Three Thousand Miles - Forever, (book #3 of Three Thousand Miles, Series) (31 page)

“Michael is hurt, he bleeding and he is alone. He needs me and I have to get to
him – before it’s too late.” Adrian’s eyes narrow at me and then he reaches out
his hand for William. Adrian gently places his hand on my back as he turns to
James and Sophie.

“I am sorry but we have to go back to London. Please feel free to stay here and
enjoy your trip. Everything is paid for and I will send the jet back for you in a
couple of days. But as for now, Alanna and I need to leave.” James lunges
forward and he shakes Adrian’s hand whilst Sophie hugs me. I smile at her and
then Adrian leads William and me out of the restaurant and into the back of his
town car. I nervously tap my foot against the floor as the car moves off, Adrian
is glaring at me as he huddles a sleepy William into his chest. My eyes are
blurry again, but I take a deep breath as I pray for it to pass. Adrian reaches
over and he takes my hand into his. His eyes are deep and they look sad, I feel
terrible that I have put him through so much. Our trip to St Tropez was
supposed to be about relaxing and it was meant to clear our minds of all the
drama of back home. Instead it was filled with anxiety, hurt and total sadness. I
won’t be able to live with myself if anything happens to Michael, he saved me
and now this is my chance to return his gesture.

“I am sorry about tonight,” I confess as I lean into Adrian. He gently sighs as he
wraps his arm around me. He runs his fingers smoothly along my bare arm as
he kisses my neck. He sighs again as he pulls backfrom me.

“I won’t have you making yourself unwell. You will go to the doctors when we
get home, is that understood?”
“But,” I try to protest, but Adrian flicks his long finger onto my lips so that I
can’t speak. His eyes are intense as he stares at me.

“Don’t speak, I am not going to quarrel with you over this, it’s just simply how
things have to be.” I can feel my heart race and then I gently nod as I agree to
his commands. I pull myself away from him as I search inside my bag for my
phone. Adrian’s eyes are watching my every move and I begin to feel a little
self-conscious by his actions. My cheeks blush, butI manage to compose
myself as I run my finger through my contacts until I find Michael’s name. I
look at Adrian and then I hit send. He stares at me as I hold the phone to my
ear. My heart is pounding as I wait for Michael to answer. The phone rings out
and then it goes to voicemail. I slide my BlackBerry closed as I my fears are
haunting me. Why isn’t he answering me? Was I too late? I shake my head and
those thoughts out of it as I try his number again. I glue the phone to my ear
but Michael still isn’t picking up. I look at Adrian and he is still staring at me.

“He isn’t answering my calls,” Adrian exhales and then he takes his phone out
his jeans pocket. I watch him as he dials Michaels’ number and my anxiety is
through the roof as I wait for him to answer. Adrian snaps his phone shut and
then he turns to look at me.

“What exactly is wrong with him?” I shift around nervously as I think of my
answer. Adrian is staring right through me and I feel that he can see my soul, I
don’t want to risk angering him by lying to him, but at the same time I don’t
want him to know the truth as I know that he will try to keep me from Michael.
My head is thumping and my heart is beating so fast, I need to come clean with
Adrian as that is the only answer I have.

“He has been … shot.” Adrian drops his phone onto the floor as he shakes his
head at me.

 

“You aren’t going to him. I won’t allow you to put yourself in danger.”

 

“You can’t stop me, I am a grown up and it’s my choice.” Adrian snarls at me.

“Yes I can, I will call Charles and he can go and deal with his son. You aren’t
going near him, do you understand me?” I frown at him as I feel my anger
building. My hands are shaking and my throat is dry, I feel as if I could burst
into tears and I would love to slap Adrian right now. But, I try to restrain myself
as I watch William sleep in Adrian’s arms.

“Listen to yourself and you might realise how stupid you sound. Michael is your
brother and I know that things have been strained recently and he has done
some terrible things, but Adrian, you can’t keep me from him. What if he dies?
Will you be able to live with yourself knowing that you wouldn’t let me help
him?”

