Loveless♣

Chapter 33

I wonder how Nina is.
"Are you asleep?"
No response.
"Bella?"
Bella snapped her eyes open as Joshua's voice interrupted her thoughts.She was leaning against the car door.The car was moving.She looked outside.They were on a bridge.She could see the moonlight shimmering on the water,and the blinking city lights at the edge.The sight comforted her a little.
"You okay,Isabella?" Joshua asked.
"I'm fine."
"Want something to eat or drink?"
"Nope."
"Are you cold?Do you want me to switch off the AC?"
"Can you refrain from talking, Joshua?I'm trying to think."
She leaned back against the car door and closed her eyes.
Joshua's fingers tightened around the wheel.
"I was just concerned since you're never this quiet.You normally don't lack for words when-"
"Well,no one asked for your concern,thanks."
"Okay,what the fuck is wrong with you?I'm trying really hard to work on my anger issues and actually be nice towards you but you keep fucking up the process.Do you know how many times I've had to pause,take deep breaths and count to ten whenever I'm with you?" he snapped.
Bella said,"Oh,I'm pretty sure I don't care."
She closed her eyes and savoured the waves of anger that practically flowed from him.A smile touched her lips.
Joshua glared at her for a second,then scoffed and switched his gaze to the road.
"So annoying," he muttered under his breath,shaking his head slightly.
"Uhh,what was that?" she asked.
He didn't reply.
She opened one eye to look at him.
She sighed in satisfaction.
"Fume all you want," she told him."But wake me up when we get to my house,a'ight?"
"You're not going home," he said,not taking his eyes off the road.
Bella frowned."What did you say?"
"Did I stutter?"he asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"You'd better be joking,Joshua.I'm going home."
"Not when there's a killer on the loose,searching for you. I don't think you understand what everyone's been trying to tell you,Isabella.Do you not value your life?"
She sat up straight immediately.
"What's it to you,huh?My life is none of your business!"
"There's a bullet with your name on it.Multiple,perhaps.It's my duty to keep you safe."
She laughed.She laughed because she wanted to explode at his audacity. She wanted to hit him..badly.But she couldn't. So she laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked frowning."Do you think I'm joking?"
"You are nuts,Joshua,if you think I'd let you have any form of control over me.I mean...you've got some nerve,you know.Designating yourself my superior without even seeking my approval.I'm sorry,who died and made you my guard?"she asked bluntly.
He sighed." You are so stubborn,Bella.It's a wonder you're still alive.You know,if you had just stayed inside like I'd asked you to earlier today,Esteban wouldn't have had you at gunpoint at such a close range."
"I was doing just fine," she said defensively.
"You dropped your damn gun,"he countered."He would've shot you in a split second!"
"He had the element of surprise!That's what gave him an advantage over me.Trust me,I'd have-"
Joshua scoffed."Element of surprise?That's your excuse now?How convenient."
She glared at him."Take me home."
"No."
"For the love of God,what is wrong with you?Why can't you just leave me to face my problems alone?"
He shrugged."You got me involved in the first place.And do you really think I'd be able to sleep well knowing you were somewhere unsafe?"
She stared at him incredulously. "But that's none of my business."
He shrugged again."Well,it's my business.I don't like to lose my beauty sleep."
He turned to look at her face and grinned.She was mad..really mad.Her jaw was clenched.
He turned back to face the road.
"You know if you attack me we'll both die,right?" he said."Just saying.I mean,we're practically on a bridge."
"Park the car," Bella said at once.
"Nope," he replied,making the 'p' sound loudly.
"Park the damn car,Joshua!"
He reached for the radio.
"I wonder if they have any jazz on," he said,turning the nobs on the radio.He was deliberately ignoring her request.
Bella looked at him in shock,then narrowed her eyes at him.She sighed.
"Okay,that's it,I'm jumping out."
He whipped his head to face her."What?"
