Page 37 of No Way Forward

“Novette?”

She jumped and came back to the present, recalling that she was still having brunch with the two men her dad wanted her to choose between as her husband. Time to let her dad know and these guys that it wasn’t happening.

She cleared her throat. “Listen, you two seem like great—”

A commotion at another table stopped her cold. One of her dad’s bodyguards jerked a man from his seat by the collar. The other bodyguard darted around the table between the stranger and his partner. At the same time he reached inside his jacket, he bent toward her dad.

“Sir, we need to go—now.”

“What’s happening?” her dad said.

Novette looked around the restaurant. Heads turned in their direction. Something whizzed by her, a puff of air maybe?

“T-that was a sh-shot,” Elon stuttered, his eyes wide.

“Get down,” someone shouted. Novette realized it was the second bodyguard. Everyone at her table hit the floor.

Screams and shouts erupted all over the restaurant. Glass shattered, feet pounded toward the exit. Fear clawed at Novette’s throat. She couldn’t breathe. Someone grabbed her arm, and she let out a small yelp.

“Come here, Novette.” The touch came from her dad. He all but dragged her to his side and wrapped his arms around her, shielding her from any potential threat. His bodyguard covered him from behind, and Novette couldn’t see where the other guard was.

Bile filled her throat. It seemed like the frenzy all around them went on for an eternity. She managed to get her phone out and quickly shot off a text to Zaid.

“Okay, we’re going to move, sir,” the bodyguard told them.

Her dad nodded. “Elon, you two come with us. We’ll get you home safely.”

They were squeezed into the car the bodyguards drove because the Aston Martin didn’t have enough space. Novette being wedged between two big men, struggled to get more comfortable. The car inched forward a foot or two but stopped right away.

“The police are here. We aren’t being allowed to leave, sir.”

“Do they not understand who I am?”

Police cars lined the street. Onlookers strained to catch a glimpse of the action. Novette’s stomach muscles cramped as she worried the person who shot at them was out there somewhere waiting. A news van rolled up, and another soon joined them.

“Oh God,” she moaned.

Her dad, siting beside her, reached for her hand and held it tight. She looked at him in wonder. It had been so long since she saw what looked like genuine concern from him. She thought about how he had pulled her close and protected her in the restaurant.

He cares in his own way.

Regardless, fear continued to wash over her. She felt sick. If they could just leave now, maybe her nerves could settle. And then she saw him. Zaid squeezed through the crowd.

He said something to the policeman controlling the crowd. Perhaps the policeman didn’t believe Zaid. He spoke into his phone, and one of the guards hopped out of the car and jogged over to him. The next thing she knew Zaid was leaning into the car. He scanned the occupants until his gaze met hers. Relief flooded his eyes.

“Sir, let me handle this,” he said, turning to her dad.

“Do that, Zaid,” her dad snapped.

In seconds they were leaving the scene with Zaid behind the wheel. She met his gaze in the rearview mirror and then ducked her head so her dad wouldn’t notice how much better she felt with Zaid there.

Elon whispered in her ear. “This arrangement isn’t going to work out. You’re already taken.”

Chapter 17

Azalie charged into the dining room carrying a tablet. Her daughter skipped along behind her. Azalie flopped down into a chair. “You’re on the news!’’

Novette held out her arms to Beau, and the little girl ran over for a hug and kiss on the cheek. “That sounds like an accusation, Azalie. Tell me you’re making it up.”

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