Chapter 46 Stay alive, Jesse

Chapter 46 Stay alive, Jesse
KAITLYN

“Ah!”

I groan loudly and throw my head to the side, wincing as pain snaps across my head.

I remember rushing into a cab when it started to drizzle. I had pressurized the driver to ride faster, not minding the rain, but close to the location, a car crashed into the cab from behind.

I don't know what happened after that because darkness consumed me.

My chest suddenly tightens as the news that was coming from the car’s stereo echoes in my head, and my eyes fly open.

“Jesse!" I gasp and sit up.

I quickly roll out of the bed and rush out of the room, my chest heaving and falling.

Tears sting my eyes as I dash across the corridor. If anything happens to Jesse, I will kill myself, I swear to God.

My feet freeze when I look up from the spiral staircase and find Nikolai sitting with a cup of coffee in hand and eyes glued to a newspaper.

My throat knots when I dart my eyes to the newspaper in his hand. Could it be…

“You're awake!"

My gaze snaps to his face, and anger clenches my heart. I begin to descend the stairs in ginger steps, my furious gaze fixed on his smirking face.

I snatch the newspaper from him when I get to where he sat and flip the pages with my heart thumping loudly in my chest.

“Looking for something?" He asks in a mocking tone.

I curse under my breath in anger and desperation when I find nothing concerning a murder or an attempt at it.

“You won't be able to find Jesse's murder announcement no matter how long you search,” he speaks up, and I feel my heart sink into the pit of my belly.

The paper falls from my hand, and I gasp loudly, staggering back with horror washing over my body.

“You killed him!" I scream out in disbelief.

He chuckles and drops the cup of coffee, then stands up, his hand sinking into his pant pocket.

“Why? It's not like you still have anything to do with him," he mutters, and a huff escapes my lips.

My lips begin to tremble, and words refuse to come out. Instead, tears drop from my eyes.

“Oh, mi amor, don't cry, hmm," he whispers and reaches out to wipe the tears on my cheeks.

I growl loudly and slap his hand, then grab the cup of hot coffee and splash it on him.

Silence falls in the room as we stare at each other.

He suddenly breaks into a smile and pulls out a handkerchief, then wipes the brown stain on his shirt and the drops of coffee on his face.

“Is that all you can do for your lover? Won't you be more satisfied if you kill me?" He asks, chuckling loudly.

My heart tightens and I almost burst into tears.

“I won't let you get away with this," I whisper and dash across the room, heading for the door.

The butler steps in my way, his eyes dark and glaring.

“Get the fuck out of my way!" I growl and slap him hard against his face.

The man did not even move an inch from the spot, even after the slap. Instead, he swings his head towards me again, his eyes blank and resistance scribbled over his stern face.

I grip my hair and scream. My body is heating up, and I feel like my head is going to burst open as the announcement I heard from the local news on that car’s stereo echoes loudly in my head.

“Let her go,” his voice drifts into my ears, and I stop screaming. I spin around and glare at him, then push the butler out of the way as he bows.

“You forgot something,” he speaks up again, and I turn around to find my phone in his hand.

I gasp in relief and march towards him. Standing on my toes, I reach for it, but he raises his hand higher.

“You will go with your driver,” he says, mischief bubbling in his eyes.

“No!” I protest.

“Then you go nowhere,” he says, his head tilting to the side.

I sigh loudly, trying to cool off the anger burning in me.

“Okay,” I mutter in defeat.

“Get the driver, Harris,” he nods towards the butler and hands my phone to me.

I snatch it from him and spin around, marching out of the house.

I dash over to the garage and slip into the car that the annoying lad waves me to.

I unlock my phone and dial Ana’s number, praying fervently that she picks up.

“Where are we going, ma'am?”

“Hold on!” I snap.

Thankfully, Ana accepts the call.

“Where is Jesse?” I ask.

“Oh, you saw the news?” Ana’s voice is raspy and whispery. This is unlike her. What is going on?

“Tell me where Jesse is?” I scream, ruffling my hair.

“Calm down, Kait, he's in the city hospital…”

The line goes dead, and horror engulfes every part of me. My phone drops from my hand, and my breath hitches.

“Ma'am?” the driver calls out.

“The city hospital, take me to the city hospital,” I rasp out.

The driver nods and ignites the car, then drives off.

I pick up my phone to call Ana again, but realize that it is dead.

“Shit!” I curse loudly and burst into silent cries.

The driver stares at me through the rearview mirror, but I don't care. As I cry, our moments together over the past years come rushing into my head.

The tears keep flowing and never stop until we get to the hospital.

The moment he parks the car, I throw the door open and rush out, not bothering to wipe the tears on my face.

“Where is Jesse Rider?” I bang my fist on the receptionist’s desk when I run into the hospital. The receptionist raises her gaze and her lips twitch up in amusement. She must be wondering why I rush into a hospital building dressed in a nightdress and looking like a mess.

“Sorry, we…”

“Miss Kaitlyn Peterson,” a familiar voice calls from behind, and I spin around. Relief swept through my body when I faced Jesse’s manager.

“Jesse… how is he?” I ask while forgetting to exchange some pleasantries with him.

His lips twitch into a smile, and he nods towards the passageway that leads to the ICU.

My heart drops, and my legs begin to tremble. I lift my gaze to the man, my heart thumping loudly in my chest.

“Come,” he whispers again, stretching out his hand.

I gulp hard and nod, then follow him into the passage. We take the elevator to the VIP section and finally stop in front of a closed door.

My heart feels so heavy that I can't even breathe properly anymore. I take a deep, quivering breath and reach out for the door handle with a trembling hand.

I grip it and pull it open, then drag my feet in.

My heavy heart tightens, and I feel my breath hitch when I look up and my eyes fall on Jesse’s back.

“Jesse?” I whisper as emotion rushes in like a flood.

He turns around, and my blood freezes. Jesse is alive and healthy… and… and he is standing right before me with a smile on his face.

“Jesse!” I call out in a raised voice.

Shock swims in his eyes as he stares at me.

“Kait,” he gasps out, and before I can blink, he is already less than an inch away from me.

This is real! This is not a dream! Joy hit me hard, and every fear and horrifying thought that inhibits my body and haunts me suddenly disappears.

His raspy breath hit my face as we stared into each other’s eyes.

His trembling, cold hand cups my cheeks, and a shiver rushes down my spine.

Before I can find my voice, Jesse leans in and claims my lips.