42. Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Two
Rory
T hree days have passed since Jaylen left the hospital, and every day has consisted of me moping around, bored, unhappy, and distracted because all I can seem to think about is him.
I'm glad that I've finally been assigned to multiple other patients, and I enjoy the fact that I'm now seeing Lola regularly and having lunch with her, but I miss Jaylen.
The room that he was in is now occupied by someone else, and it physically hurts every time I pass by the door because memories of our time spent together flood my mind and remind me of how happy I was when he was around.
Hoisting my handbag onto my shoulder, I walk towards the elevator, dragging my feet and huffing, knowing that after my ride home with Leo, I'm going to be left alone again with my thoughts and probably spend another night sobbing as I read through a heartbreaking book to help me deal with my emotions.
As the elevator descends, my shoulders tense, bracing myself for the prickle of awareness that I know is going to rush over me as soon as I step out of the hospital and into the dark night.
I'm thankful that Leo is still here every night to take me home, although I have no idea why .
I've asked him why he continues to chauffeur me around in the morning and evening, even though I'm no longer a priority to the King's, but each time, he either ignores me or just gives me an incredulous look as if I should know the answer already.
Walking out of the hospital, I spot him immediately, leaning against his car as usual, but as I'm about to walk towards him, my eyes catch on movement in the distance of the parking lot behind him, and my feet halt as my body locks up in fear.
A hooded figure stands by the entrance of the carpark, his back to the busy London traffic, and although I can't see his face because of the distance between us and the lack of lights around him, I can tell that his eyes are staring directly at me.
My lungs constrict in my chest as my gaze stays glued to the dark figure, and my whole body begins to tremble as a familiar trickle of fear runs through my body.
No.
It can't be.
I'm on high alert, and the tremors running through my body have my heart beating erratically as sweat beads along my skin.
I know this feeling, and there's only one person in this world who evokes this reaction from my body.
I'm so focused on the person across the parking lot that I don't realise Leo's moved to stand beside me until his arm brushes against mine, and I nearly jump out of my skin at the contact as a shriek leaves my mouth.
"Hey, it's just me," he says, stepping back and creating some space between us. "You good? "
As he awaits my reply, his gaze moves from me and towards the direction I was just staring in.
I turn too, looking at the exact spot where the person was before, but now there's no one there.
My eyes dart around, looking for where he might've gone, and my breathing turns ragged when I can't see anyone resembling the dark figure from before.
"Rory, are you okay?" Leo asks, facing me again with a hint of concern splashed across his face.
I glance around once more before nodding my head, although I'm certain that it's fairly obvious I'm not okay.
"Okay, come on. Let's get you home."
He moves to put an arm around me to guide me towards the car, but I practically jump away from him, my hands clasping onto the strap of my handbag as my wide, fear-stricken eyes run over his scarred face.
When I see the frown on his face, and he steps back, I feel a pang of guilt run through my body.
"I'm sorry," I mumble before hurrying over to his car and opening the door for myself, not bothering to wait for him to do it for me.
My hands fumble with my bag as I search for my phone while he gets in the car and starts the engine.
When my fingers skim across the glass screen, I yank my phone out of my bag and quickly text Chrissie.
Aurora:
I think he's here
Within a few seconds of me sending the text, she tries calling me, but I end the call, not wanting to have another conversation with her while in close proximity with Leo.
I fear he already heard too much of the last call and now knows a lot more than he should.
Aurora:
Can't call. In the car
Chrissie:
Killian is following up leads, but it doesn't look like he's in London babe
You sure you're not just paranoid?
Aurora:
I know it's him Chrissie
He's here.
My phone starts ringing again, and I huff as I turn my volume down before answering.
"We're gonna start surveying any cameras we can in London, and we'll start with the ones near the hospital. Nathan's checking every airport in and around London, along with the train stations. We're also gonna fly over there."
"No, you don't have to do that," I tell her quietly.
"I don't have to, but I want to. If he's there, then we need to make sure we can protect you."
"You're pregnant, Chrissie. "
"Believe me, I don't need a reminder about that. I'm very well aware."
"Let me talk to Nathan."
She sighs, and then I hear rustling through the phone before I'm graced with Nathan's stoic voice.
"I promise, I'm trying to find him," he says, not even giving me a chance to speak. "I really don't think there's any need for you to worry or panic right now. Nothing is indicating that he went to London, and you were well hidden, so I highly doubt that nitwit would've been able to figure it out."
"Nathan, that's not what I'm worried about right now. You can't fly out here, especially not with Chrissie."
"I know that," he bites back, annoyance evident in his tone. "She believes I'd let her, but she's mistaken. Killian however, will be flying out in a few days. We're sending some of our men over tonight, and they're going to follow any leads that we might be able to get."
"Okay. Just promise me she'll stay in Ireland. It's safer for her there."
"I promise, but I have also promised her that I'm going to keep you safe as well, and I'm not going to break that promise."
"Yeah, I know, and I appreciate it," I whisper, glancing at Leo from the corner of my eye to see if he's paying any attention to the conversation I'm having.
He's focused on the road ahead as he navigates through the late-night traffic in London on a Friday night, seemingly completely oblivious to the fact I'm even on the phone, but I know he's aware of everything that goes on around him .
"If you're convinced he's there, maybe book some time off work and stay home. I'll send Finn over tonight with some other guys, and I'll make sure he heads over to your place tomorrow to check on you."
"You really think Finn is the best one to send my way?" I ask, thinking back to the last time I saw my ex's younger cousin and remembering how he snarled at me the whole night I was at his house.
"You know he's not on Danny's side. None of us are, except the few that have also disappeared with him. Finn's a lot like Killian," he tells me, possibly trying to be reassuring.
"I think I'd rather Killian show up at my door than Finn," I whisper.
He chuckles through the phone.
"Fine, but that does mean no one will be there for a few days."
I sigh and chew the inside of my cheek as I think about being alone and unprotected for the next couple days when I know for a fact that Danny is here in London.
"That's okay. I'll stay home."
"Okay, well I'd better go so I can sort all of this out then. Stay safe, little one," he mutters before cutting off the call.
I look around, expecting to be at my apartment complex already, but when I see we're still driving through an unfamiliar street, I turn to Leo with a worried expression.
"Where are we?"
"Took a different, and longer route than usual," he says, glancing in his rear-view mirror as he turns another corner.
I look in the wing mirror, to see if there's someone behind us, but there's nothing apart from the dark street .
Sighing in relief, I finally allow my body to relax into the seat as my mind goes into overdrive in an attempt to convince myself that I am just being paranoid, and that Danny has no idea where I am.
Five minutes later, when Leo finally pulls up outside my gated complex, I remain in the car, feeling apprehensive.
"No one's around," Leo says, glancing in each of his mirrors to check our surroundings. "I'll remain here until I see you get inside."
The tension in my muscles dissipates slightly, and I turn to him with a grateful smile.
"Thank you."
"You ready to tell me what's going on yet?" he asks as I open my door and gather my things in my lap.
I shake my head.
"It's best if none of you get involved," I tell him, stepping out and closing the door behind me before rushing across the street and frantically putting in my code at the gate so that I can get to my apartment as quickly as possible, not wanting to stick around outside when I feel like someone's watching me.