Page 189 of Chasing Infinity

“How can you be so nonchalant about this?” Noah sneers at him. Declan grips his hair tighter, his attention refocusing on his son. “These arehumansyou’re selling. People’s sisters and daughters! You’re one sick fuck. You know that? You’ll get what’s coming to you.”

“Unfortunately, Son, I don’t think I will. See, what’s going to happen here is this. I’ll make you watch as Lionel, and I tie up your pretty little girlfriend here and ship her out. A feisty one like her will pay well on the market. Some people like a fighter, which makes breaking them so much more enjoyable.”

My stomach drops out from underneath me, and a shiver creeps down my spine at the threat. I don’t doubt for a moment that he would do it. He’d no sooner sell me to the highest bidder than shoot me right here if I resisted.

“You wouldn’t dare!” Noah shouts, thrashing against his father. Declan wastes no time, lifting his foot up and kicking Noah away from him. His kick lands true right on the side of Noah’s head. Noah slumps away from him, dazed again from the blow.

I scream as I finally launch myself from my position, flying towards Declan. I attack him, reaching out with my fingernails and finding hold of his face. The man shouts and tosses me away from him. I hit the ground hard, grunting from the impact.

The guard standing at the stairs hurries over to me, gripping me by the neck and hauling me into a kneeling position as his thick arms wrap around my body, holding me captive.

“You little bitch,” Declan snarls at me, swiping his hand over his cheek and pulling it away. His eyes darken even further as he registers his own blood smeared across his palm. “You’re going to regret that. I’ve had enough of this shit.”

In a swift progression of moments, Declan grips a gun from a holster on his side and strikes Noah against the side of his head as he tries to push himself up. Noah’s head snaps sideways, and then he falls to the ground again. I shout, struggling to get free to run to his side. Declan strides over to Noah, gripping him by the hair once more and pulling him up to his knees. He manhandles him into a position where I can see everything that’s about to happen. He grips the collar of his shirt tightly in his fist, yanking Noah up until he’s hanging limply in front of his father.

Declan takes the gun he just struck his son with and holds it tightly, raising his arm. Fear clenches at my throat, and I can’t breathe.

Blood trickles down Noah’s forehead, crossing over his eyebrows and down to his cheeks. His eyes find mine, and though I suspect he’s dazed from getting struck across his head so many times, he focuses on me again as if I’m his lifeline and he’s holding on with everything he has. Declan glares at his son, malice clouding his features as he raises his arm, positioning the barrel of his gun against Noah’s forehead.

I scream and thrash against the man holding me, but it’s no use. My strength is no match for his.

“Noah!” I cry out. “Let him go, please!”

My captor’s grip on me tightens, and he covers my mouth with his grimy hand. I scream again though the sound of my voice is muffled against his palm. Tears streak down my eyes and vomit rises in my throat.

Declan, still keeping the barrel of his gun pressed against Noah’s skull, turns to look at me. A sneer crosses his face as he watches me with cold eyes. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Ms. Parks. This has gone on long enough. Unfortunately, there’s only one way for this to end.” He turns to look at Noah and pushes the gun against him a little harder, forcing Noah’s head back into extension, eliciting a sharp hiss between his teeth as he glares at his father. “Would you like to say any last words to your little girlfriend?”

Noah’s blue eyes cut to me, and I whimper against the hand covering my mouth. My body breaks out into a cold sweat as I stare at him. My chest aches at the sight of him so helplessly gazing at me as if trying to commit me to memory for the last time.

I see Noah’s shoulders rise and fall as he takes a deep breath. Then, without breaking eye contact, he says, “I love you, Addison. For now until infinity.”

A few more tears escape the lids of my eyes as I blink, fighting against the tight hold of my captor again. Noah’s eyes are heavy on mine as Declan pushes the gun even harder against Noah’s forehead. I can see everything reflected in those blue eyes. Every moment Noah and I have spent together ricochets through my mind as if on replay. From those horrid moments when we were young to the quiet conversation in the hallway when I realized there was more to him than met my eye. I can feel our first kiss lingering on my lips and how my heart hammered in my chest at the idea of everything finally working out.

My life with Noah has barely begun, and now, I wonder if we even stood a chance from the start. Maybe all this time, with everything we have been through, we’ve been destined to make it to this moment—destined to fail.

I scream at the top of my lungs when the gunshot rings throughout the wrecked basement. Tears sting at my eyes, and my stomach roils. It takes a moment too long for me to recognize that it’s Declan’s body that slumps forward, falling on top of Noah.

Through tear-filled eyes, I scan the room looking for the source of the gunshot. My eyes lock on Eli, standing at the foot of the stairs, holding a gun. His eyes are wide as he watches the scene unfold before him.

“You bastard! What have you done?” the man holding me growls. He lets me go, not caring, as I fall to the ground with a thump as he stomps over toward Eli. My friend wastes no time, taking aim once more and pulling the trigger without hesitation. The bullet flies through the other man’s forehead. Blood spatters all around me as he falls to the ground, dead. His heavy body weight falls on me, and I scream as I thrash around, trying to escape him.

Within minutes, the sound of a pained grunt rings through my ears, and then the unwelcome weight is gone. Before I know what’s happening, I’m gathered up into someone’s arms. The warm body I’m pressed against shakes almost as violently as I am, but my body responds either way. Some of the tension coiling tight in my belly eases as I press my face against their chest, not caring who it is. I just appreciate their presence and welcome the comfort.

My nose picks up mahogany and green apple hints, and I relax even more into their embrace.

Noah.

“Shh,” his deep voice murmurs into my ear, low enough that only I can hear it. “I’ve got you, Parks. You’re okay now. I’ve got you.”

I move my hand up to my face and wipe away the lingering tears. The world around me is muted. I can hear Noah’s soft, soothing words rumbling in my ear. I try to blink away whatever fog I’m in, but it’s no use. The rhythmic rocking of Noah’s arms around me is the only thing keeping me grounded right now. Without him, I wonder if I would sink into nothingness.

My chest feels empty, as if having to be forced to watch Declan point a gun at Noah was enough to rip my heart into shreds. Deep down, I wonder if I’ll ever leave this basement. These last few minutes are some of the most horrific moments I’ve ever endured. Everything that just played out could have gone so differently. It could have easily been Noah’s body across the room, soaking in a puddle of his own blood rather than his father’s.

But instead, he’s here, holding me tightly against his broad chest. I close my eyes and press even closer to him, reminding myself that this is real. Noah’s right here with me, holding me, comforting me.

“I’ve got you,” he keeps whispering in a quivering voice over and over. “I’m here. You’re safe. It’s over.”

I let his words seep into my soul and hope with everything in me that they’re true.

---