Determined & Derailed (Storm Corp Book 1)

by Gracie Wilson

  Tell her once and for all the final no or are you afraid.

  Not having her would take the light away in your dull life.

  To think you might not see those damn beautiful eyes.

  Those are the things that keep you from saying goodbye.

  Step back from this and let me love her like you think you do.

  Do you need her in your life? Or is this just your selfishness at play?

  You say you love her but you break her down.

  Even it kills you; it’s time to do what’s good for her.

  If that can’t be you love it’s time to move aside.

  Give her that and let her love another guy.

  So she can be loved the way she should.

  The way you wish you could.

  So I’ll say it again one more time for you just so you know.

  You say you love her but you break her down.

  Even it kills you; it’s time to do what’s good for her.

  If that can’t be you love it’s time to move aside.

  Give her that and let her love another guy.

  So she can be loved the way she should.

  The way you wish you could.

  The way you know I would.

  When his voice finally died out, I was barely breathing. He was speaking to me, but he was telling Nolan to let me go. He put his guitar down and walked up to me. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead. “Thanks for just being Lexi. You’ll figure all this out and when you do, either way I’m here for you.”

  My heart melted because I was not sure how I felt anymore. Cohen, Nolan or Jax, it was all so overwhelming. With one from my childhood, another from my adolescences and Cohen who had come out of nowhere, what was a girl to do? How did I feel about leaving Nolan behind? Just the thought hurt my heart. But maybe Cohen was right. He’d never choose me and only me; there’d always be someone or something in our way. I didn’t even know where I’d start with that. I looked over to see if he was as affected by this and I knew exactly where to start.

  I stomped down the stairs and barrelled over to them locked in an embrace. It was a drunken hook-up waiting to happen and I just couldn’t be bothered with either of them. I noticed Clark and Blake were behind me and I used them to my advantage. “Clark, I want them out of my bar now.” I knew I sounded like a jealous bitch, but Nolan knew how I felt about him. Yet he still did this so I could see. He was supposed to tell me the truth so we could move on, not fuck my friend on the dance floor in front of me. They pulled apart, now aware they had an audience. Nolan looked shocked and I thought he was going to throw up. “Good, Nolan, I’m glad you know the severity of your actions tonight. If that song was any indication, I’m not the only one thinking you need to make up your damn fucking mind.”

  I heard someone screaming to let go and I spun to see Trisha dragging Lissa away by her hair. “You, bitch, you can’t just leave him alone after everything you know? I don’t want to see you around Lexi again or this will end in a whole different way. Nolan, it’s time to take your whore and get the hell out of Lexi’s club. When you wake up tomorrow and realize you just screwed over the one person who actually gave a shit about you, I hope you’re happy. She deserves so much better than you, and all you now deserve is this whore…tip her well.” She tossed Lissa by her hair back into Nolan’s arm. He was clearly distraught, not only by my actions, but Trisha had known him since we all met and she had never spoken to him with this disdain. He reluctantly took Lissa by the arm and walked out with Blake and Jax, who now appeared on his tail.

  There was an audience and I was mortified at the attention we’d drawn. I had to get out of here. I needed to think alone and I wouldn’t be able to do that with all of them watching me. I turned to see Clark and I immediately reacted without fully thinking it through. “Clark, I think I forgot to lock the office. I’m going to do that, then I’d like to leave. Can you call the car around? I’d like to stay at the penthouse tonight as well. Let the team know.” He just nodded and started speaking into his earpiece. I bolted to the back and ran right past my office and out the back door. I took off my heels and headed to the next street over, hailing the first taxi I saw. Before I knew it I was telling him to take me to the Oasis but to drop me off a block away. My phone was buzzing and I saw that it was Trisha saying she knew what I did but everyone was freaking out. I turned off my phone and put it back in my clutch. I’d deal with the ramifications of this little adventure tomorrow.

