Chapter 224

Chapter 224
Jake's POV

By the time I made it to the bridge, I was gasping for air, my lungs burning, sweat dripping down my temples.

I scanned the opposite bank.

There—still there. The beige coat, the dark curls. She was laughing now, the guy gesturing at something. And then they turned, walking toward the street.

Toward a black cab pulling up to the curb.

"No—"

The word ripped out of me, raw and desperate.

I sprinted across the bridge, dodging pedestrians, my shoes pounding against the pavement. I could see them getting into the cab. Could see the door closing.

"SADIE—"

But the cab was already moving. Merging into traffic. Disappearing into the sea of identical black cabs flooding the London streets.

I skidded to a stop in the middle of the bridge, bent over, hands on my knees, trying to remember how to breathe.

She was right there.

Right fucking there.

And I lost her again.

---

I don't know how long I stood there. Long enough for the rain to start—that fine London drizzle that soaks through everything. Long enough for my heart to stop trying to break through my ribs.

When I finally straightened up, my vision was blurry. Rain, maybe. Or something else.

I stared at the direction the cab had gone. Traffic was thick, brake lights glowing red in the gathering dark. Hundreds of cars. Thousands.

But somewhere in that mess was a black cab with Sadie in it.

Somewhere in this city was the girl who'd ripped my heart out and never looked back.

I started walking. Fast, then faster, breaking into a jog along the sidewalk. Cars honked. People yelled. I didn't care.

And then—a miracle.

A taxi, empty, its yellow light glowing in the rain.

I threw myself in front of it. The driver slammed the brakes, leaned out the window. "What the fuck, mate—"

I yanked open the back door, pulled out every bill in my wallet—had to be three, four hundred pounds—and shoved it at him.

"Follow that black cab," I said. "The one that just turned left."

The driver stared at the money. Then at me.

Then he grinned. "Get in."

I dove into the back seat, my eyes already scanning the road ahead.

The cab lurched forward, weaving through traffic. My hands gripped the seat in front of me, my whole body tense, leaning forward like I could somehow make us go faster.

There. Two cars ahead. A black cab with a dent in the rear bumper.

Was it hers? I couldn't tell. But I didn't have any other leads.

"Don't lose them," I said.

The driver nodded, cutting off a bus to stay close.

Rain streaked down the windows. The city blurred past in smears of light and shadow. My heart hammered against my ribs, my breath coming short and fast.

Three years.

Three years of searching.

And now I was maybe thirty seconds behind her.

The cab ahead turned right. We followed.

Left at the next light. We stayed on them.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Probably Liam, probably the hotel, probably someone wondering where the hell I was.

I didn't care.

All I cared about was that black cab and the girl inside it who'd destroyed me without even trying.

I'm coming, I thought, my jaw clenched, my eyes burning. You can't run from me anymore, Sadie.

Not this time.