When the Tide Rolls In [COMPLETED]

Chapter Nineteen: I Think I Need A Cold Shower... Make That An Ice Bath

Nick

I watched as Conner rounded the corner into the alleyway with Samantha in tow. She looked back as a gunshot rang out and I hurriedly turned the car on. I needed to be ready to floor it out of here.

Suddenly, she stumbled. Conner stopped for a moment, but began to practically drag her behind him when another gunshot pierced the air. Then, everything began to move in slow motion as he let go of her hand. He moved about ten feet away from her and turned around to coax her to move faster.

"Carry her, you idiot!" I screamed out of the open window. He didn't hear me over the sound of another gunshot. This one hit its mark, biting right into her calf.

I felt my body freeze as she limped forward still. I wanted to move, I wanted to go to her, but my legs were glued to the seat beneath me.

Another shot. This time, Samantha tumbled to the street. I got out, helping Conner get her into the back seat. He apologized profusely but my mind was busy with other things.

I willed myself to keep my eyes ahead for fear of seeing her limp body in the backseat. My heart was pounding in my ears, so loud that I'm surprised I even heard her say it.

"Nick," she mumbled.

My heart clenched in my chest.

"What did she say?" I asked, peeking into the rear view mirror for just a second.

"She said your name."

If I couldn't breathe before, now my lungs were almost nonexistent.

--

"Nick, wake up," a whispering voice filled my senses. I opened my eyes to see Conner standing over me with a tray of breakfast.

"What are you doing? You're not my butler," I growled.

Ignoring my rude comment, he replied, "Well you slept through dinner last night after we got Samantha here, so I figured you'd need something."

It was as if my stomach was trying to make a fool of me at that moment, because it proceeded to make a very loud sound that could be compared to a whale's call.

Conner simply cocked on eyebrow and smirked.

After taking the food and beginning to eat, he asked me a question.

"So how are you going to explain it to her?"

"Explain what?" I asked, taking another bite of my eggs.

"Why Daniel did what he did. How you found her. Everything that's happened the last few days," Conner looked pained as he said these words.

"Don't be so weak. I'm just going to tell her. How she deals with it will not be any concern of mine," I stated, hoping to end this conversation so I could focus solely on my breakfast.

It was silent, and my eyes dared to flicker to the door she was sleeping soundly behind. I'd taken her to my penthouse in the company building, but now that Mr. Penny knew who I was, I knew we'd have to move again soon.

She was resting, thankfully. My private doctor had told me that she would recover in about a week and a half and that she was lucky the bullets didn't leave her with any long-term damage.

"We both know you don't mean that."

I tensed at Conner's words, the fork on its way to my mouth stopped. I felt my hand quiver as he continued.

"She's going to be devastated and she needs someone. Someone to hold her and tell her it's going to be alright. I'm sure she was close with Daniel. She's probably going to need lots of comforting," he sighed. My mind raced with thoughts of her tears. I just wished I could-