a sign of affection, saying his name softly. “What you did was wrong, and what I did, I did for, for...” I couldn’t finish. My time with Josh was just thrown into the same pit as Clint. Josh was in the same arena now. He was working for my Dad, probably doing the same things my Dad did. They were both like him. That reality was going to hit me hard later, but I wasn’t going to let it right now. No, now I had to deal with my very unstable and unpredictable ex-boyfriend, who not only was driving like a mad man, but had my Dad’s men chasing us with the intention of probably taking Clint out.
“Clint you need to pull over. That car that is behind us, is my father’s men. If they find out you are trying to hurt me, they will do everything possible to take you out. You need to stop the car. Please.” My breathing was ragged as my nerves started to unravel. Cars we sped past beeped at us to slow down, and other cars screeched to a standstill as they avoided us. I needed to get my seat belt on and fast. I slid across the seat and frantically reached up and across to pull on my seat belt. Clint looked at me horrified as I buckled myself in.
“You think I’m trying to hurt you? I would never hurt you. You are my everything Norah. You are my wind, my rain, my sunshine and my heaven. You are my future wife, the mother of my children, my one and only.” Clint was again desperately pleading with his heart. “I don’t think you grasp what I would do for you.”
I stupidly muttered under my breath, “Oh I know what you would do to keep me.” I couldn’t help the bitterness that came out about the contract Clint put on Samuel. The fact he didn’t understand how that action would hurt me, filled me with anger I couldn’t control. It only reassured me that my decision was final, that our break-up was final.
Clint heard the way I uttered those words and then jerked his hands so the car swerved hard to one side. I heard more horns blaring as cars missed us. My compassion was now taking a back-seat to my safety.
“STOP THE CAR CLINT!” I yelled at him. He kept driving but turned his head to me, not paying attention to the road.
“What I did, I did for love Norah. I did it for us. I didn’t want anyone else to get in the way.” His eyes were pools of tears, and the moment he blinked at me, they fell to his cheeks. I wanted to hug him. I wanted to punch him. I wanted him to understand this was good-bye. I wanted him to stop the car.
I saw a clear street up ahead with no cars, and knew I had to end this madness. “Clint, I’m truly sorry for what I’m about to do to you right now, but if you want to live, you need to follow my lead and do exactly what I say.”
I took a deep breath and I reached across to his lap, and hit him hard in the groin. He let go of the steering wheel as he moaned and in the same moment, I pulled up the hand brake and took control of the wheel. The car screeched badly and spun a few times before coming to a complete stop. I heard another car pull up next to us and voices run toward Clint’s car. Clint tried to catch his breath, and I tried to get my story together.
“Don’t say anything. Just nod and let me do all the talking,” I said sternly to Clint.
Breathe Norah. Time to put on your game face.
Pounding erupted on the window near my head, which startled me and Clint. As if snapping out of whatever state of mind Clint had been in since he picked me up, he looked at me like a scared little boy. He finally knew he was in a very dangerous situation. I nodded to Clint, who could only nod back at me. This was my time to perform.
I turned to the window where I saw two very large and angry Italian men staring back at me. They were Dino and Robert, two of my Dad’s closest associates. I pressed the button to allow the window to electronically roll down.
“Fuck Lenorah. Are you OK? What did