Page 58 of Tank
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Nadya
I found a quiet corner and called Lucy, knowing full well that I had eyes on my every move. And that was fine as long as they couldn’t hear me. They weren’t going to let me out of their sights because they didn’t trust me, and I couldn’t blame them for that.
“It’s me,” I said when I heard that she’d picked up but stayed silent.
“Oh, thank God,” she breathed out. I knew she’d be worried about me but it wasn’t like I could have done anything about it before now.
“You really doubt me?” I tried my best to laugh but in all honesty, I had resigned myself once I’d decided to tell the truth. Death could still come, I wasn’t dumb enough to believe that it would all be okay.
“True. You just…you know, I worry.” And I did, even though it was completely unnecessary for her to. “So what happened?”
“Noah was shot but he’s fine. They had me locked away in the basement for awhile, which I can’t blame them for. I told them everything and I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here,” I said trying to plan my next move. “I get the feeling I’m not welcome here.”
I had nothing. No clothes. No money. Fuck, I didn’t even have my bike and the thought that I’d left it behind pained me. Damn, I loved that ride. I could only hope that nothing had happened to her.
“You’re going to leave him?” she asked with a bit too much shock in her voice. Like it was the most unfathomable thing ever.
I had no choice. If he wanted to stay and I wasn’t allowed to, then there was nothing I could do but go. But then again, he did tell me he loved me, in front of people, no less. I wasn’t used to all this emotional shit and I had no idea where that left me. Emotions were too unpredictable and that was why I had done my best to push mine down all my life.
“Yeah, if I have to. I just need to somehow make my way back to my bike.”
“Um…” she said and then got quiet, the kind of quiet that told me she wanted to say something but didn’t know if she should. Maybe it was best if she didn’t, the longer I was left in the dark, the better my life would be.
But, I was wrong.
So, fucking wrong.
Because the next words out of her mouth stopped my fucking heart. And I won’t lie, my eyes became watery as fuck.
“His son is alive,” she whispered like it was the world’s most sacred secret.
I couldn’t form words. I couldn’t even form a coherent thought. This changed everything and I wondered who else knew. Were they in there telling him now? Had Noah known all along? Fuck, maybe it was all a game. Maybe they knew the truth the whole time and it was all an act to make Savage think that Noah’s son was really dead? WasIthe pawn all along?
No, I wouldn’t let myself believe that. I saw him. I watched Noah break, night after night, second after second. The drinking, the lost look in his eyes, the way he teetered on the edge, that was all real. But then I wondered if he really meant it when he told me he loved me. See, emotions fuck you up!
I drew in a deep breath and let it all fall away. In my heart, I knew what was true and I wasn’t going to go down some sort of weird, head spinning roller coaster. Nope, I was too smart for that shit. So, when he said he loved me, I knew he meant it and all it took was one look into his eyes to tell me it was the truth.
“Did you hear me?” Lucy said, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah,” I supplied with a short tone. “You sure? You better be fucking sure about that!”
“Yeah, I am. I wouldn’t mess with you or him like that. I can’t tell you too much right now because it will put others in danger. But, I know someone got the little boy out before the bombs went off. He’s in a safe house with one of Tank’s sisters.” By her tone, I knew that she was telling the truth.
There was something under the surface of her words. Something that she couldn’t tell me, but I understood it all too well. There were plays being made even as we spoke. There were things currently being set in motion. And I had no doubt, it had everything to do with the devil, Savage, himself. I could only pray that it was a move to take him down.
“Where?” I said, the words ripping from my throat low and gravelly.
“I can’t…”
“You fucking will.” I’d never once talked to her like that and though I hated it a bit, I needed answers. “I’m taking him to see his son,” I said through gritted teeth, trying to keep my voice down because I couldn’t risk anyone else overhearing. My words left no room for arguing.
“I’ll get it and let you know. Do your best to make sure you aren’t followed.” Then she hung up.
I could tell by her tone that her feelings were hurt, and it wasn’t that I didn’t care at all, it was that I cared about Noah more. Sure, that may have been shitty of me, considering that I’d known her longer and she’d been there to help me through so many things. Even if it was the boring parts of any given day, she was there. But this was the man’s son. A son that he thought was dead. She couldn’t expect to drop a bomb on me like that and have me stand down.
Now all I had to do was wait. I dropped my hand down, still clenching the phone too tightly. My head hit the wall behind me as I let out a long breath.
