“Lara,” he growls, coming after me. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I think you did. We’re in this mess because I’m weak and fragile now and that sicko thought it would be great fun to throw me in the mix because of that. You’ve made a few comments about how I am. It seems you’d prefer if I was that tough, smart-ass person again. You know I can’t be her again. You saw what I went through when Nan died, Noah. I will not lose someone I love again because of that. Nanna warned me, and the least I can do to honor her memory is take her advice and not be that person.”
“You’re putting words into my mouth,” he snaps.
“No, Noah. I’m just putting your words together.”
“Bullshit. I fell in love with you because of the way you are. I like this soft, fragile girl that you are now, too. I fell in love with that side of you after Nanna died. But I also liked the little firecracker I met. I hate that you felt you had to be something different. I hate that you think you’re not enough, and that I’d sleep with another woman because of it.”
I flinch and keep walking.
“Lara,” he hisses.
I ignore him because he’s right and I’m a damned idiot.
“Lara!”
He barks that one.
I turn to have my say when I hear it. He does, too, because he stops mid-yell and his eyes flash. The motorbike. It’s a fair bit away, but the low hum is definitely there.
“Run,” Noah barks. “Now.”
I don’t wait. I start running as fast as I can in the knee-deep water. I give up after about three steps and drop down, using my entire body to glide through the water faster. It’s barely deep enough and my stomach drags across the logs and rocks below, but I’d rather this than to face what’s coming up behind us.
“Noah?” I call.
“Keep going,” he yells.
I do. I just keep going.
The bike is closer now and frustration and fear clash in my chest. Frustration that this man seems to be able find us no matter what we do and fear because he’s going to come and I have no idea what’s in store.
“The water gets deeper ahead, swim faster.”
Noah’s right: Up ahead the water darkens and the stream widens. It’s getting deeper. Thankfully we chose the right direction to go. If we’d have gone the other way, it would have faded out into nothing. This way is taking us to the source of the water, and we can only pray it’s deep and long enough to give us a good escape.
The bike is so close, the loud rumble pierces my ears. Fear makes its way throughout my body and I swim faster, using my legs to push me through the water by kicking off rocks. Noah is beside me, pushing along, too. His big body strains as he tries to glide through the water. Do I look the same? I don’t think I’ve ever swum so hard or fast in my entire life.
“Nice choice, going for the water.”
That voice. God, where do I know that voice?
My skin prickles and I make a pained sound in my throat.
“Do not answer, keep swimming,” Noah urges.
“I mean, I guess I’d go for the water, too, if I were in your shoes. It’ll lead you nowhere, but by all means keep trying.”
“Go under the water,” Noah hisses through his teeth. “As much as you can. Any weapon is going to have a harder time hitting you under the water. Don’t look back for me. Just swim, Lara.”
“Where are you going?” I cry frantically when he moves toward the edge.
“I’m going to kill the fucker.”
No.
He’ll be killed.
“Noah!”
His eyes meet mine and the look in them sends fear right to my core. “Go under, go forward. Don’t stop. Don’t look back. I will find you, Lara. But don’t stop.”
“Noah, no,” I beg. “He has a gun.”
“He won’t kill me, not yet. I’m fairly confident of that.”
That’s a big risk to take.
“He can hurt you. Noah, please…”
He stops swimming and comes back over, reaching for me, big hands on my shoulders. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes but—”
He slams his mouth over mine, kissing me hard and fast before pulling back. “Then do as I say.”
A tear runs down my cheek, but I nod. I take a deep breath and go under the water just as the sound of a gun firing can be heard through the trees. Pain, panic, and terror mix themselves inside me and I fight against the urge to pass out and vomit, possibly both at the same time. I swim hard and I swim fast, only coming up for air every few seconds. I’ve always been a good swimmer, doing fairly well at lessons, but this is pushing my limits.
I continue until my entire body is screaming for relief. I have to come up. The water isn’t overly deep, but it’s deep enough for me to fully immerse myself beneath it.
I skim the surface, lifting just my head out. I can’t hear anything. I look around: I’m in a dark area of the forest. The trees are so thick, the sun can’t penetrate their thick branches coated with green leaves. The stream has widened into a large creek and I can hear the distinct sounds of a waterfall. Possibly some rapids. I wipe the water from my face with my hands and listen.
Where is Noah? Is he hurt? Worse? I swim to the side of the creek and pull my tired, aching body out. I can barely squeeze through the trees, they’re that close together, but I find one with a wide enough gap beside it to sit with my back to the trunk.
And I just keep listening.
I can’t hear him.
I can’t hear anything.
Oh God, please don’t let him be dead.
FOURTEEN
I sit against that tree for what seems like hours. I don’t know where Noah is; I don’t know if I should go and find him or just wait. My mind is a jumbled mess. If I go after him, I could get lost and might not see him again—or worse, I’ll get killed and really make a mess of this. He wants me to trust him so I’ll trust that he’ll find me. He knows I’m in the water. If he’s okay, he’ll come find me here. If he’s okay. My heart twists at the very thought.
Pain lodges itself in my throat and I drop my head in my hands and try to breathe through it.
Losing my leg is a scary reality. Losing Noah is pure torture. I’ve already lost him once, God. The pain of that will never leave my mind.
I drag my things into Rachel’s apartment, face covered with dried tears. I’ve gotten all my things from Noah’s house. I can’t be there anymore. The image of him kissing that girl sends agony ripping through my chest. I’ll never be able to unsee it. Never be able to live with it. How could he do that to me? I already know how. I let my nan die, I shut down, why the hell would he want to be with me?
But still. I thought …
God. I don’t know what I thought.
“You okay?” Rachel asks, coming over and wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
“I can’t believe he did that, Rach. I … I can’t get it out of my head.”
“Maybe you should talk to him, let him expl—”
“No!” I snap. “No. I won’t talk to him. There is nothing he could say that will make this go away, or make it better. We’re done. It’s over.”
“Lara…”