33. Natalie
CHAPTER 33
NATALIE
J ulian turns the car into his driveway, the engine humming softly in the quiet afternoon. We can see Aria and her sitter through the kitchen window, safe and unbothered by the upsetting revelations of the morning.
Neither of us makes a move to get out right away. Sitting beside him, I feel a storm of emotions whirling inside me, each one threatening to spill over. Julian's hand finds mine, squeezing gently, his touch grounding in its familiarity.
Finally, he breaks the silence. "Let's go inside," he murmurs, his voice steady but filled with tension. We step out of the car, but we don't even make it to the walkway before Julian’s hands find my waist and pull me to him. His lips find mine in a kiss that is both a question and an answer, a clash of relief, fear, and desperate affection.
The taste of him is familiar—mint and a hint of coffee—and overwhelmingly comforting. His lips are insistent, and his hands frame my face, deepening the kiss as if trying to communicate everything through this one connection.
I respond with equal fervor, pouring all my worries, my love, and my fears into the kiss. The feel of him, solid and real and right here with me, anchors me amidst the turmoil.
In that overwhelming moment, something shifts inside me. Maybe it's the safety of being removed from the outside chaos, or perhaps it's the closeness of him, right here, where we belong. My defenses crumble, and the confession escapes me without thought.
"I'm pregnant," I blurt out, the words slicing through the thick air between us as our lips part.
Julian freezes, his eyes wide as he processes what I've just said. The confusion on his face cuts through me, and instantly, I regret letting the words slip out in such a raw, unguarded moment.
Had I planned to tell him? Yes. But not like this, not amid so much chaos, when we're both grappling with threats and fears.
I step back slightly, my heart racing, worried that I've just added another layer of complication we aren't ready to handle. "I—I didn't mean to say it like that. I'm sorry," I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper.
He's still for a long moment, just staring at me. Then, slowly, his expression shifts from confusion to a cautious intensity. "How long have you known?" he asks, his voice thick with a mix of emotions.
"A couple weeks," I admit, watching him carefully for any sign of how he might be taking the news. "I found out right before... when everything started getting really crazy."
Julian takes a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine, processing.
As I wait, holding my breath, the silence stretches out between us. Julian stands motionless, his eyes searching mine for a sign, perhaps, of what I need or want from him in this moment.
Then, abruptly, he closes the distance between us. His movement is almost startling, a sudden rush that brings him right up to me. Before I can react or even fully realize what's happening, his lips are on mine again. This kiss is different—it's desperate, charged with emotion and a fierce intensity that sends a shiver through me.
Between kisses, he speaks, his voice ragged with emotion. "I know I haven't been perfect," he admits, his breath warm against my skin. "I’m a mess, and short-tempered, and sometimes really stupid..." His words trail off for a moment as he presses his forehead against mine, his eyes closed as if gathering strength.
"I love you, Natalie. I love you so much." The words spill out with a sincerity that makes my heart swell, even amidst the whirlwind of emotions I'm feeling.
I melt into him, my arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer. His confession, his vulnerability—it breaks down the last of the walls I've been holding up between us. "I love you too, Julian," I whisper back, my voice steady despite the tears that prick at the corners of my eyes. "We’ll figure this out. Together."
His response is another kiss, this one tender and affirming, sealing our promise to each other amidst the chaos of our lives.
As we stand in his driveway, everything else fades into the background. The fears, the threats, even the uncertainty about the future—none of it matters in this moment. We have each other, and now more than ever, that feels like enough.
We break apart slightly, just enough to see each other's faces. Julian's eyes are intense, filled with a new resolve. "We're going to be a family," he says, a soft but firm declaration. "No matter what comes our way, we’re going to protect this family."
I nod, unable to speak, my heart full. Here, in Julian's embrace, I feel a sense of home, of certainty. Whatever challenges we may face, whatever the world might throw at us, we now have a foundation that won't easily be shaken.
“Well, well.” A new voice shatters our reverie, startling in its sudden appearance and bitter tone. “It seems congratulations are in order.”
Before I can look to see who it is, Julian suddenly pulls me behind him, placing himself as a barrier between me and the unknown figure. Carefully, I peek around his arm, ice shooting through my veins as my eyes land on the speaker.
Gabriel King.
Gabriel stands at the end of Julian's driveway, looking disheveled and half-crazed. His hair is a mess, his shirt caked with dirt and sweat. Grime has settled into the lines of his face and dark circles sit deep under his wild eyes. I've never seen him like this before, and his new appearance paints him as a desperate man, capable of anything. I shudder but remain safely tucked behind Julian's protective stance.
“What do you want, Gabriel?” Julian asks, his voice harsher and deeper than I've ever heard it. It makes me tremble as the reality of the threat begins to sink in, that Gabriel might be here to hurt us.
“Just thought I'd come by for a little visit,” Gabriel hisses through a chilling grin. “We've got a few things to talk about.”
Julian doesn't move an inch as he addresses me next, his every muscle tensed and focused on Gabriel. “Natalie, go inside.”
“I'm not leaving you,” I whisper back, even as fear sends a tremor down my legs, cold and unyielding.
“Yes, she really should stay,” Gabriel interjects. Subtly, he lifts the hem of his t-shirt, revealing the handle of a pistol that's been shoved into the waist of his jeans.
Julian stiffens in front of me, a literal shield from the impending danger. My breath catches in my throat, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.
“Why are you doing this, Gabriel?” Julian asks, his voice calm despite the terror that's playing out around us.
Gabriel sneers again and utters a short, throaty chuckle. “Why does anyone do anything?”
“He's paying you,” Julian deduces immediately, his mind working quicker than mine amidst the panic. “If you needed more money, you could have talked to me about it. I would have helped you.”
Gabriel laughs again, the sound deeply unsettling. “You can't help me. You don't understand the kind of trouble I'm in. I owe some very important people a lot of money, Julian. And I'd much rather face you than them,” he explains, slowly pulling the gun from his jeans and leveling it right at Julian.
Instinctively, I clutch the back of Julian's shirt, biting my tongue so as not to scream. There's nothing I can do. Any movement—like reaching for my phone to call the police—could mean the end of everything. I press my forehead against Julian's back, hoping the contact will give him the tiniest bit of support, and hating how helpless I've become.
Slowly and carefully, Julian raises his hands in the air as if in surrender. “You don't need to do this, Gabriel. It's not too late. We can go to the police together—explain everything. I'll even speak on your behalf.”
Gabriel hesitates, the gun shaking slightly in his outstretched hand. A flicker of hope courses through me. Maybe Julian can talk him down, get him to see reason. Maybe we can all walk away from this unscathed, put all this chaos behind us.
Gritting his teeth, Gabriel's resolve hardens, and he cocks the gun. “No! There's no way they're going to let me off after this. Mason's already cracked and told them everything—his connection to me, how he planted me in your company to keep an eye on things, that he's paying me to take care of you.” He takes a step closer, and Julian inches us backward, trying to maintain the distance between us and the barrel of the gun. “I don't have a choice.”
Just then, a siren sounds in the distance, multiple sirens. The distant trees begin to light with flashes of red and blue as police cars approach. Gabriel turns his toward the sound—and Julian sees his opportunity.
Everything happens at once.
Julian lunges for the gun. The scuffle between him and Gabriel pushes me backwards and I fall to the ground, smacking the back of my head on the cement. Police cars speed onto the lawn. And a single shot rings out, echoing in my ears as darkness grips my vision, and the world goes black.