Chapter 84 I WILL PROTECT YOU

Chapter 84 I WILL PROTECT YOU


Desmond

The silence in the car had weight.

It was not that kind of calming silence that we usually had between us, the one that usually enveloped us like a fluffy blanket... this was quite the opposite. It was that kind of sharp, uncomfortable silence.

I had sent Graham ahead of us an hour ago.

Truth is, I wanted us to be alone… call it privacy if you must.

I stared through the corner of my eye at Kennedie, she was just seated quietly in the passenger’s seat staring at the window with a frown on her face, on that she was probably not even aware she was wearing on her face.

None of us had said a word.

‘I trust you’

That was the last thing that she had said during our conversation, and I was happy about that. But the problem was I did not even fully trust myself.

I was a selfish fucking man.

I did not have the right to make her trust me, not until she knew the entire truth about everything, even why I offered to help her in the first place… if only I was not too much of a coward to teller anything.

The only sound that could be heard between us was the soft hum of the engine. My grip tightened around the steering wheel, then loosened, then tightened again. I flexed my fingers once, twice, as if that would shake off the tension crawling under my skin.

She was still thinking about that conversation, there was no doubt in my mind about it.

I also could not wrap my head about why Andrea was suddenly back, right when everything was slowly beginning to fall into place.

One thing I did know was that she was not back for nothing, all that talk about wanting to make things better between us, was all bullshit. I had known her well enough by now to know that the only person that she ever looked out for, was herself.

I stole a glance at Kennedie again. Her jaw was set, lips pressed together, brows faintly drawn. The streetlights flashed across her face as we drove, illuminating her expression in brief fragments. Thoughtful. Hurt. Guarded.

This tension between us, I hated it… so fucking much.

I opened my mouth to say something. Anything really would do, but the words caught in my throat and died there. What could I possibly say without making things worse?

I had no idea and so I decided it was wise if I just stayed silent.

I exhaled slowly through my nose and focused on the driving.

That was when I felt it.

It was not noticeable if you did not pay attention, but I knew my cars better than anyone. My ears perked and all of my sense were on high alert.

The car surged forward, increasing in speed in a manner that it had never done before. My foot was steady on the accelerator. I hadn’t pressed down.

I frowned and eased my foot back but the car did not slow down.

What the fuck?

My stomach dropped.

I tapped the brake.

Nothing.

I pressed harder.

Still nothing.

“Desmond?” Kennedie’s voice cut through the silence, sharp with sudden alarm. “Why are we speeding up?”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“The brakes aren’t responding,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm even if I knew there was absolutely nothing calm about this situation. “Don’t panic Princess, I will not let anything happen to you”

I pumped the brake again, harder this time, using more strength but the pedal only sank uselessly beneath my foot.

The speedometer needle crept higher.

“Desmond,” she said again, louder now, panic edging into her tone. “What’s happening?”

I scanned the road ahead, mind racing.

We were reaching a curve, fast, at this point we were heading straight to just flying off the fucking road.

I could feel Kennedie’s panic, her short breaths, the tears that she was holding in as she kept muttering “I’m not ready to die” over and over again.

“Seatbelt,” I said. “Make sure that your seatbelt is strapped on tight!”

Her hands fumbled, and I heard the sharp click as she secured it. I reached across and checked it myself without thinking, tugging once to make sure it was locked in place. My hand lingered for half a second longer than necessary, as if that small contact could somehow protect her.

It was fucking useless, but I could not help myself.

My pulse roared in my ears.

Options. I needed fucking options.

The emergency brake. I reached for it and yanked.

The car jolted violently, tires screeching in protest, but it wasn’t enough. The speed dipped for half a heartbeat before surging again.

“Desmond!” she cried.

I saw it then. Headlights in the distance. We were heading straight for a traffic.

No.

I twisted the wheel, steering us toward the side of the road, toward the embankment the trees that grew thick.

I could not let the car collide straight on, that would end us both, but if I angled the car just right towards my end….

I could not let anything bad happen to Kennedie that was not a fucking option… even if it caused me my life.

I turned to her with a serious gaze.

“Kennedie,” I said, my voice steady “Listen to me.”

She turned to look at me, eyes wide, shining with fear.

“I need you to lean as far away from me as you can. Curl into yourself. Protect your head.”

“What?” she whispered. “Desmond, what are you doing…? No—”

I didn’t let her finish.

I yanked the steering wheel hard to the left.

The world tilted.

Metal screamed.

I twisted my body instinctively, angling myself toward the door, bracing for impact. I felt the collision before I heard it, a bone-rattling force that slammed into my side with merciless strength.

Pain exploded through me.

It was excruciating.

The sound of glass shattering was loud and if that was not clear enough I felt it vividly each glass shard as it pierced into my skin.

My ears were ringing and my vision blurred.

The car came to a shuddering stop, tilted at an unnatural angle, engine sputtering before finally dying.

I tried to breathe but even that was painful.

Kennedie! Was she ok?

I turned my head.

“Princess” I croaked.

Her eyes widened when she saw me “Desmond, you’re bleeding.”

I barely registered the warmth trickling down the side of my face.

It was good that she was awake “I told you I would never let anything happened to you”

I felt her arms on me but at the same time I could not feel anything at all “Desmond please don’t close your eyes”

That was getting harder to do with each passing second.

“Just get out of here” I said

“Fucking hell Desmond you idiot…”

I did not get to hear the rest, as the darkness consumed me.