Inevitable (36 page)

I watched the lights come on and go off. They were away, the thundering noise hitting my insides and vibrating like a bass drum.

‘You need to stop squeezing me so tight, Bella,’ I heard Frankie say, as she tried to remove her hand from mine with a laugh. ‘Be warned I am so getting my own back in a couple of months’ time.’ I released her hand and apologised, still not removing my eyes from him as he hurtled around at a breakneck speed.

That’s why they called it breakneck wasn’t it? It was so bloody dangerous.

I was counting every turn he made and every single lap. My heart was pounding with excitement and terror. I could hear the crowds as they shouted and cheered and finally when there were only six laps left he made his move and undercut Liam on the eleventh corner. Scott, Alex and the rest of the guys were shouting and cheering louder. I was frozen, however, in a long lasting few minutes of absolute bloody terror as I watched the back end of his bike slide slightly causing the whole bike to twitch. My hand had flown to my mouth, just willing him to regain control. He did and I breathed again.

Lap after lap I clocked off as Nathan held onto his lead, the crowd were now on their feet cheering. I couldn’t talk, all I could do was to watch, carefully. I couldn’t lose visual contact with him, I was afraid to jinx the moment. This had all been so much easier watching him at home on my TV.

I saw Brock out of the corner of my eye, as he hung the board over the wall to let Nate know it was the final lap.

I kept him in my sight at all times and I counted down the eleven corners of the last lap. The very moment I saw him cross the finish line with the checkered flags waving, I collapsed back into my seat.

I was thoroughly exhausted. God knows how he felt?

We were being moved, as we had been called into the winner’s area. I could see everyone around me as they chatted excitedly. I however had no time for that and my feet flew to get closer to Nate, I needed to touch him and hold him close and only then would I be able to relax.

NATHAN

The checkered flag waved me through and I punched my fist into the air.

That was fucking amazing. It wasn’t often everything went exactly to fucking plan. I had almost lost the goddamn bike just after taking Liam on the corner, the flashbacks entered my mind of the last time that had happened and the accident that had followed. My leg had twinged with the memory. You have to let them go quickly and get on with the job, flashbacks like that and the subsequent loss of concentration can cost you your life.

I had too much to fucking lose now, I cared now.

The adrenalin that had run through my system made me feel like I could conquer fucking anything.

I had plans to as well.

As I started to slow the bike down, I managed to take an American flag from one of my mechanics. I began a slow circuit and looked for Bella as I went, waving my flag high.

I saw her as soon as she entered the winner’s enclosure, and I slowed the bike down to take her into my arms. I knew it wasn’t allowed, but fuck that shit. I’d deal with the consequences later.

I had scooped her up and sat her side-saddle in front of me with one of my arms around her, holding her close to me, she clasped hold of the flag and together we rode the final few feet at a snail’s pace.

My world was right.

She was in my arms.

We reached the winners stop and I turned the bike off.

‘I told ya my favourite piece of dominant equipment was my bike,’ I said to her just after I had removed my lid. She laughed at the statement I had just made, it brought back one of our better memories.

‘You sure did, sex God.’ She had spoken to me but her eyes were staring at my lips.

She brought her mouth crashing to mine, so violently our teeth had clashed together. I returned the kiss with as much fucking passion, I wanted the world to fall away so we could fucking consume each other. But I knew there were gonna be interviews and other shit to deal with. I could already see the camera flashes going off around us.

I felt the stress rolling off her in fucking waves and holding her tightly in my arms I could feel how hard her heart was beating. We’d been through a hell of a lot together.

It was over.

Then I saw him coming towards us, what Petre had in his goddamn, grimy little hand was no fucking camera. I moved us both suddenly and we rolled off the bike to the floor. I cradled her tightly to me.

I heard the shot and the words he shouted.

The pain in my head was fucking acute.

The side of my leathers felt wet and warm.

I could hear her screaming.

The world around us disappeared into the heat haze.

All I could see was Bella. I willed my fingers to hold onto her tightly.

I watched the tears roll down her face.

She bent her face close to mine.

‘Don’t cry because it’s over, darlin… smile because we happened,’ I rasped.

Her beautiful face was disappearing.

My world closed in and finally went black.

BELLA

I was in so much pain. Nathan had thrown us both from his bike and I had heard the shot as we fell and the screams and shouts that followed.

The blood-curdling shout that followed was in the Antonescus’ native language and I had heard it before, I understood that it translated to “Blood is thicker than water.” In that moment I knew what had happened. I knew who had fired the shot.

