Chapter 117
Elaine’s POV
(Before the attack)
My sister had been in the hospital for days now.
She’s my siste and Zane had looked me dead in the eye that morning and told me the hospital wasn’t secure enough yet. That it was a risk and if anyone wanted leverage, that was where they’d look.
I understood the logic I j just didn’t care because logic doesn’t quiet the image of your little sister alone in a hospital bed.
I found Aaron outside near the car. He straightened when he saw me, like he already sensed trouble.
“We’re going out,” I said.
He frowned immediately. “We’re not cleared for that yet p>
“I’m going to the hospital p>
His jaw tightened. “But Mr Whitmore said p>
“I know what he said Aaron p>
“Then you know I can’t just p>
“You can,” I cut in. “You’re assigned to me p>
He studied my face for a long moment. I didn’t even blink I just held his gaze.
“I won’t be long,” I added, softer. “I just need to see her please p>
Something shifted in his expression, it looked like resignation?
He opened the car door for me and I got in.
The gates roll open reluctantly like they didn’t want me to leave and I almost laughed at that thought. I was the one who felt reluctant… not about going, but about what it would mean when Zane found out.
I kept staring at my phone, the last message from the hospital sat there unanswered.
Aaron’s hands were steady on the wheel, but I noticed he checked the mirrors more than usual.
“You’re tense,” I said quietly.
“I’m alert p>
“Why p>
He didn’t respond.
We about were twenty to ten minutes from the hospital when I first noticed the black SUV, it had merged behind us two lanes back.
it stayed there even when Aaron changed lanes.
Even when he slowed slightly to let a car pass.
I told myself I was being paranoid.
“You see that?” I asked.
Aaron didn’t look back immediately, he checked the side mirror casually.
“Maybe,” he said.
“Maybe p>
“Could be nothing p>
It wasn’t nothing.
I felt it in my stomach first p>
The SUV closed distance fast and Aaron’s posture changed, his shoulders went rigid.
“I don’t like it,” he muttered.
My pulse picked up.
Another car slid in front of us at the next light, a dark sedan with tinted windows.
The light turned green but the sedan didn’t move. Aarom tapped the horn once, but still nothing.
Then the SUV behind us crept closer… too close.
“They’re boxing us in,” I whispered.
The sedan in front finally moved now but slowly.
Aaron swore under his breath.
“Hold on,” he said then he switched lanes abruptly.
The SUV followed right with us. And the sedan accelerated and cut in front of us again.
My heart began pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
“This isn’t random is it?,” I asked.
“No,” Aaron replied grimly.
We were approaching the bridge, water glinted beneath the steel railings.
Aaron hit the gas, the engine roared to life. The SUV surged forward behind us and the sedan in front braked hard.
Aaron swerved, the tires screaming against asphalt, everything tilted.
The sound of metal colliding is something you don’t forget. Before I could even put my thoughts into words the SUV clipped our rear side and the car spun out into the road, my head snapped sideways with seatbelt cutting into my collarbone.
I heard glass explode and the world blurred into gray sky and steel railing and flashes of black paint.
Then impact, the front of the car slammed into the guardrail at an angle so brutal it knocked the breath out of me. The back half hung slightly off the edge, even sitting in the car I felt the imbalanc.
For a split second, everything went silent except for the ticking of the engine.
I run my tongue over my teeth and tasted blood.
“Elaine!” Aaron’s voice sounded distant, like he was underwater.
“I’m here,” I tried to say, but it came out thin and shaky.
My ears rang and before I could make sense of what was happening the SUV doors opened, I saw shapes through the cracked windshield, men stepping out of the car not panicked like normal people after a crash
“They’re coming,” I whispered to Aaron though my voice came out thin.
Aaron was already moving but his door was jammed.
“Climb over!” he shouted.
The car shifted slightly when he threw his weight against it, that tiny movement sent pure terror through me.
If we tipped over I coul p>
I fumbled with my seatbelt, hands shaking so badly I almost couldn’t press the release button after a few tries It finally clicked.
I scrambled over the console toward his side while he kicked at the damaged door.
It gave way just enough and air rushed in
“Go!” he barked.
“What about you p>
“Go p>
I didn’t need to be told twice.
I jumped out and nearly slipped immediately, the drop beside the guardrail was steeper than it had looked from inside the car.
Gravel slid under my shoes as I picked up running, I heard one of the men shout but I didn’t look back, If I saw their faces, I would freeze.
I half-ran, half-slid down the embankment toward the narrow strip of land by the water, my palms scraped against rocks as I tried to steady myself. The river roared below, louder than I expected.
I heard a scuffle above.
A grunt.
That’s definitely Aaron.
My heart lurched so violently I almost turned around to him.
Don’t.
If they grab you, this was all for nothing with that thought im mind I hit the bottom and stumbled forward, knees slamming into wet mud.
I heard multiple footsteps above me, then a shout that sounded closer now, they were closer to me. Fuck!. I made a decision without fully thinking it through and plunged straight into the water.