She unlocked the car door and pulled the handle.Joshua lost focus for a second as the door came ajar and wind rushed into the car.The car swerved from side to side wildly as Joshua tried to stabilize its movements. He managed to maneuver the car to the side of the bridge.As the car skidded to a stop,the door slammed shut.
He let out a long relieved breath."Oh,thank God."
He turned to looked at her in utter disbelief.
"Are you mad!"
"Well,I warned you!" she shouted back,and alighted from the car,walking away as fast as she could.
Joshua turned off the ignition,and stormed after her.He caught her by the arm and whirled her around to face him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?You could've killed us both!" he yelled, shaking her both her arms vigorously.
"Let go off me," she yelled and tried to release herself,but to no avail.She wriggled angrily beneath his grip.After a few seconds of struggling,she let out a loud exasperated groan.Her hair had fallen over her face and she couldn't reach it.She blew out a frustrated breath.
"Why the fucking fuck can't you just let me go?"
"Because I don't want your stubborn ass to get shot!"
"It's none of your business!Why on earth do you care?!"
"Because I do,Isabella. I just do,okay?Is that so hard for you to understand? I fucking care about you and yet you're being so damn annoying and hard headed and God I really wanna kiss you right now."
She stopped."What?"
He didn't wait a bit,he grabbed the back of her neck and soon his lips were moving over hers.Slide,slide,part.Slide,slide part.
Bella's struggled under his hold.Her complaints were muffled by his kiss.
Suddenly she broke free and,although she was out of breath,still had enough energy to slap him hard across the face.
"You," she breathed heavily,pointing at him."You don't get to do that,okay?Not without asking first."
Joshua didn't move.His face was still turned in the direction of the slap.
Then he turned slowly to face her and she was stunned by the hard look on his face.
Uh oh.
"Did you just hit me,Bella?"
She paused for a second,then raised her chin defiantly. "Yes!And I'd do it again and again if--Ow!Let go of me,you jerk!"
He'd grabbed her and twisted her so her back was to him and his arms were bound around her.
She shifted uncomfortably,trying to get loose,but he had an iron grip.
"You have angered me enough,Isabella Bronze." He said gruffly into her ear."You will enter that car and go with me quietly,understood?"
"No!"
His grip tightened.They were like iron bars around her body.
"Ow!Okay,you bastard!Just let me go!"
"Say please."
"No!"
"Say. Please."
"Ow!Please! Please,I'm sorry,Joshua,please."The last word came out as a sob.
Joshua frowned. Was she crying? He released her a little.
A fatal mistake.
She turned around quickly and stamped her leg on his foot.Hard.
"Ouch!Fuck!Fuck!I'll kill you,Isabella,I swear to-Shit,that hurt!"
He grabbed his foot and winced in pain.
Bella let out a long breath and put her hands on her hips.She watched him in satisfaction. She felt no ounce of pity.
"Ha!Who has the upper hand now,huh?" she asked mockingly.
"Little bitch," he muttered angrily under his breath.
She cocked her head to the side as she stared at him."Uhh,what'd you say?Bitch,huh?Well,you haven't seen nothing yet."
She stormed back to the car.
"Wait!" He limped after her.She was gonna leave him on the bridge.She was gonna leave him stranded. He wouldn't put it past her to do something so outrageous.
Bella entered the car and started the engine.She drove past him speedily.
"The fuck?!Bella!"
He watched the car move down the bridge.
Suddenly the car stopped.He let out a relieved breath which he hadn't even noticed he'd been holding.
Was she going to reverse?
He didn't wait to find out. He began to walk as fast as one could with an injured leg.When he got to the car,he opened the passenger car door and sat quickly.
She was laughing when he closed the door and turned to glare at her.
"You," he began,"..I have never met anyone as aggravating and-"
"Yeah,yeah,we've heard that one before."
She put the car into drive and sped down the road.
Joshua closed his eyes and rested his head backwards. He shook his head.
Breathe,Joshua,breathe.
Four,three,two,one.
Four,three,two,one.

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