Chapter 44: The Chase (Nate POV)

I waited outside the courthouse, my hands shoved deep into my pockets, my breath fogging in the cold evening air. Liam had gone to meet Graham—alone—after that text, “Come back, or Nate pays.” He had asked me to trust him, but I hated it, hated him facing that snake by himself. My chest stayed tight, my legs restless as I stood there, watching the darkening street, hoping for a sign, anything that would tell me he was okay. He had to be okay.

The street around me was quiet, eerily so, the last of the sunlight slipping behind the horizon. The sun was gone now, leaving the world bathed in a dark, cold shadow. The headlights of a car suddenly cut through the darkness, fast and sharp, the engine screaming as it screeched close. My heart jumped, my legs tensing. It had to be Graham’s men—there was no other explanation. My instincts screamed, my mind racing as I ducked behind a pillar, trying to steady my breath.

I watched the black car roll up, its engine dying down as it came to a halt. The headlights flickered off, but I didn’t move. I didn’t dare. I held my breath, waiting, watching. Then another car came up, the same kind, the same black, sleek vehicle. Doors slammed open, and men spilled out, all dressed in dark suits, their faces hard and sharp, moving quickly, purposefully. They were hunting. But they weren’t here for Liam. They were here for me.

My stomach twisted, a cold chill creeping down my spine. I didn’t have time to think, didn’t have time to second-guess myself. My feet moved before my brain could catch up, my shoes hitting the pavement loud and fast. My heart thudded in my chest, the blood rushing in my ears as I ran, my legs burning from the effort. The street blurred around me—cars, lights, alleys—all of it mixing together in a dizzying whirl. I kept running, pushing my body forward, the air thick in my lungs as I gasped for breath. I had to get away. I had to survive.

I heard the shouts—loud and piercing—coming from behind me. “There! Carter!” Their voices were close, their footsteps pounding in pursuit. I cut left, my shoes skidding slightly as I turned into a narrow alley. The darkness swallowed me whole, the walls closing in, the air heavy with the smell of trash. My hands scraped against the rough brick as I pushed myself forward, trying to put distance between me and them, my breath ragged.

Suddenly, a voice rang out, sharp and close, cutting through the noise of my racing thoughts. “Nate!”

I froze. My heart skipped a beat. It was Liam. His voice—so familiar, so full of urgency—hit me hard. I spun around, my heart racing even faster when I saw him. He was running toward me, his face pale, his eyes wide with fear. He looked like a man on the edge, but there was relief in his gaze when he saw me.

My chest loosened just a bit. He was okay. He was back. But there was no time to feel safe.

“They’re after us,” he shouted, his voice rough and strained as he reached me, his breath coming fast.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice shaky, the reality of the situation hitting me all at once. I grabbed his hand without thinking, my fingers locking with his, warm and tight. We ran together, side by side, hands clasped. My legs wobbled beneath me, my body screaming in protest, but I kept moving. I couldn’t stop now. Not when Liam was with me.

The alley twisted, narrowing, and I nearly lost my footing, my foot slipping on the wet ground. Trash cans clanged loudly as we shoved past them, their lids rattling against the concrete. The sound of footsteps came fast behind us—too close. They were right there.

Liam’s voice broke through the rush of adrenaline. “Doorway!” he said urgently, pulling me sharply into a shadowed nook between two buildings. The entrance to a closed shop. It was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the streetlamp a few blocks away. We pressed in, my back against the cold stone wall, Liam’s body close to mine, our hands still locked together.

My chest heaved with the effort of trying to catch my breath, the sound of it loud in the quiet of the alley. The footsteps behind us slowed, their movements deliberate, searching. My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to stay still, to hold my breath, and hope they would pass by.

“They’re gone,” Liam whispered after a long, tense moment, his voice soft but filled with relief. His eyes were scanning the alley, his body still pressed close to mine, keeping me hidden in the shadows.

I nodded, my hands trembling as I squeezed his. My chest was still tight, my heart still hammering, but the immediate danger had passed. The sound of the men’s voices faded, and for a brief moment, it was just us in the darkness, hidden away from the world.

“I’m scared,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. The words spilled out before I could stop them, raw and honest. I hadn’t said it before—not out loud—but it was true. The fear was suffocating, the weight of everything crashing down on me.

Liam turned, his face close to mine. His eyes were steady, his expression softening as he looked at me, as if he could feel every ounce of the fear that was radiating from me. “We’ll make it,” he said, his voice low but firm. He took my arm with his free hand, brushing his fingers over my skin in a reassuring gesture. “I’ve got you. We’re okay.”

I swallowed, my throat tight. His words were a lifeline, grounding me, calming the panic that was rising in my chest. He had said it before, back in the motel, “I’m not losing you,” and here he was again, holding on, promising me that we would get through this together.

I squeezed his hand, my breath slowing as I leaned in closer to him, the warmth of his body keeping the fear at bay. “Yeah,” I said, my voice shaky but stronger. “Together.”

Liam nodded, his hand tightening around mine, his breath soft against my ear as he leaned in a little closer. The alley stayed quiet, our hiding spot safe—for now. My heart began to steady, the panic receding as I felt the steady beat of his heart beneath my fingertips. We had made it this far—through the arrests, the lies, the gunshots—and here he was, still with me, still fighting, still holding on.

But then, a sound shattered the silence—a sharp crack, loud and echoing, coming from behind us. My chest burned, the pain hitting me like a wave, sudden and hot. My breath caught, my hand slipping from Liam’s as my legs buckled beneath me. I looked down, feeling warmth, wetness spreading across my shirt. Blood. Blood soaked through my clothes, my fingers grasping at the wound in a frantic attempt to stop it.

I couldn’t breathe. My head spun, my vision blurred. A gunshot. I hadn’t heard them close. I hadn’t seen them.

“Liam—” My voice was weak, barely a whisper as I collapsed into his arms.

Liam caught me, his arms fast around me, his face pale and filled with panic. His eyes were wide with terror, his voice breaking as he shouted my name. “Nate!”

I could feel his arms shaking as he tried to hold me up, his grip desperate. But the world tilted, the darkness closing in. I had no strength left to fight it.