Page 78 of The Bodyguard

Jonah

I watched her go inside the house. I sat on this wall at the end of her street and watched her, and now I’m wondering whether to knock on her door and make her see that I’m not giving up, on her, on us, on any of it. I’m not. I’ve had enough, I’m fighting for this. The shit I’ve gone through to get here? No. I didn’t do that just to walk away. Things got tough; fucked up, complicated, so what? That just means I have to fight harder, and hope I get out of this alive.

Looking over towards her house which, up until now, had been in darkness, I notice that a light’s just come on in the living-room, and that’s when I stand up and move closer; start to walk towards the house. The curtains are open, and I can see her, backing away… and then she stops. She stands completely still, and I’m running now. I’m running; scaling the small wrought-iron gate at the foot of the crazy-paved path and sprinting to the front door, which is locked. Of course it’s locked. But he got in there somehow. Novak. He’s in there, he’s found her, and even though I’m sure he has no intention of hurting Lena, he’s playing this game for a reason. He’s playing it, this way, for a reason. And I can’t afford to waste a second…

Lena

“I’m not here to hurt you, Lena.”

My stomach’s churning, my hands balled into fists behind my back, but at the same time I’m strangely calm. Because I always knew this was going to happen? Maybe.

Stefan Novak raises himself slowly up out of the chair and takes a couple of steps towards me, but I remain standing in the doorway. I don’t move, I don’t want to. He really isn’t going to hurt me. Why would he? I’m his daughter… Family.

He stops in front of me, not too close, but close enough to reach out and cup my cheek, which makes me recoil slightly.

“It’s okay, Lena. I’m really not here to harm you in any way.”

I believe him. I do. I believe him.

“I just wanted to see you.”

But why does it have to be this way? Why do him – people like him, men like my father, why do they always have to play these games?

“You really are your mother’s daughter, aren’t you?”

He looks into my eyes but I drop my gaze as his hand falls away from my cheek, and this time I take a step back, and my focus shifts as I hear a noise coming from the kitchen. And then I see him, and I shake my head, he shouldn’t be in here. He shouldn’t be doing this, I’m fine. I can handle this.

“You need to go,” I whisper, just as Novak emerges from the living-room, into the hallway, his gun drawn and aimed at Jonah. And now the fear is rising, and for a moment I don’t know what to do. It feels like time’s suddenly stood still, or slowed down, I don’t know. Everything feels dark and dangerous and I’m scared. Not for me, for Jonah. Novak won’t hurt me, but he could hurt Jonah.

“Put the gun down, Novak.” Jonah raises his hands in the air, and I take the deepest of breaths. “I’m unarmed. I promise you.”

Novak narrows his eyes, and slowly makes his way over to Jonah, patting him down with his free hand, keeping his gun raised and aimed at his target.

“While I’m sure Lena appreciates this act of chivalry on your part, there really is no need. She’s perfectly safe.”

“Just drop the fucking gun, okay?”

“Lena’s right.” Novak slowly lowers his gun, but he doesn’t put it away, he keeps hold of it. “You need to leave.” His eyes fix on Jonah, and I feel a cold shiver tear through me. “I know who you are. I know what you did. I know that Nielsen is looking for you, so take this lifeline I’m giving you and go, before he finds you. Because he will, find you.”

Jonah looks at me, and all I can do is nod and will him to get out of here, because I’m feeling nothing but fear and dread and I know my father’s got something to do with that. No.Everythingto do with that.

“I’m not leaving you, Lena.”

“Why would I hurt my daughter?”

Jonah shifts his attention back to Novak.

“Hmm? Why would I do that? All I wanted was to meet her…”

“Like this? Hunting her down, breaking into her house…”

“I can fight my own battles, Jonah.”

His eyes are back on me now, and there’s a part of me that’s so fucking glad he’s here, because I know Novak isn’t here to hurt me, but he’s here for something. And, yeah, I’m scared. I’m anxious. I don’t want to be alone with this man, but at the same time Jonah’s in danger. Novak might not want to hurt me, but Jonah is another matter. Jonah’s getting in the way.

“I’m not leaving you, Lena. I’m not doing that. This whole daddy-daughter thing…” His focus is on Novak now, who’s still keeping that gun firmly within his grasp. “I don’t trust you.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

---