  When he pulled up to the place I asked I threw him a few twenties and hustled out of the taxi, making my way into the back storage area of my Oasis. I typed in my code and as the door opened, I saw the one thing I needed right now. My Spyder was sitting there and I knew I was right to ask to come here. I needed to drive, clear my head, and figure out this mess I called my life right now. I got in and was on the road in the matter of a minute. I headed to the nearest highway. I just needed the speed. I noticed when checking my mirror that I had a SUV on my tail. Great, Davey must have caught on to my plan and was following me. I inched forward, not trying to lose him, but making a point that I just needed to drive. The SUV was gaining on me, trying to approach me on the side and that was when I noticed that it was black, but not one of mine.

  The SUV pulled up alongside and swerved into me, trying to push me off the road. I reacted and slowed down before I realised my mistake. There was another one right behind it, trying to box me in. I started frantically looking around for some sort of help and I knew the closest person to where I was right now was the last person I wanted to call for help. The SUV slowed down and took a second shot at me. This time I shot forward and didn’t let off the gas. I grabbed my clutch, trying to get my phone and I switched it on. It was vibrating nonstop to the point where I thought it wouldn’t stop. I dialled the one person I wished I never needed to call again. As soon as I heard his voice I felt safe and I knew things were going to be okay. “Nolan, help me.” Then I heard her voice saying to hang up so they could finish what they’d started.

  I felt bile rise to the back of my throat. Nolan was with Lissa and they were doing exactly what I suggested he would. I hadn’t been in tears until that moment and I panicked, trying to wipe them away. “What going on?” I couldn’t speak. Before I got the chance to say anything I’d slowed and the SUVs were gaining upon me again. I could hear him yelling for me to answer him. I couldn’t deal with his bullshit along with this, but I needed help. “Nolan, I need your help.” I heard Lissa in the background.

  “Babe, just get rid of that thing and get back in here.” My heart dropped to the floor and was shattered. I didn’t care at this point how much help I needed, it wouldn’t be from Nolan.

  “Alexis, what’s wrong? I’m on my way, tell me where you are?” He was not alone and I knew I couldn’t deal with that. Without a single doubt I was completely in love with Nolan Nathans and he just broke my heart beyond repair. “No, Nolan, it’s fine, you’re not alone. I’ll call Tory, it’s nothing important. I just needed a ride. I’ll see you at the office on Monday.” With that I hung up and dialled the one person I now knew I could depend on.

  “Lexi, babe, tell me where you are. Everyone is worried?” His voice sounded so sweet and unlike the Cohen businessman personality he had been hiding behind. I was still speeding down the highway and these guys just wouldn’t give up.

  “Cohen, help me, I’m being chased.” I heard the panic in his voice and he was yelling to people to get in the cars.

  “Where are you, Lexi? We’re coming for you. Just breathe, don’t worry.” I calmed and told him where I was heading and it happened to be toward the penthouse where they were coming from. I heard a bunch of yelling and screeching. They were on their way. Coming without a second thought to help me, unlike Nolan. Every time I tried to take a cut off, they’d block me from getting off and I pushed forward, trying to get past them, but it was no use. It was not long before I came up onto the end of this road and they had no choice but to let me g
et off. I continued to tell Cohen where I was heading, hoping that he would get here soon.

  When I came along the side of the Hudson, I panicked and started crying. “I’m at the Hudson, approaching where my brother’s car went off.” Once I said it, I realized every time they stopped me from getting off it was for this reason.

  “We were just in front of you,” Cohen said, trying to remain calm, but I could tell he was scared just like me.

  “They’re setting me up!” Just then the SUV beside me slammed into me, sending me spinning and the car broke through the barrier, plummeting into the water below me.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Breathe, Lexi. Come on.” My eyes sprung open and water was escaping my lungs. I looked around frantically and noticed that Cohen was holding me, rubbing my back.

  “What happened?” I said hoarsely. As soon as I said the words it all came back. Nolan and the fact I took off from all the security team. Having called Nolan in a panic and the realization of what he was doing while I was in danger. The car chasing ending in the Hudson trapped.

