My “Escort” Boss Chapter 10
I Wanted to Tell Him That I Was the One at Moonriver That Night
My heart felt like it was being carved apart, but I knew that only by making him give up completely could Mary and the child have their happiness.
“It’s Alan’s,” I said. “I’m getting married. I’m going home to focus on my pregnancy.”
“You’re lying!” Darren roared out of control, slamming the test report hard against the wall. “You‘ re marrying Alan? Who the hell is Alan? Where did he come from? Just to avoid me, you deliberately found some man to pretend to be your fiancé?!”
“No. Alan is a college classmate who’s been pursuing me for a long time. I didn’t accept him before, but now I think it’s time. And that has nothing to do with ! you, does it?”
I admitted it. I lied about Alan.
Alan had indeed been pursuing me, but I never accepted him. I only persuaded him to pretend to be
my fiancé so I could escape from Darren.
That only made Darren angrier. He shouted at me hysterically.
“Then what was everything you’ve done in front of me these past few days supposed to mean? What about what happened in the gas chamber? Nora, are you really this irresponsible with your own life?!”
“This is my personal business!” I shouted back with reddened eyes, pushing him away as I tried to flee.
Darren Gellar, you already have Mary. Don’t be so greedy! All I need is your signature!”
“I don’t agree!” Darren grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he might crush my bones. The anger in his eyes was gone, replaced by deep panic and attachment, like a child about to be abandoned. “You‘ re my officer. I’m responsible for you. I won’t let you Teave!”
“You have other responsibilities, Sheriff,” I said, prying his fingers off one by one. “Go take care of Mary and your child. We’re… over.”
I shoved him away and ran out of the office without looking back. Behind me came the sound of something being smashed violently.
I ran out of the precinct, and my tears finally broke free.
It’s over, Darren.
Neon lights from the red–light district cast twisted reflections on the puddles along the street. I pulled my coat tighter around myself when a sudden chill ran up my spine. Instinct made me twist sideways just as a cold flash of steel sliced past my arm.
“Damn cop!” A thug swung a knife at me. I thought bitterly that Mary must have hired him.
After all, she would do anything to keep Darren.
Pregnant and weak, my reaction was half a beat too slow. Just as the second stab was about to come down-
A powerful hand shot out of nowhere and clamped hard around the thug’s wrist.
Crack.
With the sound of bones breaking and a scream, Darren descended like a god, kicking the thug so hard he flew three meters away.
“Darren!” I cried out in relief, forgetting our fight entirely.
He turned back to look at me. Those eyes that were usually full of fury were now filled with worry. He was about to speak when I noticed something moving in the shadows behind him.
A black gun barrel.
Another thug was hiding in the dark, finger already pulling the trigger, aiming straight at Darren’s back.
Time stretched endlessly.
Darren was still looking at me, even smiling, completely unaware that death was standing right behind him. My body moved faster than my mind. There was no thinking, no hesitation.
“Watch out!”
I lunged forward, using all my strength to wrap my arms around him, turning my back into the path of the bullet.
Bang!
Agonizing pain tore through my abdomen. It felt like a red–hot iron rod had been driven straight into my body. The world spun, and I collapsed weakly.
“Nora!!!” Darren’s scream tore through the air, filled with a terror I had never heard before.
He caught me, his hands trembling as he pressed against my bleeding wound. Warm blood soaked his hands and stained his expensive white shirt red.
“No… no… Nora, look at me! Stay with me!” His tears fell onto my face, hot and heavy.
I struggled to lift my hand, wanting to touch his face.
“Don’t cry… Sheriff…” I forced out a weak smile as my vision darkened. “If you cry… you won’t be handsome
anymore…”
“I order you not to fall asleep! Do you hear me?!” He held me tightly, like a helpless child. “As long as you wake up, and I won’t let you marry anyone I’ll agree to anything. I won’t let you resign, else…”
I wanted to tell him I would marry no one.
I wanted to tell him that I was the one at Moonriver that night.
But the darkness surged in like a tide and swallowed me whole. My hand fell limply to my side, and the world sank into complete silence.