Chapter 125
After dealing with the Anderson family, Nicolas braided upstairs without wasting a second.
He stopped in front of the third door on the left and knocked lightly. “Flly babe, it’s me, Nick”
Silence. Frowning, he tried again. Still no response
Is she asleep? Something felt off. He pushed the door open, and the second he stepped inside, a faint metallic scent hit him. Blood.
His chest tightened as he hurried over to the bed. Noelle was curled up under the blanket, hugging a pillow. Her breathing was uneven, soft but shaky. Her face, though no longer pale, was flushed in a way that didn’t look right.
She was burning up.
“Elly babe.” Nicolas crouched down pressing the back of his
is hand to her forehead. The beat that met his skin made his stomach drop
“Shit. She’s burning up Her fever had to be at least 104 degrees Faltenbrit
Without hestation, he scooped her up, holding her against his chest. His hund gently cupped her cheek as he tried to wake her. “Elly babe, come on. Wake up”
A few seconds passed before her eyelashes fluttered, Slowly, she opened her eyes, her gaze hazy and unfocused
Then despite everything, she gave him a weak, sleepy smile and reached our “Nick you’re here. Hugme”
Nicolas swallowed hard. She looked nothing like the bright, energetic girl he knew. She was fragile, weak, like she might slip away if he let go.
A sharp pain twisted in his chest. He held her closer, his voice barely steady. “Baby, why did you let it get this bad?”
He had known she was hurt from their call earlier, but he hadn’t realized just how bad it was. She was barely hanging on
Noelle was completely tired. Her body felt like dead weight, the fever refusing to break. The wound was inflamed, burning up along with her
She slumped against Nicolas’s chest, too weak to even lift her brad
Barely above a whisper, she mumbled, “Ran into some hitmen… Damon was there too. They were after him. Took a bullet for him ended up like thi”
Nicolas’s expression darkened instantly, “Damon‘ The same bastard who had once threatened to kill Elly babe!!
“You took a bullet for him! Are you serious?” His voice was tight his chest burning with frustration. What the hell are you thinking?
Noelle didn’t even open her eyes. “Had to build a good relationship with him. He was ready to cut ties, but after this… now he cares”
There was almost a hint of pride in her voice. Nicolas let out a sharp breath, his jaw clenching. You nearly died for that?
t
He wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her. Is your connection to the Anderson family really worth risking life?
You’ve taken a bullet, and for what? Have you even thought about the people who actually card about you? The ones who will be terrified anything happens to you?“.
Nicolas wanted to be mad–he was mad–but looking at her now, so weak and helpless, he just couldn’t bring himself to say anything harsh.
Taking a slow breath, he kept his voice steady. “Elly babe, let me see your injury”
“Yeali” Noelle Lurely nodded.
She tried to lift her left shoulder but struggled, her movements sluggish. Nicolas immediately stepped in, gently pushing her clothes aside.
The mistet he saw her wound, his breath caugh
A derp, bloody hole marred her once flawless skin. The bleeding had stopped, and a scab had formed, but the raw pink flesh underneath was still
vible
Seeing it up close, Nicolas‘ whole body tensed. His hands shook, his chest felt right, and for a second, he forgot how no breathe..
His eyes darkened, jaw clenching as he grilled out, “Noelle, are you insane! You’re seriously hurt, and you’re just lying here like it’s nothing? You need to go to the hospital. Now”
se into her again. It she had a death wish, she should’ve just said so, he would buy her the nicest grave money.
He wanted to yell, to shake some sense into her
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7:24 AM
Chapter 125
But no matter how pissed he was, his body moved on instinct. He was ready to pick
realy to pick her up
up and get her to the hospital right that second.
Before he could, Noelle grabbed his hand, squeezing in tightly.
- y. She pressed her head against his chest, shaking her head. “Nick, I can’t go to the hospital
“Can’t?” His voice was sharp. “Noelle, you have a bullet wound. What do you mean you can’t?”
She was as stubborn as ever. “No”
“Elly babe–His pati
patience was hanging by a thread. But instead of backing down. Noelle smiled.
She forced her eyes open, exhaustion clear on her face, but still, she smiled at him. “Nick, don’t worry. I’m tougher than I look. I’ll be fine in less than a week. It won’t even leave a scar
Nicolas just stared at her. “A week? Are you serious?”
She nodded confidently, then tilted her head, her voice softening “Don’t be mad. You look kinda hot when you’re angry, but I like it better when you smile. Your smile is my favorite.”
His heart did a damn flip. Even now, looking like she would pass out any second, she still had the nerve to mess with him.
With a sigh, he reached out and flicked her forehead. “You’re barely holding on, and you think I can still smile! Huh?”
“There’s really nothing to worry about.” Noelle murmured, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing closer.
She barely had the energy to keep her eyes open, so she just rested her head against his chest, letting out a soft sigh. This injury is nothing”
“Nothing!” Nicolas almost lost it right then and there.
His grip on her tightened as he fought the urge to scold her. She had a bullet wound, and she was acting like she just scraped her knee.
Noelle just let out a tired hum, her voice soft and almost playful. “Seriously, I’ve had worse?
Then, like she was talking about a bad memory from gym class, she added, “One time, every bone in my body was shattered. All my joints were broken. No medicine, no help. just me, left to figure it out on my own. I survived that.”
C
