~Sofia~
Once Avery was out of earshot, Chase scooped me into his arms. Wordlessly, he carried me through the forest until we reached an open road. Black vans and officers in uniform wearing bulletproof vests blocked the streets.
Chase placed me in the back of an ambulance, and a lady wearing a paramedic’s uniform checked my vitals and applied first aid to my wounds. Chase had been at arm’s length while I was being examined; he was like a hound alert for potential threats.
Alice emerged from the tree line, and several police officers trailed behind her. Dressed in all black with a bulletproof vest, her hair was tied in a high ponytail, and beads of sweat glistened on her forehead. Behind her, a few more officers emerged, dragging handcuffed men toward the black and white police vehicles.
She was in her element. People were listening to her command, even the ones who appeared to be twice her age. She then gazed in my direction. There was a change in her demeanor. If I didn’t know her past with Chase, I’d say she was relieved to
see me.
One officer approached her, pulling her gaze away from me. Chase still had a passive expression he’d been wearing since Avery left. He was in deep thought, and with everything going on around us, I couldn’t start jabbing the questions I wanted to ask, and there were a lot.
“All done,” Corine, the paramedic, finished dressing the wound on my leg. “Give me a minute, and we’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Thanks,” I smiled at her.
Chase walked to my side.
“Don’t tell her anything,” he murmured, leaning on the ambulance.
I frowned, facing forward, and understood what Chase meant. Alice was headed in our direction, her steps calculated; her smile restrained.
“I’m glad you’re safe,” her tone was friendly. My lips twitched.
“Thank you,” I replied curtly.
“I’d like to ask you some questions,” she started.
Chase growled. “Give her a fucking breather, Alice. You got what you need.”
Alice’s eyes flicked towards Chase, narrowed to slits. “Brega wasn’t there.”
I was picking up context from their conversation. Chase must’ve made a deal with Alice. “That’s not my fault if your people were so loud they tipped him away.”
Alice stabbed Chase with her signature glare. Corine’s return put a stop to whatever Alice was about to spit.
“We’ll take her to the Pinehills Memorial, Detective Jacobson,” Corine said, climbing into the back of the ambulance. She arranged the equipment inside. With the stretcher bed in the middle, she aided me and secured me to it. “Are you riding with her, sir?”
Chase broke his heated glaring contest with Alice and climbed into the ambulance. Alice could only watch us while the door closed, face morphing to a grimace at this turn of events.
We spent the ride to the hospital in silence. I was given proper medical attention while Chase maintained his stance as my bodyguard. It was already nighttime when they moved me to a room.
‘Finally, I thought when the nurse left the room, leaving Chase and me alone.
Chase was sitting silently on the couch the entire time. I turned to him and called his name, but he was already coming to me at full speed, crushing our mouths together in the gentlest kiss we ever shared. His fingers dug into the back of my head, weaving into my hair as he tilted my face to gain better access to my lips.
I moaned against his lips, tears pushing through the gaps of my closed eyelids.
Staying positive through this entire ordeal had been tough. I came to the point where I thought I wouldn’t see Chase anymore or feel his touch and kisses.
Chase pulled away, pressing his forehead against mine.
“It’s over now, Sofia,” he murmured, and more tears rolled down my cheeks. He wiped them away with his thumb, gently lifting me off the bed onto his lap. “It’s over, baby.”
I let it all out, finally feeling safe since the attack on the mansion.
“Elise-“
“She’s safe with Jose. They’re in Rio with Mom and Dad.”
A huge boulder had been lifted off my shoulder. “And Derek? Nikos said he’s dead.” Those words left a sour taste on my tongue.
“Trust your brother’s ability, Sofia. He won’t die in a trap like that,” he said. “Carlota and Santino were there with him.”
“But…” a lump swelled in my throat. “But was it true there was an explosion?”
Chase nodded. “Chuck was checking all their safe houses around Pinehills and nearby towns. I’m still waiting for his info.” It wasn’t solid evidence Derek was alive, but my hope that they survived that explosion burned anew.
“What about Sammy? Nikos showed me a news article that said you were suspected of murder.” I perched from my sitting position on his lap.
“Sammy was indeed murdered, but I had an alibi. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free. Like Derek and Carlota planned, the police officer following me was witnesses to my time of arrival and her time of death… the way she died…” his lips pursed, a memory crossing his thoughts. “I couldn’t do it within the time frame. And Rafa was with me. He chased the real murderer.”
“Sammy’s gone?” I choked. “What about Cyrus?”
“When you get out of here, I will speak with Kenzo and arrange for a DNA test.” He gazed towards the balcony. “I know it’s not the right time to ask this of you, Sofia, but if Cyrus is really mine, would you consider having him in our home? I want him to have a family now that Sammy is gone. I won’t allow Samuel to have a hold over him.”
“Of course.” I didn’t even need to consider my answer. I already knew what I wanted. “We can even adopt him. I’d support you in whatever you decide, Chase.”
He peered down at me, finally allowing the real him to peek through his tough facade. “I thought I lost you, Sofia,” he admitted. “I was so fucking scared.”
I moved to straddle him, the IV in my hand dangling. Cupping Chase’s face, I stared deep into his eyes. “I felt it too, Chase. I thought I wouldn’t see you and our daughter again.”
“I’m so sorry. This was all my fault.” his voice was filled with sorrow. “If only-“
I pressed my forefinger over his lips. “Nikos’ actions weren’t yours to control, Chase. He’s wrong in the head, and that’s on him.” A fat silence swelled between us, both of us lost in our heads. We have so much more to talk about, but for now, I only want to savor this moment. “Why don’t we sleep tonight? We’ve both been through hell.”
He nodded and stood with me, clinging to him like a koala. He gently placed me on the bed, arranged my pillow, and lay beside me. I made a pillow off his arm and wiggled like a kitten seeking heat from his body.
Chase chuckled. I stared up at him, finally settling into a comfortable position. My bad leg was draped over one of his left arms, tossed over his torso.
“What’s funny?” I asked, a smile breaking off my face, too.
“I can’t believe I miss this.” He patted my leg gently, mindful of my wound. “Having your limbs wrapped around me like octopus tentacles.”
I totally get him. The normalcy… After what we’ve been through, we’d be more appreciative of the small things we do together, like sleeping and cuddling.
“I miss wrapping my tentacles around you too, Chase.”