One had a sinister smile which sent strange creeps to my stomach. I could feel the fear that wasn’t there in the first place slowly crawling up into my chest and my heart beat speeding rapidly.
As he took a step closer to me I took one back but it only made them laugh more
"Where do you think you’re going? Do you think you would survive if you jumped off the cliff?" He questioned and I suddenly turned to my left feeling a heavy gaze on me.
Nathan, the name came to my mind and I felt relieved seeing him although he was hanging over the cliff from the other side. I looked at him pleading for help and although he was in no condition to offer me help I felt reassured he would do something to save me.
"Jump" I read his lip but shook my head "Trust me and jump" he said again and I looked at the gun standing before me. Not like I actually have any choices in the first place and so I did like he instructed.
I could feel gravity pulling me down as the wind slapped against my face,my hair blocking my vision as the whispering sounds of the wind filled my ears.The water’s surface glinted like a sheet of molten silver, growing larger and more turbulent with each passing second.my stomach dropped as I pierced the water’s surface, the impact sending shockwaves through my body. The world around me dissolved into a chaotic blur of white foam and turquoise depths, as I plunged into the water’s icy embrace.
I thrashed against the pull of the water, lungs screaming for air. I’d never mastered swimming and now, with bullets tearing through the surface above, panic clawed at my chest like a wild animal. Every breath was fire. Every sound was muffled chaos.
The water pressed in from all sides, filling every pore, every wound, as if it wanted to swallow me whole. My vision blurred; the world was a swirl of blue and red flashes. My mind screamed, Breathe. Please, breathe.
Then strong arms wrapped around my waist, yanking me toward something solid. I turned, gasping, and found Nathan. His eyes burned with urgency before I could speak, his lips crashed into mine rough, and desperate forcing air into my lungs. The shock of it jolted through me, but life surged back all the same.
He broke the kiss, his breath ragged, and kicked off the water, dragging me with him. Together, we swam through the chaos, the sound of gunfire fading behind us. When we finally reached a cluster of rocks, the water grew shallower. I clung to him anyway, trembling, terrified of letting go.
"Beloved," he whispered, voice low and steady, "you know I’m not going to let you slip away, right?"
I looked up at him that sly smirk on his lips almost mocking the fear still gripping me.
"You know I can’t swim," I shot back, breathless, "so why tell me to jump?"
His smile faded. Something in his gaze shifted darker, colder. Before I could react, his hand moved to my throat, pinning me lightly against the wall of rock. His grip wasn’t suffocating, but the intent in his eyes made my blood run cold.
"I am the only one permitted to kill you," he said softly, voice edged with menace. "No one else. Remember that, always."
He leaned closer, his lips brushing mine then claiming them completely, fiercely. The kiss was raw, punishing. His teeth grazed my lip, his tongue sought every breath I tried to take. It wasn’t love, it was control, desperation, and possession. And when the air finally ran out, my body jerked awake.
I gasped, eyes flying open and met Nix’s gaze.
"You’re awake," he said with a faint smile.
It took me a second to realize I was in his arms, being carried up the stairs. My hands found his neck on instinct, and I pressed my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The sound grounded me, a soft reminder that he was real, and I was safe.
"He was always there," I murmured, more to myself than to him. "The shadow I never knew existed... watching over me, even when I couldn’t remember."