Chapter 142
After a while the air becomes terse, especially after no one speaks. The atmosphere before he came was tiga, bast now, it’s so terse it makes me shift on the bed.
There is post something about Not I can’t always explain. Whenever he’s in a roam, he wep wems to suck everything from it leaving it dry and tente… that or maybe it’s the fact that he makes me nervous that brings on that terine air.
Finally I find my voice and break the silence. “What are you doing here p>
His jaw tightens slightly, “You’re being discharged p>
Was that supposed to be an answer?
“I know that,” I reply with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m here to make sure you get home safely p>
Yeah, you see what I was talking about? Something is definitely wrong here. Why is he caring all of a sudden? 1 know Noah. He takes and takes from me but never gives back
I say sharply. “You shouldn’t be here, Noah Someone might see you. What if your parents show up? What if someone takes a photo p>
“I’m not leading until I make sure you get home safely,” he says evenly. “Someone tried to kill you; I’m not taking any risks p>
The reminder stings, but I push it back down. “Again, I know that and that’s why Lilly is here… and if that’s not enough, the bodyguards you hired will accompany us p>
I let it slip that I know he’s the one who hired them, just to see his reaction. His eyes slid away, but that’s the only reaction I got. He doesn’t say anything
“Look, I appreciate what you’re trying to do.” I swallow the words, “But I don’t need you p>
I thought that would put an end to whatever the hell was going on, but I was so wrong I underestimated Noah’s stubbornness.
“No,” he says the word with finality, as if he were talking to one of the twins.
I sit up straight, my anger starting to rise. “Now you listen to me, Noah Wood. I don’t need you to do anything for me, you hear me? I’m perfectly capable of doing things of my own p>
Lilly glances between us and cuts in before Noah can say anything that would escalate this. “Okay, wow, this is…. tence. How about p>
I say, glaring at him. “No, Lilly. He’s leaving.. Right this fucking minute p>
Noah doesn’t move. “I’m not going anywhere, Sierra. Deal with it p>
The silence stretches thin between us, tight enough to snap. I hate that part of me is relieved to see him, to see that he cares, but we’ve been through this a hundred times before, there is always a fallout later that leaves me broken.
Lilly pulls my arm before whispering in my ear, “Just let him be… what’s the worst that can happen? Besides, we’ll spend the whole day here with you two arguing if you don’t give in p>
Damn it all to hell. I hate that she’s right. So, with a heavy heart, I relent. Going home is more important than staying here and arguing with him.
I exhale, giving up. “Fine p>
Lilly, bless her, jumps in before the tension chokes us both. “Now come on, let’s get you changed p>
With her help, I shuffle to the bathroom, my body still weak but steady enough. Changing into real clothes feels like shedding a layer of fear. I lose the soft hospital gown and replace it with leggings and a loose sweater. When I emerge, Noah’s standing by the window, staring out, his expression unreadable.
He turns when he hears us, and for a second, something flickers in his eyes before it disappears. It’s always been hard reading him, so I don’t even try.
“You ready?” he asks quietly.
“As I’ll ever be,” I say again, my tone clipped.
He steps forward, grabbing the small duffel bag from the table before I can protest.
“I can carry that,” I say.
He doesn’t respond, just slings it over his shoulder like it weighs nothing.
At the door, two of the bodyguards are waiting, the same ones from earlier, though now the humor is gone from their faces.
Noah’s tone is firm and authoritative. “Follow behind us. Stay close. No detours p>
“Yes, sir p>
When we reach the reception, I move toward the front desk to check out, but Lilly stops me with a gentle tug on my wrist. “Don’t worry about it. It’s already handled p>
I blink. “What do you mean, handled p>
I don’t remember paying anything. They only asked for a signature on some paper, but only that.
She shrugs with a small, secretive smile. “Everything’s paid for. You just need to walk out and enjoy the sunshine p>
I narrow my eyes at her, but she just links her arm through mine and starts steering me toward the doors. “Lilly p>
“Nope,” she says, cutting me off. “Don’t ruin this for me. I feel like a responsible adult right now p>
Despite myself, I laugh. She always has this way of making everything better.
I know she doesn’t need the money, but I’ll find a way to wire the money back to her account later.
The hospital doors slide open, letting in a rush of fresh air. It smells like rain and freedom. The sunlight hits my face, warm and bright, and for a fleeting second, everything feels normal.
Noah walks a few steps ahead, scanning the area like he’s expecting someone to jump out from behind a car. The bodyguards follow close behind, quiet and alert.
Lilly’s still holding onto my arm, her voice cheerful as she chatters about how good it’ll feel to sleep in my own bed again, how she’s going to first settle me in before going to the grocery store, and how she’ll stay with me tonight and make my favorite dish.
But even as she talks, I feel it. A cold prickle on the back of my neck. The one that tells me someone’s watching.
I glance over my shoulder, eyes scanning the line of parked cars and the people waiting by the entrance.
No one’s looking directly at me. And yet… Something feels wrong.
Lilly notices my sudden stillness. “Sierra? You okay p>
“Yeah,” I whisper, though my heart’s starting to race.
Noah glances back at me, his gaze sharp and assessing. “What is it p>
I shake my head quickly. “Nothing. I just… I thought I saw p>
But before I can finish, a loud click echoes from somewhere across the parking lot. The unmistakable sound of a camera shutter.
Noah’s head snaps toward the direction of the sound, his entire body tensing. One of the bodyguards moves instantly, scanning the perimeter.
Lilly grips my arm tighter. “Please tell me that’s just a reporter,” she whispers.
Maybe it is. Maybe it’s not. But as Noah steps in front of me, shielding me instinctively, I can’t shake the sinking feeling that leaving the hospital didn’t mean I was safe.
If anything, it feels like the danger just followed me outside