  “Lexi, just rest.” I closed my eyes and darkness took over, pulling me under as the flashing lights came closer.

  I woke to see that I was in a hospital bed, hooked up to monitors and a ruckus coming from outside my door. “You can’t stop me from going in there, Cohen. I’m next of kin, so get the fuck out of my way before I move you.” I wanted to call to them and tell them all to shut up. I was fine.

  “She called you first, Nolan, and just because Lucas left you in charge after he died does not mean you have a right to see her after what you did. I notice that Lissa is in the waiting room, so that means when our girl called you, she was there. Guess you were too busy with your trollop to help her when she needed you, eh?” Jax just said the one thing to set Nolan off.

  “She didn’t call you at all, did she, she called Cohen. How does it feel to be at the bottom?” Nolan was yelling at Jax.

  “Don’t worry, you won’t have to worry about getting a call like that again. If she ever needs someone again, you won’t even be involved enough in her life to know. Not after the shit you pulled and now brought the skank friend here. Come on, man, you fuck them and drop them off. Not bring them to the hospital bed of the girl you’re claiming to love. Which you just proved means shit, since instead of being there for Lexi, you were fucking her bitch former best friend.” I heard scuffling and I knew they’d broken out into a fight.

  “Enough, Jax, let him in there and Nolan if you ever put her in that situation again, I will be the one taking swings at you. She needs everyone on her side, not in bed with her friends. I will be directing her not to call you when she’s in need of assistance again, since you can’t be counted on to know when she’s in trouble.” Oh, Davey, the more he’s around, the more I miss Dad.

  I heard the door open and I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to seem afraid, but I couldn’t look at him yet. I felt his hand on my face and I still didn’t open my eyes. “Lexi, baby, I’m so sorry.” My eyes jumped open at his use of the word baby and I startled him. “Thank God you’re awake.” I tried to rein in my anger, but it was not working.

  “Why don’t you just go home? I don’t need you now, Nolan.” I saw his eyes water and I knew he was hurting, but it was too little too late. There was nothing left for him here if he couldn’t be honest and be someone I could depend on.

  “I don’t... Lexi, please, I don’t want it to be like this with us. I wasn’t thinking. Forgive me please, Lexi? God, I didn’t think, I should have been thinking. I’m sorry.” Was he asking me to forgive him for Lissa or for not being there when I needed him? I didn’t know, but neither was happening right now. Then it clicked, he brought Lissa here with him.

  “Is that what really mattered? Getting some from Lissa was more important than all this. She was my friend, Nolan, and you knew. Then I called and even if I was furious with you, I went to you. I won’t make that mistake again, I promise you. You won’t be honest with me and I’m not even sure there is friendship here anymore. You don’t do what you’ve done to your friends.” I could barely see through the tears. I loved him more than anything in this world and he just threw me away. He was constantly pushing me away and wouldn’t let me in.

  “I’m so sorry, Lexi.” His eyes were filled with tears and I knew I had to make a clear line here.

  “Sorry won’t fix this. I will be calling the lawyers and notifying the hospital of the changes to my wishes.” Hurt and confusion took over his face when he heard my words to him.

  “Lexi, you’re not making any sense, maybe you should rest.” He went to grab my hand and I pulled it away.

  “For the first time in my life, my sense is all I have, because yours is shit. Don’t worry, you won’t be notified again. I am changing my next of kin.” My words were full of hate and my tears had dried up. With all that was going to happen, I needed him out of my life and unable to make decisions for me or in my stead.

  “Baby, no, please. I am so sorry, Lexi. I promise never to do this again. Don’t do this.” His words set me off. I couldn’t control my heart or my head.

  I screamed in frustration. “How could you? You had me, Nolan. I never stopped loving you. You knew that.” I heard him shuffle on the corner of my bed and I looked at him to see he was crying.

  “Maybe you should have.”

  I felt like the world was spinning out of control. Did Nolan just tell me I should have stopped loving him?

