Page 33 of Outrun The Devil

The hurricane within her tore at the fabric of her being, leaving her feeling raw and exposed. She struggled to find solid ground, to anchor herself amidst the tempestuous sea of emotions.

It was a battle she fought with every ounce of her being, refusing to surrender to the overwhelming forces that sought to engulf her.

Overwhelmed and unable to contain the turmoil within, she sank to her knees, pressing her hands tightly against her ears in a desperate attempt to drown out the deafening noise that echoed within her soul. And then, as if in response to her anguish, a scream erupted from her lips, a primal release of all the pent-up pain and frustration that had consumed her.

But amid her despair, two strong hands reached out, gripping her arms with unwavering determination. They shook her gently, coaxing her back to the present moment. Slowly, Olivia's eyes fluttered open, and there, knelt before her, was Nathan. His presence was a lifeline amidst the raging tempest within her.

How did he find her? Why was he here? How did he get here? So many questions flooded her mind.

Her tear-filled eyes locked with his, finding solace in the familiarity of his gaze. The hurricane within her began to subside, its violent winds slowly diminishing in intensity.

A silent understanding passed between them.

But Olivia still didn’t want a partner.

“Why didn’t you tell me that someone broke into your apartment last night?” Nathan's voice was filled with hurt and confusion, echoing in the car.

The kind of loaded silence that came between them made Olivia fight even harder to keep up her walls.

Olivia didn’t dare look at him, her eyes fixed on something much more important outside the window of the car. How could she say that the reason she didn’t was because she was afraid of what it meant? Or that he consumed her thoughts in such an unhealthy manner that reaching out to him, like any good partner would, seemed impossible. Out of character, a mythical creature.

Telling him the moment it happened would mean she’d have to face the fact that Nathan was chipping away at that armor she so carefully built and he wasn’t even doing a damn thing.

As she fixated on anything but him, Olivia couldn’t help but think that the walls were caving in on her, and she wasn’t sure how to stop it.

“Because I didn’t feel it was important.” Her eyes were still focused out the window - anywhere but him. Those walls of hers had gone up the moment she walked out of that cabin. Allowing him to see a side of her she never wanted anyone else to see made her ensure those walls couldn’t come down again.

Even if he had a sledgehammer, ready to aim and destroy.

Out of the corner of her eye, Olivia noticed his knuckles turn white as he gripped the steering wheel harder than necessary. She had thought nothing of it when he offered to drive her back home but now she couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't in his car. What brought him out to the mountainous desert, like she was?

Too many questions without answers and she knew deep down what she needed to do to get them but she feared those answers more than anything else. Olivia Collins was too afraid of what she could find out and wasn't ready to face it.

Nathan's jaw clenched, the muscles in his arm bulging as he tightly gripped the steering wheel. “You are important,” he said through gritted teeth. “You're my partner, Olivia. We're in this together.” His gaze flickered towards her, his eyes burning with intensity. “We're a team, and I need you to trust me.”

Olivia's heart skipped a beat at his words, her mind warring between the urge to push him away and the desire to let him in. She had been burned before, let down by those she trusted the most. The scars of her past were still raw, the wounds too deep to ignore. But something in Nathan's voice, in the way he looked at her, made her want to believe in him.

Yet, as she looked at him, his strong features etched with determination, Olivia couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him. She had spent so long alone, fighting her battles solo, that the idea of having someone by her side was both terrifying and enticing.

The tension in the car was thick, suffocating. Olivia felt like she was drowning in a sea of conflicting emotions, the walls she had built around her heart proving ineffective against Nathan's persistence. She knew deep down that he was right, They were partners, and she needed to trust him if they were going to solve this case.

But Detective Olivia Collins wasn't ready. And she wasn't sure she ever would be. Right?

The car pulled up in front of her apartment complex. Had time gone by so fast that they were already here? Had she lost track of that much time?

They sat in the stillness, the weight of unspoken words lingering between them. Olivia's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to steady her racing thoughts. The lump in her throat made it difficult to find her voice, but she knew she had to address the questions that hung in the air.

Nathan's voice broke the silence, his words tinged with a hint of unease “I’ll, uh, catch a cab back,” he offered a subtle gesture that revealed his internal struggle.

Her grip tightened on the door handle, her fingers searching for some semblance of stability. She needed to find the courage to face the truth and uncover the hidden secrets in the mountainous desert. And now, with Nathan's presence intertwined with her investigation, the questions burned even brighter in her mind.

As she opened the car door, Olivia's gaze met Nathan's, a mixture of curiosity and concern swirling in his eyes. The moment's intensity hung in the air, urging her to speak her mind and seek the answers she desperately needed.

She opened her mouth to speak, to ask those questions that she needed answers to.

But she couldn't bring herself to face those answers, her fear outweighing her curiosity. The thought of unraveling the truth held a weight she wasn't ready to bear, uncertain of the implications it could have on her life and the fragile bond between her and Nathan. It was easier to remain silent, bury the questions deep within, and pretend they didn't exist.

Chapter Eleven