Dark Revenge Of A Jilted Bride: Till Life Do Us Part!-Chapter 89: An Attack

"So, will you be able to have dinner with the family this weekend?" Noah asked softly, cutting a glance toward Gianna as he drove on, the car gliding smoothly through the road that led toward the Thorne mansion where he would drop her off.

"I heard from my sister, and Mason, that you turned them down." His lips curved faintly when Gianna scoffed lightly.

"My parents..." he chuckled under his breath. "Were not exactly happy about it. Although, I could tell my mother was more curious than annoyed. Just like Arthur."

Gianna sighed, pushing a slow breath from her mouth as she leaned back into the seat. "I think you lot should stop inviting me to your family dinners... I am not really one for that."

A slight pause. "What is even the reason? Why are they persistent to have me around?"

Noah laughed quietly. "To know the girlfriend of the black sheep? Families are always curious like that..."

He glanced at her again, and she cocked a brow immediately, lifting a finger to point toward the windshield. "Face the road," she warned lightly. "I don’t want to die young..."

The words were teasing, but there was a cold footing beneath them that Noah felt instantly. His smile faded into a small frown. Still, he didn’t press.

Just as he didn’t ask why—the true reason—she resisted him meeting her family—and why she refused to step into his. He already knew the truth of it.

She wasn’t sure about him, and respected her own family so much to subject them to an uncertain relationship.

Her family, which included the Thornes and her circle of friends. Not that stupid uncle of hers and his miserable family.

No, it was the former. A tight-knit, fiercely loyal community he envied more than he liked to admit. He had read about them, researched what he could find. Including Zane.

"So," he tried again, softer now, "you really are turning down my offer... giving me the same treatment as Mason and Esme..."

Gianna snorted. She knew emotional blackmail when she saw it. "Quit it, Noah..."

When he opened his mouth to continue, she scoffed and cut in. "Alright. I’ll think about it."

His grin bloomed wide and victorious, his eyes twinkling with sheer delight.

She snorted at the sight, shaking her head—but she was smiling too now, turning to stare out the window as the scenery blurred past.

Home was close. She could almost feel the familiar safety already.

Then her eyes narrowed.

A black car with tinted windows. Tailing them.

Her spine stiffened as she caught the movement again through the side mirror.

Even though she wasn’t trained in combat and whatnot like Athena, she had learned enough—absorbed too much—during those woeful months of the Grey to recognize danger when it stared back at her.

"Noah..." Her voice dropped. "We are being followed."

He turned toward her instead of the mirror, surprise flickering across his face.

That was when she knew—he had already been aware. The shock wasn’t about the car. It was about her knowing.

"How long?" she demanded, already pulling her phone from her purse, annoyance blooming in her voice.

"A few minutes after we left the convention hall..."

"And why didn’t you say something?!" Her voice went shrill then, panic cracking through as her hands trembled dialing Athena’s number. "We would have gotten backup here in record time!"

Noah shut his mouth, absorbing her fear with a clenched jaw. He had hoped to spare her this—had believed he could handle it himself. He pressed harder on the accelerator.

"Athena..." Gianna rushed the moment the call connected. "We’re being followed."

She didn’t wait. "Noah noticed it a few minutes after we left the convention centre, but kept his big mouth shut!"

"Oh my God..." Athena breathed. "Where are you?"

Gianna scanned the road desperately, eyes darting for landmarks. When she spotted one, she relayed it immediately.

"Please hurry!" The plea tore from somewhere raw. She didn’t want to relive that particular event of three nights ago. Not again. Not ever.

"I will." The call ended.

"Gianna, breathe..." Noah reached for her hand, covering it, stroking her trembling fingers. But she couldn’t relax. Her chest felt tight, air shallow.

Then they reached an intersection.

They were meant to turn right.

Instead, a trailer burst from the left with insane speed.

Gianna was already screaming as déjà vu slammed into her. The massive vehicle screeched and blocked the road ahead.

"Gianna, heads down!" Noah shouted, panic erupting now as the trailer window slid open—and a gun appeared.

But Gianna wasn’t fully there anymore. Her hands flew instinctively to her womb as terror consumed her.

The first gunshot cracked the air.

Noah’s arm wrapped around her back as he shoved her head down, his other hand slamming a button on the dashboard. The tinted glass began sliding up.

"Bulletproof..." he muttered, grateful beyond words he’d chosen this car.

Their heads stayed bowed as bullets hammered the windshield—the uncovered strip ringing with sharp impacts.

Gianna gasped with every shot that whizzed past her ear, slammed into the seats, or tore through the space toward the driver’s side.

Then it dulled. Everywhere was finally covered.

Noah lifted his head, fury blazing. "What the fuck is going on..." His grip on the wheel was white-knuckled.

Gianna swallowed hard, still trembling, counting seconds until help arrived.

The X gang. Athena’s words echoed. What did they want from her? Or rather—who had hired them?

The engine roared again.

She snapped toward Noah. "What are you doing?!" she whisper-yelled, even as bullets continued striking the car.

"Leaving," he said grimly. "We are not sitting ducks. This car should hold us in..." A pause. "...no matter how fast your friends are, I don’t think they will get here in record time."

"Just go," Gianna breathed, surrendering completely. "Take us out of here."

But their enemies had planned for this too.

When Noah swerved left, and turned around, without looking at his side mirror—braving the trailer—his car slammed into a waiting van with brutal force.

The collision knocked the breath from Gianna’s lungs.

She passed out clutching her stomach.