Chapter 58 Desperate Sprints

Chapter 58 Desperate Sprints
Elena

Alexander lifted his gaze towards me, and I saw a mixture of fury, relief, and pure fear etched into every line of his face.

“Elena!” he called again, louder this time, as if my name was the only thing tethering him to earth.

Seeing how desperate he looked, I felt something inside me shatter to pieces. 

He had come for me.

“A-Alexander…” I choked out with tears pouring freely now. The whole situation made me realize that I actually thought that I would die today. 

If it hadn't been for him. 

The moment I could move my legs, I desperately sprinted towards him before my mind could even catch up. 

Alexander shoved his gun into Prescott’s hands and stepped forward just as I collided with his chest. His arms locked around me instantly, and he held me tightly, firmly as if he was afraid that I would disappear if he loosened his grip even for a second.

A sob tore from my throat.

“I—I thought I was going to die,” I whimpered into the fabric of his shirt as my body shook uncontrollabl. I was still filled with the adrenaline shock of what could have happened earlier. 

“I’m here,” he rumbled in a low and deep voice against my ear. “You’re safe now.” he said soothingly. 

For a man who always seemed carved from stone, there was an urgency in his voice. One that made my heart squeeze painfully and I held onto him more tightly. 

His scent which was a mix of cedar, smoke, and something uniquely him grounded me. His pulse was erratic under my palm. I could tell that he was shaken too…and I tried my hardest to believe that it was because he was afraid of losing me and not just because he only cared about the baby. 

Fresh tears burned my eyes as I held onto him tightly.

His jaw brushed the top of my head as he exhaled sharply, then he pulled back just enough to shrug off his suit jacket. He draped it over my shoulders, tucking it around me when he noticed my trembling.

The sudden warmth made a broken sound escape me.
He didn’t comment. Didn’t tease and certainly did not scold, not yet.

He simply held me.

“Let’s go,” he murmured into my hair as he kept one arm securely wrapped around me and guided us out.

As we walked out, he kept shielding me from the sight of the dead man on the floor. I still caught a glimpse though, it was just enough to make bile rise in my throat. 

Prescott and more men in black tactical gear stood guard around us as we found our way to the outside of the building. The Glasshouse now looked like a military-zone breach. Prescott gave me a curt nod as his eyes scanned the entire place for more signs of threats. 

“Car. Now,” Alexander barked to his team, in a voice that had shifted into that cold commander tone.

We moved quickly.

Outside, the wind felt too sharp and cold. Snow had began to fall and it made me wonder whether it only snowed whenever I was in a predicament. 

My fingers fisted Alexander’s shirt the whole way to the waiting black car.

He opened the back door and helped me in gently, which was a bit of a strange contrast to the fury that was simmering in his eyes. As soon as he slid in beside me, the car shot forward.

I finally forced myself to breathe.

The ride was silent. Too silent. 

I could feel Alexander radiating with fury from beside me. 
He was beyond livid. 

I waited for him to explode, because well…. knowing Alexander, I knew he would. 

“What the hell were you thinking?” His voice snapped through the space like a whip.

There it was. Just as expected. 

That didn't stop me from flinching though. 

He scrubbed a hand over his face, as his jaw was tight with barely restrained anger.

“Going off on your own. Not telling anyone. You could have been killed!”  His tone was low but it was no doubt lethal and trembling with emotion. “Elena, do you have any idea what almost happened back there?” he asked me. 

Of course I knew, but I was too ashamed to say it. 

I opened my mouth, then shut it.
There weren’t good enough words.

I finally cleared my throat and even that sounded like scraping iron on cold tar. 

“I'm sorry… I just needed to…” I stammered out a whisper and trailed. I was trying to be vague. I didn't want him to know why I really was there. I didn't want him to be involved in my personal life, even though a part of me wanted to tell him. 

I saw his glare soften, but only slightly. 

“And you fucking thought walking straight into a trap was the best way to do whatever it was?” he barked.

“I didn’t know it was a trap,” I said with heat rising in my throat. 

“The hell you didn't." He snapped. I could tell he was mad at me. I didn't blame him. I would be if I was him. 

“I'm sorry…” I murmured silently.

He stared at me long and hard like he wanted to shake sense into me.

“How did you… find me?” I asked quietly.

He didn’t hesitate.

“I had Prescott follow you.” He said in a sharp and clipped tone.

My eyes widened.

“I knew you would do something reckless if you got the chance to step out.” He continued. "I knew you’d put yourself in danger so I informed Prescott to go with you. And here we are.” he finished. 

“So you had me tailed,” I murmured.

“Yes,” he said without remorse. “And it’s the only reason you’re still alive.”

There wasn’t any bit of arrogance in his voice.
It was terror masked in iron.

I studied him, his stiff posture, his clenched fists and the muscle that kept ticking in his jaw. He looked livid…so angry, probably at the thought that I could have died back there. 

And just that realization warmed a part of me I wished would stay cold.

Alexander Harrington was….complicated.
Infuriatingly, dangerously complicated.

One moment he made love to me like he was helpless to resist.
The next he looked through me as if I were invisible.
Then he tore through gunfire to reach me like I was his whole damn world?!

How was I supposed to understand a man with so many faces?

I looked down at his jacket around my shoulders.
It was warm, and filled with his scent. And his protection.

He was so confusing, I thought as I sniffed in his unique scent. 

He caught me staring. 

“Next time you get all giddy and adventurous to the extent of wanting to fall into the hands of danger…” He trailed and then leaned closer as his eyes burned into mine, “you come to me. First. Always.” he said. 

I felt my breath hitched.
His tone wasn’t a suggestion, it was more of a command that had been forged from fear.

“I…” I wanted to say that I could handle myself, but I was going to lose that battle, especially considering what we had just stepped out from. So I simply swallowed hard. “Okay.” I said. 

His chest rose with a deep and shaky breath as I visibly saw tension loosen from his shoulders. 

The car drive became silent again. 

I knew we both had a lot of things to say to each other. But neither of us spoke. 

Frankly, it was better that way. I would rather believe in my heart that he was doing this for me, rather than have him tell me he was only doing this for his child. Thereby shattering my emotions. 

I wasn't the strongest at the moment to take that. 

I leaned my head against the window and watched the city lights streak by as we sped away.

In the midst of all the chaos and stuff, only one thought kept ringing repeatedly in my head like a broken record that refused to stop, no matter how hard I tried to push it away. 

Was I ever even going to learn how to survive the hurricane that was Alexander Harrington?