Page 54 of Double Edged Hearts
Chapter Sixteen
Cora
I can’t stop shaking.
I can’t stop thinking about what could have happened to me, and part of me is still wondering if this is some kind of dream.
Like I died and I’m in some in-between limbo-like place with Alex where we’re on the run.
This wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want any of this.
I’m actually holding what I want, and I know if this is real, I just dragged Alex into shit.
I put him in danger. How ironic that it’s me who’s involved him in this whole thing. It could mean death for the both of us.
I don’t know what we’re doing, or where we’re going. We’ve been on the road for hours, fleeing.
The only thing to soothe me is being close to Alex, holding him and feeling the beat of his heart. Unlike mine that’s beating so hard and fast from fright, his is steady.
He’s so focused, and his concentration deep.
I heard what he said to whomever that was on the earpiece, but I couldn’t really make out what it all meant. It didn’t sound good.
But then, what do I expect?
Nothing good is happening, and I’m not sure what to do.
I’m worried for my life, worried about what I might have stirred up, and worried that Alex is now involved.
I’m running, and I needed to see Richard.
I’m running, and I don’t know where Alex is taking me. He said safe house. Wherever that is, it’s not anywhere near Illinois, and I have this feeling we still have miles to go.
The next hour passes, and I realize I’m right, but we turn off the country road and head into a village. Twenty minutes later, the bike slows, and I lift my head to look around. We drive down a road leading to a factory-style workshop in the middle of a field.
Alex heads toward it, and as we pull up on the pavement, a tall, lanky man comes out.
He looks hesitant at first, but that soon changes as he gets closer and seems to recognize Alex. He smiles then, and his demeanor is more relaxed.
“Alex… well, hell… you devil, you just drop by and don’t give me a heads-up?” the man says.
Alex smiles at him.
“Sorry, Bernardo, this is a bit of an emergency,” Alex explains.
He gets off the bike and helps me. My feet touch the ground, and I’m so shaky my knees buckle. Alex catches me, and Bernardo rushes to my other side. I open my mouth to say that I’m okay, but my throat is so dry and I’m so numb that I can’t.
“Jesus, what happened?” Bernardo asks.
“You don’t want to know,” Alex answers. “I need a car. Do you have one?”
“You know I do.”
“Thanks. Can you take her in and get her some food and water?”
“You bet. Head into the garage. Killian will sort you out with a car.”
“Thanks.”
