Forgotten Bodyguard

Chapter 8 - Panic

*James' POV*

No. No. Fucking NO!

I punched the steering wheel out of frustration and then desperately ran my hand through my hair as I felt my body tremble.

This couldn't be happening.

I've seen the worst, I've done the worst, but this was worse than that. For once in my life I was actually scared.

No, this was the second time.

She was gone.

Allie was gone, because I stood there like an idiot not believing what was happening. I didn't know how to explain to her that my name was in fact Maxwell Moralez.

She didn't even know about my true identity before her amnesia.

I panicked, and after a moment she was gone.

I desperately called our her name, I ran and searched everywhere, and now I was trembling in my car at the fear of not being able to find Allie again.

This situation was even worse this time.

It was dark outside, snowing and freezing cold. Allie had nowhere to go. She didn't have a phone on her, not even any cash, no shelter – and she was pregnant with our child.

I tried to calm down my racing heart and I gritted my teeth, trying to stop my eyes from getting wet. I never cried. Fuck.

A sudden sound of a ringtone coming from my phone interrupted my thoughts.

I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at the caller ID.

'BOSS'

I cursed under my breath. I was supposed to be available to do my job anytime John needed me. This was the worst time for him to call.

I picked up.

"Max, I need you to –"

"I'm. Not. Available." I growled.

"What the fuck do you mean you're not available. Your contract –"

"Fuck my contract. I don't give a shit." I almost shouted. I was losing my mind, and John knew something was up.

He sighed.

"You want to talk about it?"

After a moment of silence, I pinched my nose and leaned back on the seat, then took a deep breath. I knew I could trust this man. He was my father's best friend, my uncle, my boss.

"I don't know where to start..."

I ended up telling him everything.

I told him about falling for Allie when he assigned me to act as her bodyguard. I didn't care whether it was going to get me fired.

I told him that even though I should have been focused on work, I spent more time with her than I should have, not getting any information on her father.

He knew how her disappearance affected me, so he probably suspected something, but... I told him that I'd found her.

Then I told him that I found out she was pregnant. That I knocked her up, and she didn't even know about it, because of her memory loss. She didn't even know we were lovers.

I doubted she knew yet even before her amnesia that she was pregnant.

And then I told John that Allie left me, and she had nowhere to go.

............

"I fucking care about her John and look what I did. This is all my fault." I continued, even though I'd been speaking for the past 15 minutes.

John just listened. He listened to everything that I had to get out of my chest, and he didn't judge.

"I swear if anything happens to her I'm going to-"

"Stop right there, Max. Calm down." John said with urgency.

He continued:

"I'll help you find Allison, but then you must be honest with her like you were honest with me...''

''And fuck, if I wasn't your uncle and if I was an asshole you would have been fired in no time, but I know what love is.''

Love? Somehow this word was stuck in my head, and I heard it over and over again. I spaced out of the conversation while my heartbeat quickened, and I sat still in my car holding the steering wheel.

''And to hear that you finally found your purpose, I am proud of you. This pregnancy could be your blessing. I know you didn't plan it, but if you love Allison Gilbert, then this was meant to be. When you find her, you need to tell her she's pregnant and drop the act. You hear me? She needs to know." His words of wisdom struck me.

''I love her.'' I whispered, more to myself as the realisation had hit me. I covered my face with my hand and pushed my hair back.

''I know. You finally realised.'' My uncle chuckled.

He promised to help me out.

......................................................

Allie didn't know where to go.

She could have just stayed with James...with Max, or whoever he was and could have pretended she didn't care. But when you have amnesia and realise somebody had lied to you even before you had memory loss, how does that make you feel?

Betrayal is one word Allie could describe the feeling as. It felt like she was betrayed.

What if that was the reason why she went missing? Maybe he was the reason she walked away, and then something led to her memory loss?

Even though she thought that, she somehow couldn't resent him and imagine that he was abusive towards her. She couldn't imagine he didn't care about her, so why did he lie?

Allie rubbed her arms and sighed, her breath forming into a misty cloud from the cold air. She shivered, but she kept walking. She found herself in the main town area and looked around at the lit up shop displays that contrasted with the night sky.

She suddenly bumped into someone.

''Oh,  damn are you ok? Sorry I wasn't looking.'' She heard a man's voice, then looked up as he steadied her by holding her arms and smiled brightly. When she looked up at him, he had a friendly face, ginger hair and was much taller than her. He looked a bit younger and she noticed a few freckles on his face.

''That's ok, I wasn't looking either. I was a bit distracted.'' She looked away in sadness, which the stranger immediately picked up on.

''How about I make it up to you with a drink? I was just heading to a local club to meet my friends. They won't mind if you tag along.'' He raised his brow and smiled again, his dimples showing.''

''I would accept the offer, but I left my wallet at home.'' She lied, and sadly smiled. Of course she didn't leave it at home. She didn't have any in the first place. She didn't even know her identity or where she previously lived.

''Didn't I say I'd make it up to you? It's on me.'' He laughed and put his hand behind her back to lead her where he was going.

'What a nice guy', she thought and followed him, her smile slowly easing.

''I'm Jimmy by the way, sorry for the late introduction. And you're very pretty you know?'' He said as he scratched his head awkwardly and blushed.

Allie felt like she couldn't keep up the conversation with him, but because Jimmy kept talking and making her laugh, she felt more at ease, forgetting about her current situation.

''I'm Allie, and thank you.'' She chuckled, and followed him.