  “Can’t we just move past that, Lexi?” This was the final chance to get through to him that I was not going away, even if I should.

  “When it’s real you don’t walk away, Nolan.” It took him a minute before he responded and for a second I was hopeful. Then his face looked almost haunted, like he was being tormented. My world only got worse when Nolan said and did the one thing that had now forever crippled my heart.

  “Exactly.” With that Nolan got up, walking out of the hospital room and most likely out of my life.

  When he left I felt like I couldn’t breathe and no matter what I wasn’t able to catch my breath. He couldn’t just leave like that and leave me alone. He was all I have left. Before I made it to the door, I collapsed into a puddle on the floor. I begged the blurry darkness to take me again because anything was better than what I was feeling right now. I felt two sets of arms pulling me up and bringing me back to the bed.

  “It will be okay, Lexi, you just need to rest.” I looked to see Cohen, who had just spoken, and Jax on either side of the bed, both holding one of my hands.

  “Rest now, little Lexi, when you wake up tomorrow things will be better. I promise you I will find out who did this to you and they will pay for what they’ve done.” With that childhood endearment and the reassurance from Jax, I drifted off to sleep, wondering what had become of my life. The last thing I thought before sleep took me sent chills down my spine at how ruthless I had become. Maxwell would pay for this if it were the last thing I did. He wouldn’t get away with hurting other people and he’d pay for my brother.

  * * *

  I was released forty-eight hours later and hadn’t heard a word from Nolan. Changing my next of kin and legal documents wasn’t difficult. Tory was the obvious choice. Tory had been here and wouldn’t leave even though Davey was here as well. Both Cohen and Jax had stayed by my side and it made me wonder what I’d done to gain such wonderful men in my life. As much as I loved Nolan, I needed to do what Cohen’s song said and so did he. He had to let me go and I needed to love someone else.

  When it came time to leave, it was already decided that we were all moving back to the penthouse since it had the space for us to all stay more comfortably. The other deciding fact was I was not telling Tory about the Oasis. I still needed that place for me and I wasn’t sure if he’d tell Nolan.

  When I asked about Nolan and where he’d be staying, Tory got quiet. “Well, that’s up to you. I asked him what he wanted and he very much wants to see you, but I have told him h
e needs to back off until you say otherwise.”

  Wait. What did Tory just say? “Nolan has been trying to see me and you’ve stopped him?” Tory looked like he didn’t know how to answer the question, so he pinned his gaze to the floor, nodding his head.

  “After your argument he was back within the hour and I told him to get out. He came back first light and I told him to stay away until I gave the okay. I’m sorry, Alexis.” He never once looked at me. I reached over and placed my hand on his. I pulled him to me and wrapped my arms around him. Since my parents died I never noticed that I had a family I’d made. Tory was the closest thing to a dad I would ever have again and I couldn’t be happier that he was here protecting me.

  “Thank you, Tory, you knew exactly what I needed and I know it couldn’t have been easy to turn Nolan away like that.” He gave me a squeeze and I felt like I might be able to do this without losing everyone I loved, Tory included. I need to keep those important to me close. “You did what was needed, your protected my heart, Tory. Tory...” He looked up at me still sheepishly. “I never want to hear you call me Miss Storm again. It’s either Alexis or Lexi. Got it?”

  He chuckled and gave me another hug. “Let’s get you home now, Alexis.”

  Walking into the penthouse felt like it had been months since I’d been there. In reality it hadn’t nearly been that long. I looked around and I noticed it was just the security team in the penthouse. I grabbed my tablet that was on the table at the door. I looked down and I saw all of Nolan’s history. Lissa had been messaging him since that night and he hadn’t returned one message. However, when I opened his emails I was thrown back by what I saw and I start to wonder if I missed something. Maxwell talked about those close to me and that he could get to me through them. Could it really be Nolan? Would he betray me and his loyalty to the Storm family? I opened the email and it didn’t say who it had been sent to. It just showed up as scattered numbers and letters. But the message in it was clear as day.