Chapter 31

Lakeland

Roberto and I haven't spoken a single word the entire car ride. When we reach the bridge and he parks the car off to the side, I begin to feel anxious. Have you ever had a feeling like something bad happened but you don't know what it is, you just feel it? That's what I'm feeling now as I open the door and climb out. We walk side by side along the bridge, the only lighting out here is from Roberto's headlights and the moon. The closer I get to the middle of the bridge, the pain in my head makes its presence known. We make it to the middle of the bridge when a flash of a memory plays out in my mind, I clutch my head and hunch over.

I gasp when I feel a hand on my back and jerk away from Roberto, tears gather in my eyes as I stare up at him. His eyes are filled with concern as he peers down at me. "Are you okay?"

"I know. All we need to do is get to my house and then we pack our shit and go."

"How do I say goodbye to him?" I choke out.

"You never have to. He won't let you go without a fight. He loves you so fucking much, Lakeland, that he even breathes in sync with you when you two are together. He is the person who will always choose you! Never doubt him, he will always find you and make sure you choose him, because without you, his soul would be shattered."

I shake my head. "I was driving, I told her what happened that night, she knew." I choke out as an overwhelming amount of guilt slams into me, robbing me of air. Roberto takes a step toward me but freezes at the sight of headlights at the other end of the bridge. Suddenly I'm hit with a sense of Deja Vu just before the pain in my head intensifies bringing me to my knees. I see Roberto shift so he is blocking me and has a gun in his hand. I can make out the figure of a person but I can see them clearly because of the headlights blocking their features. "Ahhh," I cry out.

"Hang on, Lakeland." I hear Roberto say as the figure finally comes close enough so we can see who it is. My jaw unhinges in shock at the sight of Clara Bronson standing there looking murderous, but her gaze is fixed on the father of her children who slowly lowers his gun. "Clara," he whispers.

"I'll fucking kill you, you will not hurt that sweet girl like you tried to hurt my baby!" she screams. I stare at her in horror as she pulls her own gun, tears flowing freely from her eyes as she points the gun at Roberto. I use every ounce of strength I have to push to my feet but I collapse, weakened from the pain in my head.

"Clara, please let me explain?—"

"You are a fucking monster. I hate you, my children hate you!" Roberto flinches but doesn't try to defend himself. "You ruined us, you took everything from me. I loved you and you used me." He gasps and tries to step forward but she cocks the gun forcing him to freeze.

"I never used you," he says with such conviction that there is no way she can't hear the truth in his words. "I loved you, still fucking do." Clara shakes her head, denying him as she swipes her tears away with her free hand. "I love my children?—"

"You don't get to speak about my kids! They are mine, you abandoned them, you wanted to hurt my little girl," she sobs out, I can feel the grief wafting her in waves.

"I never wanted to hurt them," Roberto whispers brokenly.

"Liar!" she screams.

"I swear it…" I tune out their argument as I force myself to my feet and stand shakily. I reach out and grip Roberto's arm to steady myself.

"Oh my God." I snap my gaze to Clara. She looks between me and Roberto but I don't understand the betrayal I see in her gaze. "You used my son, you betrayed him!" she screams. I shake my head and open my mouth to deny her claim but then another car comes speeding toward us with others following behind it. Roberto shifts and uses his body as a shield. I begin to panic, I'm terrified but something about what I'm feeling doesn't feel new, it's like old feelings are resurfacing.

"Knox," I hear Roberto breathe out a second before the sound of guns cocking silences him.

"You should have stayed dead." The deathly cold tone has a shiver working its way down my spine. "You won't walk away this time." Knox sounds like a cold blooded killer. Fear keeps me rooted to my spot.

"Let me explain?—"

Knox cuts Roberto off. "I don't owe you a fucking thing?—"

"No but you need to hear what I have to say," Roberto pleads. I shift only for my attention to be snagged by something glimmering on the guard rail. I feel this tugging sensation inside my chest forcing me to go to it, I don't realize I've moved until I'm gripping the railing. I hear someone shouting my name but it becomes white noise as I bend down and take in the sight of faded artificial flowers, moldy teddy bears, and a small cross that is tied to the railing, but it's the gold necklace wrapped around the cross that holds my focus. It's covered in black and green spots, I lift it off the cross and turn it over in my palm, I spot an inscription on the back and use the hem of the jacket Roberto gave me to wipe it.

I'll always choose you.