I was laid out on top of Nathan, his hair was still wet and sweaty from the race, but it was the other wetness that was bothering me. I felt it underneath my stomach, a warm spreading wetness that was chilling me from the inside out. I knew what it was but Nathan was holding me so tightly to him I couldn’t move to check.

‘NATHAN HOLD ON, PLEASE YOU’VE GOT TO HOLD ON, I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOU,’ I shouted to him.

More tears poured down my face.

His voice whispered to me as his breath left his body.

I leant over closer to hear his words.

‘Don’t cry because it’s over, darlin… smile because we happened.’

His grip had released me and I watched his mask slip over his face once again.

I could see the pool of blood as it began to appear underneath him.

I looked up as his eyes closed.

I kissed the dirty mouth I loved.

His lips were already cold.

BELLA

T
he day had finally arrived. I was stood in my favourite place on the balcony, at the Blackmores’ family home, staring out to the sea. The day was stormy and grey, we would be really bloody lucky if it didn’t rain.

This was the day when I no longer got to run away from my past.

This was the day when my immediate future had to be faced.

My hands fidgeted with the flowers in my hand, laughable really, if I had felt like laughing. Nate’s fidgeting had obviously rubbed off on me. Around and around I turned the circular bouquet of flowers. Watching how the few glimmers of light that strained through the clouds caught on the still beautiful, vibrant blue colour, standing out against the pure white. I couldn’t believe how Nathan had somehow managed to rescue them from the clutches of the dark depths of the ocean only a few weeks before. He had apparently tried to return them to me that very night. The night I had refused to answer the door to him. I shook my head remembering another of our stupid fights and my subsequent flight. That all seemed so long ago, the joke of it was that although it was less than a month ago. I felt like I had lived a lifetime in a few short weeks. I turned around from my position on the balcony and stared at the closed door behind me longingly, wishing he was there knocking now. I wouldn’t hesitate to answer the door.

Instead I was going to him.

Returning my gaze to my hands, my fingers started to delicately adjust the tiny petals. The forget-me-nots had been so expertly dried, they still looked alive. Whoever had been tasked with saving them had done a fantastic job.

Just like Nate had done with me, when he had rescued me from the clutches of hell. Petre had meant to shoot me, instead he had shot Nathan, as he used his own body to shield mine. He wasn’t the helpful boy I remembered. We had been told he was now under arrest and being extradited back to the UK. He was a killer like every other male member of his family.

It was so poignant that the flowers I was going to take to Nathan now should be forget-me-nots, because he would always be with me, now and forever. I was going to take them back to him, just one last time.

‘Bella… are you ready to go? It’s time.’ I didn’t need to turn. I knew it was Alex that had come for me.

‘I am,’ I replied. I clutched the flowers tightly in one hand and sorted out the front of my prom-style pink dress, with the other. That had been a request of Nathan’s for us all to wear clothes we were comfortable and happy in. Definitely no suits, or boring sombre colours. It was his non-compliant attitude and quirkiness shining through once again.

I placed my hand through the crook of Alex’s waiting arm and we made our way down the sweeping stairs and into the car that was waiting especially for us. What I would give to hear a sexist wolf-whistle leave Nathan’s lips. I could picture him in his leathers with his arse resting against the edge of the table, like the last time I had swept down the stairs. This house was full of memories and I loved it for that very reason. With every step I could feel myself shaking with the emotion of the day. Obviously Alex felt me trembling as he placed his other hand over the top of mine in reassurance.

‘Hey… it’s OK… I’m with you… we’re all there for you,’ he said, as he patted the top of my fingers.

The drive was relatively quick and painless and we didn’t get caught in any holiday traffic. That was a relief in itself. The building we pulled up outside of, was formidable looking. I waited until Alex had vacated the car. He extended his large hand, so much like his brother’s, back into the doorway to help me out.

My heels clicked on the tiled floor and met each beat of my racing heart. We finally reached the room where the service was due to take place and I inhaled the biggest breath of my life, trying to swallow down the emotions that threatened to spill up and out of me. Alex offered me his arm again and I took it willingly. The door opened and I could now see all the faces of our family and friends, gathered together in the small room.

My eyes however, returned none of their glances. I walked slowly towards the man, who would always be the love of my life. Tears started to run down both of my cheeks, I didn’t wipe them away; it would have been a complete bloody waste of time. I knew that they would just be replaced by more, as my emotions finally got the better of me and spilled out for all to see.

Walking over to him now, and looking downwards, I placed the flowers down on the mound he created with his body and I smiled at him through my tears.

‘I’ve brought the flowers back for you, Nathan.’ I couldn’t say anymore as the constriction within my throat was impairing my voice.