Best of Both Worlds

Chapter Thirty-two

Adrenaline rushed through my blood, like a flame over kerosene. I wasn't going to die here, not when I still had a baby that needed me. Not when I still had a lot of healthy years ahead of me. This wasn't the time to let fear override my thoughts and muscles. It was fight or flight and I was definitely going to fight.

I couldn't rely on my feet to keep me rooted, as my heels scraped along the floor. I stopped thrashing around and pushed all my strength to my elbows as I sent a forceful jab into the guts of my assailant. The man let out an 'oomph' sound and loosened his grip on me. I was down to seconds now. I pushed myself forward, nearly losing my footing as I tried to make a run for it.

"Amanda, wait" the assailant called from behind, in an oddly familiar voice.

I turned around and found Tom bent over his knees, clutching unto his bruised abdomen. He was clad in all black and blended well into the dark night.

My brows knitted together. "Tom?"

"Yeah," he wheezed out and coughed. "Man, do you have a mean elbow."

"What is wrong with you?" I glared at him as I massaged my throbbing tender scalp. "Why would you grab me like that?"

He gripped onto the wall of the building and pulled himself to an erect stance. "I'm sorry. I couldn't just walk up and start a conversation in the open"

What was he talking about? I frowned at him. "What?"

He winced as he pulled in air through his nose and held unto the area I had jabbed. He leaned his back against the wall and sent a sweeping glance over the area then focused on me.

He swallowed. "I'm not who you think I am . . . I was hired by Camille to get information on you"

What? My head reared backwards and I took a step back in shock and disbelief.

He ran a hand over his mouth as his eyes darted around the vicinity. "I got to know you and I couldn't go through with it," he sighed. "I've been in hiding, this whole time until I heard about the elevator thing. Look, all I was paid to do was get information, I wasn't up for the rest"

I opened my mouth and clamped it shut. My hands went to my head as I paced about a small area. "I-I don't . . . I don't understand" I shook my head, trying to make sense of what I just heard. "So, you're trying to tell me that, meeting me at the store wasn't coincidental?"

His head hung low, along with his slumped shoulders. "No"

I sent a slap across his face, shocking both him and myself. I was furious . . . and exhausted with people thinking they could lie to me and constantly deceive me. Granted, I had some inhibitions regarding Tom at first but he proved to be soft-hearted. Now, I wasn't sure if it was all part of his act. Was everyone putting a show around me?

My palm stung from the hard contact and I was sure Tom's face did as well. The slap sent his face to the side and he stretched open his mouth and poked his cheek with his tongue as he blinked back.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Okay, so what are you here for exactly? To confess?"

"I just wanted to warn you that she's deranged. I have no idea what she's planning right now but she's not playing games" He readjusted the black cap on his head and lifted his eyes to me. "I'll be skipping town after this before the police start looking for me. I'm sorry for everything. It was nice meeting you" he tipped his hat at me and disappeared into the night.

Oh, God. I stood frozen in the alley, dazed for a long second. The stench of trash bags in the far corner travelled to my nose and the shadows of inanimate objects began to creep me out. I dashed towards my car. My purse lay on the ground with my phone and wallet sprawled out. Luckily, I found my car keys right next to the hind tire of the car. I collected all my belongings from the floor and got into the car as fast as I could. My fingers trembled over the steering wheel the entire drive back home.