"Lakeland!" I jolt and jump to my feet spinning around to find Roberto by my side and Knox, Clara, Taylan and Xander as well Knox's men standing there with their guns pointed at me. "What the fuck are you doing with him?" Knox roars but something feels off, I drop my gaze to the necklace then back to him.

"I'll always choose you," I say quietly, something about those words has a strange feeling swirling inside me.

"What?" I lift my gaze back to Knox, suddenly I feel dizzy and sway on my feet stumbling back a step, Roberto reaches for me but a shot rings out, he slams into me from the force. I scream as I fall backward, I meet Knox's fear stricken gaze a second before I feel myself falling over the railing.

This is how I die.

This is the end.

Those are the thoughts running through my head as screams tear from me. I don't want to die! Before I can fall to the river below my ankle is gripped and I grunt from the jolt. "Help me!" I scream as my hands dangle above my head. Fear isn't an adequate word to describe how I feel right now, this is a feeling I can't even name. It's worse than terrified, worse than numb, this is a feeling of certain death and knowing there is not a goddamn fucking thing you can do to stop it from happening. But the pain in my head never leaves me, it stays there taunting me, reminding me I am going to die without knowing the full story. "Knox!" I don't realize I have screamed his name until he answers me.

"I got you, Lay. I got you baby. Hang on." A whimper escapes me as the pain in my head grows so does the feeling of Deja Vu, it's so fucking intense it robs me of air and I begin to hyperventilate. "I won't let you go baby, this fucking bridge won't take you from me as well. Do you hear me, Lakeland. I fucking choose you, I'll always choose you!"

A tsunami of pain explodes inside my head hearing those words from him. I've never felt this much pain before, it's blinding. I feel like I am being ripped apart from the inside, my head exploding with excruciating pain that robs me of breath. I pray to black out, God, I fucking beg for the numbness that passing out brings. My eyes are open but I see nothing, I can't even hear a single sound, all my senses are gone. I can't see, I have no sense of smell, I can't even feel my limbs. If I wasn't in so much pain I would swear I was dead.

But suddenly, the pain vanishes and I'm hit with everything all at once.

"Lay, I have to tell you something." Nerves course through me as I stare up at the boy I have had a crush on for year., Knox Bronson has always seemed so far out of reach. He isn't like any of the boys at my school, he doesn't spend hours worrying about what he looks like or how much money he will inherit.

I dart my tongue out and moisten my lipsas I peer up at him through my lashes. "Y-yeah?"

That sexy half smirk he only reserves for me makes its way to his perfect face and my heart stutters in my chest when he reaches out and grabs my waist. I suck in a sharp breath as he draws me in so I'm flush against him.

"Today's your birthday and I've waited a long fucking time for this."

My heart is pounding inside my chest, warmth spreads through me like an inferno and the sundress I currently wear begins to feel too restricting, my nipples push against the material begging to be touched.

"A long time for what?" My voice sounds breathy to my own ears but I don't care, I have dreamed about this moment for years. So many nights I have dreamed about Knox holding me like this and looking at me like I'm his person, the only person in the world that he needs.

"For you to finally be mine. I choose you, kitten." Before I can say anything, he meshes his lips to mine, kissing me so deeply that my brain short circuits and I forget to breathe. Who needs oxygen when you can breathe in Knox?

I can't stop touching my lips, ever since he kissed me and claimed me as his I haven't been able to take my eyes off him. I watch him like a stalker from across the room as he, Xander, Taylan and River all crowd around the pool table and laugh at something Taylan said. I can't keep the smile off my face.

"Argh, you're making gooey eyes at my brother!" I jolt in surprise and spin to see Wave standing there looking disgusted, I panic. What if my best friend hates the idea of me loving her brother? Oh my God, what if she makes me choose between them? "Why do you look like you need to poop." I scrunch my face which just causes her to laugh.

"Wave, I have to tell you something—" She shushes me and places her hand on my shoulder with a smile on her face and nothing but love in her eyes.

"I know, Lake. I've known for years that you have had a thing for Knox." My face slackens, was I that obvious? "I also know he has been infatuated with you for years as well." My mouth pops open in disbelief.

"What?" I squeak.

"Lake, you are so blind sometimes."

"Am not," I defend in a huff.

"You really are. Knox doesn't care about anyone except for his boys, River, my mom and me. He doesn't care for anyone which is why I know this isn't a fling for him, he wants it all with you, Lake, and if you can't give him that, let him go." I gape at her.

"Wave, I would always choose him."