AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her words hang heavy between us, a chasm that feels too wide to cross with just a few well-meaning sentences. The ache in my chest grows as I realize that this argument isn’t just about this incident; it’s about fundamental differences in how we view the world, how we approach life and risk.
I swallow hard, the taste of fear bitter on my tongue. “Natalie, I…”
I don’t know how to finish that sentence. There’s too much to say, too much at stake, and suddenly I’m not sure any of it can be bridged with a compromise. She’s right—perhaps we are too different.
I’m too broken for her. Too fucked up from a war and a system that didn’t take care of me in the aftermath. A man who ruins every good relationship he touches because the need to shield people from the shit I’ve seen is too strong.
“Maybe we need some time to think about this,” I finally say, though every word feels like conceding to a larger defeat.
“Maybe we do,” she agrees quietly, and I can hear in her voice the same resignation that’s settling heavy in my own heart.
The call ends abruptly, the finality of the conversation gutting. I sit for a moment in the parked car, staring at the steering wheel, grappling with the painful realization that love might not be enough. Enough to keep someone safe, enough to make a relationship work.
Slowly, I climb out of the car, my limbs numb as I prepare to face the chaos at the building, now carrying a new weight—the uncertainty of where Natalie and I stand, and the haunting possibility that we might indeed be too different to make it together.
CHAPTER 30
NATALIE
Iarrive at the hospital with a heavy heart of worry and guilt. The front desk clerk quickly directs me to Jack's room after verifying I’m his sister. As I make my way down the sterile, antiseptic-smelling corridor, the sound of my footsteps echoes a little too loudly in the quiet.
Pushing open the door to Jack's room, I'm greeted by the sight of my brother propped up against several pillows, his face a stark contrast to the white linens. The black eye and stitches running across his forehead are jarring, a visible mark of the violence inflicted on him. His eyes meet mine, and despite the bruises, they light up with a brotherly warmth that’s been a constant in my life.
“Jack,” I breathe out, my voice catching as I approach his bedside. I lean in carefully to hug him, mindful of his injuries.
“Hey, Nat,” he replies, his voice rough but managing a weak smile. “Thanks for coming.”
“How are you feeling?” I ask, pulling back to look him over. He's always been my big brother, and that made him totally invincible in my mind. Now he looks so small and helpless in that hospital bed.
“Horrible,” he admits with a wry twist of his lips. “But I’ll live. It looks worse than it feels... mostly.”
Sitting down in the chair next to his bed, I take his hand, needing the connection, needing to feel that he’s really here and okay. “Is there anything I can do? Anything you need?”
Jack shakes his head slightly and winces. “Not much to do right now. The police are handling the investigation, and the doctors want me to rest.”
I nod, though the helplessness doesn’t sit well with me. “I’m sorry, Jack. I should have been here. If I hadn’t gone?—”
“Nat, stop,” Jack interrupts gently. “How could you have possibly known? You deserved that break, a chance to get away from all the stress. I’m just sorry your weekend got cut short.”
He’s sorry? For being physically attacked and interrupting my irresponsible weekend? I shake my head in disbelief. His forgiveness, so freely given, does little to alleviate the weight of my guilt, but it’s comforting all the same.
“I just wish I could have done something, anything to prevent this.”
“You being safe is enough for me,” Jack insists, squeezing my hand reassuringly. “Don’t beat yourself up over this. We’ll handle it, like we always do.”
His words echo the ones Julian spoke to me just minutes before, but coming from Jack, it feels different somehow—more empowering. Like he trusts me to protect my own safety. His strength and resilience in the face of adversity are qualities I’ve always admired, and now more than ever, they provide a pillar of support that I find myself leaning on.
We chat a bit more, about minor things at first—updates from the hospital, his recovery plan—and then about the deeper concerns, the ongoing threats to our project, and how we might move forward. Jack’s face is pale, but his spirit seems unbroken. The spark in his eyes reassures me, even if the bandage at his temple continues to nag at me.
"Jack, if you need anything—or if you don't want to stay alone—you can come and stay with me for a few days," I offer, trying to mask my concern with a casual tone.
Jack gives a weak smile, his gratitude evident even as he shakes his head. "Thanks, Nat. I appreciate it, but I think I'll be okay by myself." He pauses, then adds a bit sarcastically, "Besides, I don’t really want to be a third wheel to you and Julian."
I return his smile, not wanting to open that can of worms right now. “Alright, but the offer stands. Anytime.” I take a deep breath before continuing, “You know… Julian thinks he knows who's behind this. It seems they're after him, not us, so you should be safe at my place, if you decide you want to stay with me.”
Jack’s expression turns serious again. He nods slowly, processing this information. “He mentioned something about that. Why? I mean, I know he can be a dick sometimes, but why would someone want to seriously hurt Julian?”
I sigh, unable to appreciate the humor at this moment. “It’s something from his time in the Marines. I don't know all the details, but Julian believes it's tied to a former military buddy. It seems like that guy was bad news to begin with. Hopefully, the police have enough to make an arrest.”
