Chapter 246
“What’s wrong?” Noah demands, his gaze flying straight to Nova in my arms.
She wrenches free and runs to him, sobbing uncontrollably. Noah catches her immediately, arms wrapping around her protectively as his glare snaps to me, sharp, accusing, and furious. He must think I’ve done something to hurt her.
The fact that he could even think I’d hurt Nova wounds me, but I don’t let it show. After years of the same misunderstandings, I’ve learned how to swallow them whole.
“What is it, baby?” Noah asks gently.
“She’s leaving!” Nova cries. “Sierra’s leaving us p>
Nolan steps closer, confusion etched across his face.
“You’re leaving?” he asks quietly.
I nod, trying to avoid his gray eyes, but it’s useless. I still see everything there. The shock, the hurt, the disbelief and God, they undo me. Tear me apart from the inside out.
This is what I wanted to avoid. This pain I’m causing all of us. Maybe I should have taken the coward’s way out. Maybe it would’ve hurt less in the long run.
Nova clings to Noah, her cries turning hysterical. “Don’t let her go, Daddy! Please! Tell her to stay p>
Noah closes his eyes briefly, his jaw tightening.
“Nolan,” he says firmly, “take your sister p>
“But p>
“Please,” Noah repeats.
Nolan hesitates, then gently takes Nova’s hand. She resists at first, crying harder, reaching for me, but eventually, he manages to guide her toward the door.
He pauses, glancing back at me just once before he leaves.
Noah closes the door behind them. When he turns to face me, his expression is unreadable.
“Why are you leaving?” he asks. “You’re not safe yet p>
I sit on the edge of the bed, exhaustion weighing heavy in my bones, and pick up another shirt. I fold it slowly, before placing it in the suitcase.
“I am safe,” I say. “You and Lilly handled Brook. I doubt she’ll come near me again p>
“That’s not the point p>
“It is to me p>
He steps closer. “I don’t think Brook is the one after you, Sierra. You’re not safe p>
A part of me knows that, but I choose to live in the delusion. It just makes everything easier.
I don’t look at him. “Staying here isn’t helping anyone p>
“You’re safer here p>
“I’m safer out there than I am here with you, Noah,” I say quietly.
He stiffens.
“We’re toxic around each other, Noah. Haven’t you realized that?” I continue. “You feel it. I know you do. Yet for some reason, you still want me to stay. Why p>
“It doesn’t matter,” he snaps. “None of that means you get to leave and put yourself in fucking danger p>
I pause, the shirt I was folding suspended halfway. “Let me ask you something. What’s easier to heal? A broken body, or a broken heart p>
He runs a hand through his hair, deliberately ignoring the question. “You’re pregnant. You shouldn’t be alone p>
“I won’t be,” I say quietly. “I have my home. My space and my peace p>
He scoffs. “Peace p>
“Yes. Peace,” I repeat. “Something neither of us seems capable of giving the other.” I exhale. “I’ve been staying with you for weeks and in all that time, how many of those days have actually been peaceful p>
He doesn’t answer so I continue.
“All we’ve done is either ignore each other or blame each other for what happened in the past,” I say. “We keep dragging up old wounds, and I’m tired, Noah. Tired of reopening things that should have stayed closed. We keep hurting each other and I hate that p>
Silence stretches between us.
“I swore I’d move on,” I continue. “And I think I did a pretty good job of it when I chose to stay away from you all those years. But now all that progress has gone down the drain. Old ghosts have started haunting me again.” I swallow. “I want to move on with my life, and I can’t do that if I stay here or around you p>
“I can protect you,” he says finally, his voice low and rough.
I stop packing and look up at him. “What if the person I need the most protection from is you p>
His jaw tightens. Then he says it like an order, like I’m one of his employees.
“Stay p>
I can’t help but laugh, “That tone doesn’t work on me, Noah. I’m not one of your employees p>
“You’ll stay, Sierra”
I stand, my hands curling into fists at my sides, as anger begins to rise inside me.
“I wasn’t asking, Noah,” I say calmly. “And I don’t need your permission p>
He stares at me like he doesn’t recognize me.
“I’m leaving,” I continue, my voice steady. “And that’s fucking final p>