Chapter 14: A Favour Paid In Blood

NOELLE

“Vance!!” I yelled, my eyes bulging out as I ran towards him, his lifeless body hitting the ground while Dominic's car came to a screeching halt.

“Noelle, I swear, this isn't what—” I glared at him for a millisecond before returning my attention to Vance on the floor.

“Vance. Vance, can you hear? Vance!” I screamed.

“Someone please, please we need to get him to a hospital.” I pleaded. He blinked slowly like he was trying to make out our faces, painfully grunting as he tried to stand on his own.

“We can use my car.” Dominic offered and I sent a slap to his cheek.

“Not a single word from you right now, Dominic. You hit him. And it was very intentional.” My hands flew over my phone as I dialed 911.

My brain replayed the satisfying smile on Dominic's face as he ran into Vance and I suddenly felt like screaming.

“911, what's your emergency?”

“There's been an accident. He's bleeding…there's–there's blood everywhere.”

“Ma’am, stay on the line. Help is on the way. What’s your location?” I looked at Vance again. He groaned, his body trembling, blood soaking through his shirt.

Stay on the line? How about “No!?”

“He doesn't have the luxury of time.” I whispered, and ended the call.

I couldn't possibly wait for 911 to dispatch people and get them here. They wouldn't be fast enough.

I beckoned on some onlookers to help me get Vance into a car, when a man in a navy suit suddenly called out.

“What's—whats going on?” Someone, a guy pushed past the crowd, gasping as he saw Vance being carried into a car.

“He's my boss. We'll use his car.” The man suddenly declared, hurling Vance onto his back and hastily walked towards the car.

Without wasting any time, I hopped into the passenger seat while the driver zoomed off immediately.

I looked through the rearview mirror, Dominic was following us closely behind in his car.

I did notice there was bad blood between them, but what could have possibly been so bad that Dominic would choose to hit Vance with his car.

What if no one was there? What if I didn't see that? Would he let him die there too like an animal?

In less than 10 minutes, we were at the hospital and Vance had been placed on a stretcher, wheeled into the emergency ward while we were asked to wait outside.

“Noelle.” I heard Dominic call out and I pivoted. His eyes looked pitiful and he truly looked like he had done something he regretted but….

“I swear, I didn't mean to hit him. I know I look so bad to you right now but it really isn't —” I raised my hands not wanting to hear more of that moral blackmail.

“He was just standing there. You didn't mean to hit him yet you freaking smiled as you ran into him!” I yelled, my voice trembling.

Somehow, I could see Carter in him. Men who could kill to get what they wanted.

“You have no idea what he said that made me do that! He pushed me into it, Noelle. I was doing it for you!” Dominic retorted, punching his fist into the wall and I stepped back instinctively.

“For me? Oh no, don't you dare, Dominic! Don't you dare say it was for me.” His eyes levelled mine, a cold unsettling smile spreading across his lips.

“Have you forgotten, Noelle? His family ruined your life. They killed your parents. Don't you wish him dead? Why are you suddenly so defensive?” I opened my mouth to say something but snapped them almost immediately.

I did wish him death. Everyday, every single time I laid my eyes on him but…maybe not in this way.

At least, he had saved my life from my Carter. I owed him just one favor.

“Dominic, you need to calm down.” I finally whispered, his eyes bloody red, veins appearing on his neck.

“I'm calm,” he nodded slowly, his fist trembling, “You're the one acting out of character, Noelle. Stop looking at me like that!” He screamed and I took fewer steps backwards.

He doesn't look okay. He doesn't look like himself, he definitely needs help.

“Dom? Why—” He punched the wall again and I gasped in shock. The nurses sensing something was going on, closed in on us and restrained him as he tried punching the wall again.

“He doesn't deserve to stay alive! He doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as you.” Dominic yelled, trying to wiggle out of the nurse's grasp, kicking his feet like he had gone crazy.

“Sir, you need to calm down right now,” One of the nurses yelled as the male attending held him down, “This is a hospital. If you keep resisting, we will call security to have you thrown out.” Her voice sounded firm and authoritative but it didn't seem to have any effect on Dominic.

“I actually think we need to page Psych. He doesn't seem quite okay?” Another nurse stated and it was met with murmurs of approval.

I watched quietly as they dragged Dominic across to the psych ward while he called out my name.

I stared at the door of the emergency ward that they had sent Vance into and wondered why the doctors weren't out yet.

What if he actually died? I bit down on my lips when the door to the ward suddenly opened and a doctor walked out, adjusting his gloves.

“He's awake.” He just answered briefly and I let down a sigh of relief, rushing to see him.

As soon as I stepped through the ward, glass shards hit my feet and I snapped my head up to Vance’s face.

“What the hell?” I yelled but he just glared at me, grabbing another glass from the table closest to him.

“You told Dominic to hit me? Really? I could have died, Valencia!” He snarled, using the name only he ever called me, “Well, I guess my death would make up for your parents death despite the fact that I didn't kill them.”