Chapter 68

Chapter 68 — Alex’s POV

From the moment we stepped foot inside the new safe house, everything felt different. It wasn’t just the elegant furniture or the high ceilings, not the heavy velvet drapes or even the luxury of privacy. It was the unsettling silence, the undeniable tension vibrating in the air between us.

Outside, my guards quietly secured the perimeter, a discreet but constant presence. My driver had given a small nod before returning to wait patiently outside the gates. None of it mattered, though—not the security detail, the wealth, or the carefully controlled environment. None of it could shake the unsettling weight pressing down on my chest.

I found Nell standing quietly by the expansive window, looking out onto the sprawling garden, her expression thoughtful, distant. She looked small, somehow, lost amidst the grandeur around us. It twisted something in my chest.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, my voice soft.

She startled slightly, turning to meet my gaze. Her eyes were tired, uncertain. But beneath the exhaustion lay a spark of strength I admired deeply.

“I’m okay,” she murmured, voice soft and hesitant. She paused, glancing back to the window. “Or at least, I think I am.”

Her vulnerability pulled at me, making it difficult to breathe. Stepping closer, I resisted the urge to touch her, to reassure myself she was truly here and safe.

“It’s alright not to be okay,” I finally said. “After everything, no one expects you to bounce back immediately.”

She smiled faintly, but her eyes remained troubled. “What about you? You’re always asking about me, but I know it can’t be easy for you either.”

I looked away briefly, unsure how to respond. Honesty was painful, but necessary.

“No,” I admitted quietly. “None of this has been easy. But having you safe makes it bearable.”

Silence hung between us for a moment, heavy yet comforting.

“You don’t always have to be so strong,” she whispered, stepping closer. “It’s okay to admit you’re scared, Alex.”

I closed my eyes briefly, feeling a tightness in my chest. It was rare for someone to break past my walls, but Nell always managed to see straight through me.

“Scared?” I finally echoed, meeting her gaze again. “Terrified is probably closer.”

She reached out, touching my hand lightly, gently. Her fingertips were warm, the contact sending a slow, aching need through me.

“I’m scared too,” she admitted softly. “But we don’t have to face it alone.”

I exhaled slowly, feeling the last shred of resistance crumble. Without thinking, I reached out, gently cupping her face, the warmth of her skin calming my frayed nerves.

“You’re the bravest person I’ve ever known,” I whispered. “After everything that’s happened, you keep moving forward. And I—” I hesitated, throat tight. “I admire that more than you realize.”

She leaned slightly into my touch, her eyes brightening. “You don’t need to admire me. Just be with me. Stay with me through this.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” I replied honestly.

The room suddenly felt too quiet, the air too charged. I dropped my hand reluctantly, stepping back to put distance between us, afraid of losing control. But Nell reached out quickly, stopping me.

“Don’t pull away,” she whispered softly. “Not now.”

Her voice broke my resolve. I surrendered instantly, wrapping my arms around her tightly, holding her close, needing her closeness as desperately as she needed mine.

We stood in silence, breathing together, the moment deeply intimate in its simplicity. It felt right, despite the chaos swirling just beyond our reach.

Eventually, Nell pulled back slightly, her eyes shining with unspoken emotion. She looked up at me, voice quiet yet firm.

“Alex, I want more than safety,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “I want us. I want to stop pretending we aren’t something real, something worth fighting for.”

My heart beat rapidly, each word stirring a longing I could no longer deny. My voice dropped to a hoarse whisper, revealing a truth I rarely voiced.

“I’ve never stopped fighting for you,” I confessed. “Not once.”

Her eyes searched mine, her breath hitching softly. “Then fight with me, not just for me.”

Unable to hold back, I lowered my lips to hers, the kiss slow, deep, filled with all the desperation and longing I'd kept locked away. She responded immediately, pressing herself against me, fingers gripping my shirt as if she feared I'd disappear.

In that moment, everything else faded—the threat of Reed, the uncertainty of tomorrow. There was only Nell, only us.

We pulled apart slowly, breathing heavily, my pulse racing erratically. “Are you sure about this?” I whispered, searching her face.

“More sure than I've ever been about anything,” she said with unwavering certainty.

I lifted her gently, carrying her effortlessly to the bedroom. No further words were needed; everything had already been said.

The night passed slowly, quietly, the connection between us building gradually—at times tender, at others intense. I let myself be vulnerable with her, allowed her to see parts of myself I'd always hidden. For once, my status, my wealth, my carefully maintained image meant nothing. There was only Nell.

As the dawn approached, exhaustion finally overtook us. Nell lay curled against me, her breathing soft and steady. Watching her sleep peacefully, I felt an overwhelming urge to protect this moment, to shield her from any further pain.

But reality was relentless.

My phone buzzed on the bedside table, the noise sudden and harsh in the quiet room. Carefully, I slid from the bed, answering the call in a hushed voice.

“Alex,” came Damian’s sharp, urgent voice. “We have a problem.”

My stomach tightened. “What’s going on?”

Damian hesitated, the background noise of hurried movement clear. “Reed found us. He’s here—”

The line went abruptly silent.

My blood turned to ice. I tried calling back immediately, but it went straight to voicemail.

“Nell,” I said urgently, quickly moving back to the bed. She stirred, confused, sensing my panic.

“Alex? What happened?”

I kept my voice steady, despite the dread coiling tightly inside me. “Damian just called. Something’s wrong. Reed’s made his move.”

Her eyes widened, fear instantly filling them. “What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know yet,” I admitted, trying to keep calm. “But we can’t stay here.”

I moved quickly, dressing swiftly, my mind racing through options. Nell dressed quietly, her movements hurried and tense.

As we left the bedroom, the guards had already mobilized, their training obvious as they stood ready, awaiting my orders.

“Get the cars ready,” I commanded firmly. “We leave in five.”

“Yes, sir.”

Nell clung tightly to my hand, her fingers trembling slightly. I could see her fighting panic, trying desperately to be brave. It only made me more determined to protect her at all costs.

The front doors swung open, my driver already positioned beside the waiting car, the engine running softly. But before we could even take another step forward, my phone buzzed again, vibrating angrily in my pocket.

I answered immediately, heart pounding.

“Damian?”

But it wasn’t Damian.

Reed’s voice came through, chillingly calm. “Alex Carter. You thought you could hide forever?”

My throat went dry, the danger stark and immediate.

“I warned you what would happen if you crossed me,” Reed continued icily. “Now I’m going to show you exactly how serious I am.”

“Don’t touch Damian,” I warned, voice dangerously quiet.

“Oh, Damian’s not the one you need to worry about, Alex,” Reed replied smoothly, his tone sinister. “Did you really think I'd come without leverage?”

My heart stopped.

“What did you do?” I demanded harshly, panic clawing at my throat.

Reed laughed, dark and chilling. “Maybe ask Nell where her brother is right now.”

The line went dead.

I turned sharply, meeting Nell’s terrified gaze. Her eyes were wide, understanding dawning in her expression as fear took hold.

“Chris,” she whispered, voice breaking. “Alex, where’s Chris?”

I stared at her, frozen by the weight of what Reed had implied.

He had Chris.