Killian
"Liberty!" I yell, listening in horror as she screams for me. The sound of metal scraping on metal is loud…too loud. I've been pacing around the parking lot like a caged beast, waiting for her to get back. She's close though. The sound of the impact is too loud to be coming just from the phone.
I take off running toward the roadway, frantic to get to her. God, if she's hurt. If I lose her…
My breath rasps in my throat, erupting in an enraged roar at the thought. I can't lose her. She's everything that's right in my world. I knew it the moment I saw her. Spending the morning away from her only reinforced how important she is to me. I've been on edge all morning, fucking hating the way we left shit between us this morning.
I reach the roadway and whip my head back and forth. I see the SUV sitting in the middle of the intersection, the front end dented. I don't see Liberty or her car though. God, where is she?
"Jesus. Oh, Jesus," I rasp, running full out in that direction.
Cars are pulled over on the side of the roadway. I dodge them, moving as quickly as I can to get to her. By the time I make it to the intersection, my lungs burn and my heart pounds a frenetic rhythm against my ribcage. My stomach is twisted in knots, terror for her churning through me with every beat of my heart.
I round the side of the SUV and see her car sitting sideways, facing the wrong direction. The back end is all fucked up. The back axel is destroyed, the back tire sitting at an odd angle. There's probably frame damage.
It doesn't matter. She's the only thing that matters right now. The driver's side door is standing open and she isn't inside.
"Liberty!" I shout, whipping my head back and forth, trying to find her in the milling crowd. I'm ready to lose my damn mind when I see her through a break in the crowd. She's sitting on the sidewalk, surrounded by people.
I shout her name again and race toward her, shoving people out of the way. She doesn't look hurt, but she's pale. Too pale. She's got her arms wrapped around her middle. She looks so damn tiny and fragile.
"Liberty," I rasp.
She looks up at me.
"Killian," she cries when she sees me. Tears fill her eyes and then spill over.
I drop to my knees in front of her, dragging her into my arms. She burrows into me, sobbing and clinging to me like she's afraid I'll disappear if she lets me go. As soon as she's in my arms, the vise around my heart loosens.
She's safe.
"Are you hurt, baby girl?" I ask, running my hands all over her to make sure.
"N-no. Just scared."
"Shh. I've got you," I promise, glaring at everyone until they look away, giving us a modicum of privacy. I bury my face in her hair, breath in that sweet coconut scent…send up a prayer of gratitude to God for keeping her safe for me.
Sirens finally sound in the distance, letting me know the cops are on the way. Which is probably a good thing. If I get my hands on whoever hit her, I'm killing them. The other driver is lucky she isn't hurt. It's the only thing keeping me calm right now.
Liberty hears the sirens and sniffles before pulling back. Her eyes are rimmed in red, little streaks of mascara down her cheeks. I wipe it off with shaking hands, putting her back together so she can meet the world on her feet, as the courageous woman she is. She doesn't like to cry or let anyone see her vulnerability. And that's okay. I'll help protect that fragile part of her with my life, let her be the brilliant woman she is when other people are around.
"What happened?" I ask her, pressing my lips to her forehead and then both of her cheeks and her lips. Letting her go isn't an option right now. Or ever. If she isn't ready to move in with me, I'll move in with her. Or sleep on her porch. Whatever it takes to make her realize that this is permanent and I'm not going anywhere without her.
"He r-ran the red light," she says, hiccupping. "I tried to get out of the way, but there was a car in front of me so I couldn't move fast enough." Her honey-colored eyes meet mine. "I was so scared I'd never get to see you again."
"That'll never happen," I promise, touching my mouth to hers. "You're mine now, baby girl. Nothing is allowed to take you from me. I won't allow it."
She stares at me for a moment, and then her lips quirk up into a tremulous smile. "I almost believe you could do it, that you could keep everything from touching me. Killian, I…"
And I know what she's going to say. I see it blazing in her eyes.
"Not here," I rasp, placing my fingers against her lips.
She studies me for a moment and then nods her understanding.