Page 76 of Hush (Fighting Fate)

“Kaeli…” I heard a deep voice say against my ear.

My head refused to stop spinning. That voice…

The mass shifted, awkwardly trying to get off me. “Kaeli. Please tell me you’re alright.”

The spinning seemed to be slowing, but I still couldn’t get myself to respond to the voice.

It wasn’t until I found my body moving that it came to me. That voice. I knew that voice! My boy…

Jerking my gaze up to the dark figure holding me, I cried and flung my arms around his neck. “You found me!”

He grunted and awkwardly lowered me to the ground, slumping down against the wall beside me. When he didn’t answer me, I looked at him. Really looked at him. His face was scrunched up with pain and his hand was clutching his stomach. Lowering my gaze, I finally noticed the red staining his fingers.

“Oh my god. No!”

Dropping to my knees, I took his face in my hands.

“What do I do? Tell me what I can do!” I cried.

His gaze ran over my face and the corners of his mouth twitched up a little. “I looked everywhere for you. I was so worried…”

I shook my head, tears brimming my eyes. “I’m fine. You found me. You saved me. Now I have to save you. Please. Tell me what I can do. I’ll do anything.”

“Was it Aaron?” he asked, speaking as though he hadn’t heard me.

I frowned. “Yes. He’s…here somewhere…”

He watched me for a while before moistening his lips. “I need you to go, Kaeli. I need you to be safe.”

My eyes widened. What? “No. I’m not leaving without you. You’re hurt. You need to go to the hospital.”

He shook his head. “No. I have to finish this. I have to stay.”

Tears fell down my cheeks and I brushed them away roughly. I didn’t understand. “Please don’t make me go without you. I can’t leave you like this.”

He took my face in his hands, gazing deep into my eyes. “I need to finish this, baby. I know it’s hard to understand, but I need you to do this for me.”

I stared into his eyes for a long time, gun fire and shouts echoing all around us. I wasn’t sure what it was I saw there, but I knew I needed to trust him. This was his job. If I couldn’t trust him to make the right decision, then I didn’t deserve him.

As more tears fell from my eyes, I nodded. “Okay,” I whispered.

His body instantly relaxed at my words. Pulling my face closer, he kissed my forehead. “Thank you.”

Just as I was about to pull away, I paused. “Before I go…” I drew in a deep breath and swallowed. “…I need to know your name.”

His eyes widened and his gaze darted between both my eyes. Drawing in a shaky breath, he exhaled sharply. “Noah,” he whispered. “Noah Murphy…”

Chapter 50

Noah

Sending Kaeli off without me was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do. I knew there was still a risk she could get hurt before she actually got to one of my team, but it was safer than being with me. I still had to make a spectacular exit.

Nothing had shocked me more than when she’d asked for my name. To know she’d been seeing the real me all this time made something inside me ache. I hoped that meant she’d be willing to see me after all the dust had settled. It wasn’t something I’d ever allowed myself to think before, but now…

A new round of gun shots erupted down the lane, followed by some pretty horrific crashes, and then a gruff voice reading out someone’s Miranda rights. I inhaled a deep breath and shoved myself to my knees.

Footsteps came rushing towards me and then I heard Davo’s voice. “Fuck. Mitch. I thought you were dead…”

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