“We will be home in an hour and you are going to the doctors and then I might
consider letting you go to Michael.” I bang my hand against the door frame
and Adrian slightly jumps from my actions. He reaches out and grabs my hand,
but I firmly pull my arm away. Adrian is now furious and he reaches over and
garbs my cheeks firmly in his hands. His eyes are raging as he tightly squeezes
my face. My jaw begins to throb and I as he breathes on me I can smell alcohol.
Adrian has an outrageous temper, but this is the first time that he has ever
gotten physical with me. His fingers are squeezing my cheeks inwards as his
eyes stare deep into mine. My jaw is numb from the pain and as he maintains
his grip, tears begin to flow from my eyes. Adrian’s hand is now covered with
my tears and I watch as he snaps out of his anger. Adrian loosens his hand
from my face and then he leans back into the seat. He looks devastated by his
actions and I stare at him as he begins to cry. I cry harder as I watch him and
then I can’t look at him any longer as I realise the extent of what he has done.
Adrian has physically hurt me and that is shocking to me. My heart rate is
increasing as I turn around and look at William. He is still sleeping – thank god.
I can’t think of how distressing the sight of Adrian squeezing my face until it
turned blue would be for him. I quickly turn away from Adrian as I can’t bear to
look at him. I can hear him cry, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of my
sympathy.

I look out of the window and I see that we are now on the freeway – heading
in the direction of the airport. Adrian is sitting quietly and I can’t believe that
he hasn’t apologised for his actions. I try to putmy Adrian drama out of my
head as I ring Michael’s phone – again. I hold the phone shakily at my ear as I
listen to the dial tone. My heart nearly stops when I hear him answer.

“Where are you?”
Michael says in shaky, cough stricken voice.

 

“I’m still in France, but I am coming home now, I won’t be long.”
“Please hurry,”
“I’m trying, have you gotten any help?”
“I tried to call the … ambulance but … I feel down and I couldn’t reach my
phone – until now.”
“Okay now that you have your phone please call 999, waiting for me will take
too much of our time, time that you don’t have.”
“Chad should be home any minute now and he will wait with me until you
arrive.”
I sigh as I know that I am fighting a losing battle.

“Okay, I know this a lot for me to ask, but can you please keep me informed. I
am going out of my mind with worry and I hate that I am so far away from
you.”

“Of course,”
I hang up and then I throw my phone into my bag. Adrian has now
stopped crying and I can feel his eyes burning through me as our silence is
deafening. I rapidly stare out of the window and I am relieved when I spot the
airport in the distance. I lift my bag onto my lap as I nervously play with my
hair. I catch a glimpse of Adrian in the corner of my eye and I see that he is
staring at me. I can sense his deep green eyes scorching through my back and I
begin to blush as I begin to feel uneasy around him. I never thought that he
was capable of hurting me and how wrong that thought turned out to be. I
can’t look at him and I shudder when I feel his hand on my shoulder. I gently
nudge him away from me as I don’t want his hands anywhere near me right
now. I can hear him as his breathing becomes shallow and then my ears focus
when I hear him speak.

“Alanna,” he says in a soft voice. I don’t respond to him as I can’t bring myself
to talk to him.

“I understand that you are mad at me, but please don’t ignore me. We need to
take about this, please look at me.” I close my eyes in frustration and then for
the first time since he hurt me, I turn around andI look at him. His eyes are red
and heavy and his hair is flopped down onto his forehead. His hands are
trembling and my heart pounds when he talks again.
“Baby I am so sorry for what I did. I know that I don’t deserve your forgiveness
but please don’t be mad at me. I can’t bear it when you’re upset with me.”

“What you did was unforgivable and I don’t know if I can ever stop being mad
at you.” Adrian’s eyes fill with water, but he manages to control his tears from
flowing from his eyes. He leans in closer towards me and he tries to take my
hand in his. I pull my hand away from him as his touch, repeals me right now.

“You are scared of me, aren’t you?” Adrian says in a deep voice. I blush at his
words and then I admit that he does scare me.

 

“Yes I am scared of you.” Adrian clenches his teeth together as he holds his
head firmly in his hands.

“Baby, please don’t be frightened of me, what can I do to change your mind?”
Adrian tries to plead with me, but I can barely look at him as he tries to
manipulate me – again.

