Chapter 30: The Chase (Daniel POV)
Chapter 30: The Chase (Daniel POV)
I grip the steering wheel tight, my knuckles white, as I speed through the city. The truck roars under me, loud and shaky, cutting through traffic like a knife. Horns blare around me, sharp and angry, but I don’t slow down. My foot’s heavy on the gas, pushing harder, the engine growling with every turn. Leo’s at the airport. Claire said he’s leaving, Jake’s taking him to New York, and I can’t let that happen. My heart pounds, fast and hard, slamming against my chest. I weave between cars, the tires squealing on the road, my hands slippery with sweat. The airport’s close, but not close enough, and every second feels like it’s slipping away.
I grab my phone from the passenger seat, the screen still lit with the text I sent. “I can’t do this without you.” No reply. I fumble with it, one hand on the wheel, and call his number again. The new one I texted from, the burner I got just for him. It rings, loud in my ear, once, twice, then nothing. No answer, just silence, cutting off sharp. My stomach twists, cold and tight, and I throw the phone back down, my breath fast. He’s not picking up. Maybe he didn’t see it, maybe his phone’s dead again, or maybe he’s already gone. I shake my head, hard, and swerve around a slow van, the truck tilting as I take the turn too fast.
The road’s packed, cars everywhere, and I curse under my breath, loud and rough. “Move!” I yell, slamming my hand on the horn. It blasts, long and sharp, but the traffic barely budges. My eyes dart to the signs ahead, white and green, pointing to the airport. Two miles. Too far. I cut into the next lane, tires screeching, and a guy in a blue sedan flips me off, his window down. I don’t care. My hands shake, my chest tight, and I push the gas again, the speed climbing. The city blurs past, buildings and lights melting together, but all I see is Leo. His face when I left, his eyes when he begged me to stay. I can’t lose him, not like this.
I call again, desperate, holding the phone to my ear with one hand. The wheel slips a little, and I jerk it back, the truck swaying. It rings, slow and steady, then cuts off, same as before. “Come on, Leo,” I mutter, my voice cracking. “Pick up.” Nothing. I drop the phone, letting it bounce on the seat, and grip the wheel with both hands. My throat burns, hot and dry, and I blink fast, my eyes stinging. He’s slipping away, and I’m stuck here, fighting traffic, too late. The airport sign looms closer, one mile now, and I push harder, the engine whining loud. A red light flashes ahead, but I don’t stop, blowing through it, horns screaming behind me.
The terminal’s in sight, big and bright, the parking lot sprawling out front. I turn sharp, the truck lurching, and aim for the closest spot I see. It’s not a spot, just a curb near the doors, marked with yellow lines. Illegal, but I don’t care. I slam the brakes, the truck jerking to a stop, and kill the engine, grabbing my phone. The door flies open, banging loud, and I jump out, my boots hitting the pavement hard. A guy in a vest yells from across the lot, “Hey! You can’t park there!” I ignore him, running full speed toward the entrance, my breath ragged in my throat. The glass doors slide open, cold air hitting me, and I’m inside, the noise swallowing me whole.
The airport’s a mess, people everywhere, dragging bags, talking loud, screens flashing overhead. I stop, panting, my chest heaving, and scan the crowd. Faces blur together, too many, too fast, and I don’t see him. My heart’s pounding, loud in my ears, and I spin around, looking for anything, any sign. “Leo!” I yell, my voice rough, cutting through the chatter. Heads turn, eyes on me, but I don’t care. I push forward, shoving past a guy with a suitcase, my hands shaking bad now. The gates are that way, past security, and I run, my boots loud on the tile, my eyes darting everywhere. Where is he?
I spot the security line, long and packed, people shuffling through with trays and bags. I stop, breathing hard, and look past it, to the gates beyond. There’s Jake, his big frame easy to spot, standing by a gate sign, checking his phone. My stomach flips, sharp and cold, and I squint, searching for Leo next to him. He’s not there. Jake’s alone, his bag on the floor, but no Leo. My breath catches, and I step closer, my legs shaky. “Leo!” I shout again, louder this time, my voice echoing off the walls. People stare, some stepping back, others muttering, but I don’t see him. Where is he? Did he board already?
My chest hurts, a deep ache, and I push forward, closer to the gate, my eyes locked on Jake. He doesn’t see me, too busy with his phone, but Leo’s gone. I shout again, desperate, “Leo!” The sound bounces, loud and raw, and more heads turn, stares digging into me. Jake looks up, finally, his frown deep, but I don’t care about him. I need Leo. My hands clench, my heart racing, and I take another step, ready to run past security if I have to. Then I hear boots, heavy and fast, behind me. “Sir!” a voice yells, sharp and close. Security. Two guys in black shirts, moving in, hands out. “Stop right there!” one says, loud, his eyes hard on me. I freeze, my breath fast, still shouting Leo’s name in my head as they close in.