Chapter 155 Nora, please wait
Hank’s POV
Gio, please allow them to answer the question," I said, my voice trembling. Octavia responded, "I don’t know her identity because the assassin would not reveal it to me."
It made sense that Octavia wouldn't intentionally target Nora, but I still needed to confirm my suspicions.
Cage grinned. "They came for you, but do you think they would still save you if they knew the girl in question?"
My heart sank. No wonder Carter didn't know their identities. That was how the transaction was meant to be.
Cage likely provided the contract, and Octavia, wanting to keep her identity hidden, offered a better deal for the same target. Carter, in turn, would not disclose the target's identity because she hid it to protect herself.
They orchestrated it this way to avoid being traced, even if Carter failed and got caught.
"Who is she?" I asked again. Cage smiled. "It's Nora, and this woman confessed that the job was done because the assassin told her he was already with her. He never misses his target."
Never misses his target? I scoffed internally, but Octavia seemed afraid and regretful. "No, it's not Nora," she argued. I glared at her as Cage taunted her.
“Why do you think I had the guts to do this to you when I knew your connection to Don Gio?”
Clearly, she didn't know, but it could have still been anyone. She acted recklessly for a man who didn't deserve her. “Hank, I'm so sorry, but I didn't know," she pleaded. Gio asked me,
"Am I missing something? I heard Nora talking on the phone with Molly this morning."
"Then she's alive," Octavia said with excitement. I saw how Cage smiled, and I knew that if he was aware Nora was still alive, he would come after her.
"That was before it happened, Gio. I got there too late," I lied. Gio pulled me to the side and spoke in a whisper, "What are you talking about?"
He knew it wasn't true, so I whispered back, "I saved her last night, but he might go after her."
Relief washed over him, and he hit the wall above me. "The fucking son of a bitch. Where is he?" He said aloud. I replied, "I killed him and had the cleaners take his and Nora's corpses away."
The smile froze on Cage's face, and his expression was one of regret as he sat on the floor. The painful look in his eyes was a confirmation that he was genuinely in love with Nora, but how dare he fall in love with my woman?
"Hank, please forgive me, I didn't know," Octavia was crying as I said to her, "When Nora stabbed him with the fork because he was flirting with her, you stood by him, and now look what you've done?"
Pain shone in her eyes, blended with regret. Gio was right. She was regretting it after all. "I was blind, but now I see. Hank, do you forgive me?"
"Even if he does, I would not forgive you for killing the only woman I genuinely loved," Cage said from the floor as he pulled out a gun to shoot her. But one of our bodyguards shot his arm and leg, and he screamed.
"What the fuck. She killed your woman, and you are still saving her? Do you love her that much?" Gio knelt beside him and accused,
“You denied touching Nora that day, and because of Octavia, I let it slide. Cut his hands for me,” he demanded. The Gio I knew was vengeful, so I wasn’t surprised.
Cage’s gangsters aimed their guns at us, and I stared at Gio as he faced the two bodyguards. When he nodded, he shielded Octavia behind him, and we swiftly took down all of Cage’s men by the time the gunfire ceased.
Fear and pain were evident in Cage’s eyes as I spoke to him. “I proposed to Nora after rescuing her from that fool. We are getting married in a few weeks, but unfortunately, you won’t live to attend. I guess you won’t need an invitation.”
Octavia's eyes held an expression I couldn't quite decipher, fleeting before I could discern it.
However, knowing Cage wouldn't live to see another day, I didn't hesitate to tell him. Gio glared at the bodyguards, one of whom had sustained a chest injury.
While we provided first aid, the other bodyguard severed Cage’s hands. I relished the sound of his screams like a maniac.
Due to the earlier gunshot wounds, he didn't survive and died in front of us. Octavia fainted, so we took her to the hospital with the bodyguard.
Since both Gio and I did not want to stay overnight in Mexico, we arranged for them to be transported by medical helicopters back to Chicago.
When we returned late at night, Nora was not answering my calls, but Gio reassured me that she was with Molly.
The next day, Octavia regained consciousness, and I was relieved to see her well.
"Thank you for saving me, Hank," she said gratefully, but her intense gaze made me uneasy.
Now that Octavia was okay, all I wanted was to be with Nora.
"I didn't do it for you, Octavia. I did it for Roger," I replied honestly. Her expression dimmed as she placed her hand on mine, but I withdrew my hand.
"Still, thanks," she said.
As I was about to get up, she suddenly leaned in, and her lips almost touched mine. I quickly turned my head, causing her lips to brush against my cheek. “What the hell are you doing?" I asked, just as I heard footsteps.
Turning around, I saw Nora running out of the ward. Why did I have a feeling that there was more to Octavia's actions? She was still clinging to me, so I pushed her away and hurried after Nora. "Nora, please wait."