“The person that you have become is terrifying to me. The Adrian that I
married isn’t here anymore. You have replaced him with an alcohol drinking,
smug … jerk and I don’t know if I can love him.” My harsh words ring in the air
and as Adrian tries to absorb them, I am glad that I have finally told him how I
have been feeling. Ever since Edward came into Adrian’s life he has acted
differently in so many ways. He is a lot more manipulative and he lies and
drinks alcohol and I can’t help but think that Edward is the one who is
influencing Adrian actions.

“What are you saying?” Adrian says as he leans closer to me. I take deep
breath as I answer.

“You have changed since you met your father and notfor the better. You have
started to drink alcohol, the Adrian that know hates the very thought of
alcohol and he would never drink it. Remember whenyou told me that you felt
that you wouldn’t be able to control you desire for alcohol and that’s why you
didn’t indulge in it? I am starting to believe thatis the case and that you can’t
take alcohol without losing your head.” Adrian nods as he agrees with me and
then he reaches out and tries again to catch my hand and this time I let him.
Adrian’s fingers intertwine with mine and he pullsmy hand up to his lips as he
begins to rapidly kiss my skin. I feel myself crying again as Adrian holds me.
“Baby I am so sorry, I will never hurt you again. I was crazy, please forgive
me?” Tears are flowing from my eyes as Adrian pulls me into his arms. He grips
me gently as he strokes my hair and kisses my neck. I shiver from his touch and
then I let go of my fears as I melt into his lips.

Seventeen

We arrive back in London - about an hour or so later and when we step off
Adrian’s airplane, his black Range Rover and my Mercedes is waiting there for
us. Adrian carries an exhausted William to his car and he sets him into the back
seat. Adrian buckles William into the car and then he makes his way over to me
as I open the door of my car. Adrian and I talked a lot on the airplane and we
have kind of cleared the air. Adrian has apologised a million times and I
genuinely believe him when he says that it was a one off. He cried and held me
through our entire flight and I sobbed as thoughts of Michael span around my
head. Adrian has reluctantly agreed to let me see Michael, but I have to stop
by the doctor’s office first. Adrian marches over to me as I slide into the car.

“You can follow me to the doctors,”

“I know the way, you should take William home.” Adrian shakes his head as he
takes in my words. His eyes are tense and his cheeks are tear stained and I
can’t breathe as I wait for his next words.
“Please call me when you get there and then again after you have seen the
doctor, okay?” I force out a smile as Adrian agrees with my suggestion. He
smirks back at me and then he leans down and kisses me softly on my cheek. I
press my hand onto his jaw and then he closes the door of my car. I start the
engine and then I click it into drive. I push my foot gently down onto the gas
pedal and the car jolts forward from my slight touch. As I drive along the
tarmac I look back at Adrian and I can see him staring after me as I drive away
from him.

I arrive at the doctors around twenty minutes later and I rush in through the
doors as I want to get this over and done with. I need to get to Michael and I
can’t be wasting my time here. I run up to the receptionist and I quickly give
her my name. She smiles at me and then she escorts me along the white
hallway and then she leads me to a small room. She gently knocks on the door
and then she opens it as she alerts me to enter the room. I walk into the room
and a blonde haired lady doctor is sitting at a large desk.

“Mrs Black, is it?” She asks as she signals for me to take a seat opposite her. I
walk over and then I introduce myself.

“Yes, my husband called you earlier.” She nods and then I have to inform her
that I am in a hurry. “I don’t want to seem rude, but I have somewhere that I
need to be.” The doctor nods her head and then she rises from her seat as she
escorts me over to the bed. She alerts me take a seat onto the bed and then
she reaches for her notepad as she begins to ask me how I am feeling.

“Your husband said that you passed out for a bit tonight. Can you tell me how
you’re feeling now?”

“I feel a little dizzy and my head hurts a little. I have also been feeling nauseous
lately.” The doctor listens carefully to my words and then she jots down her
thoughts on her notepad.

“I see and have you experienced any pain or loss of appetite?”

“Yeah, the other night my lower back was throbbing and it kept me awake. My
appetite has been great; I am staving all the time.” The lady doctor gently
laughs and then she alerts me that she would like to run a few tests. She
checked my pulse, temperature, blood pressure and sugar levels and then she
tested my urine. The doctor asks me to lie down onto the bed as she runs
through my test results. I nervously wait for her verdict and then when she
finally makes her way over to me my heart is racing. The doctor stands at my
bedside as she delivers the news.