Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 102

Sofia

"You gonna be okay?" Derek asked.

After an hour, I was finally released by the doctor. Chase was taking care of the release papers, leaving me

and Derek in the ER.

"I think so," I raised my bandaged hand, wiggling my fingers peeking out of the wrap.

A smile tipped his lips, but he didn't bother masking his concern.

"You didn't tell Chase about Chuck." While waiting, Chase told us how he knew Detective Jacobson. She was one of the cops who worked on Letty's case. She was only a newbie back then, and she strongly believed that Chase was involved in Letty's death more than he was letting on.

Given our location, the three of us knew we could not take a walk down memory lane on how deeply Chase and the detective knew each other.

"No. And you're not telling him either." Though his voice was leveled, it was more of a command than a request.

I nodded. "But you're gonna give me an update, right?"

Derek pondered on his response. "If you promise to keep things to yourself."

I don't understand why Derek wanted to keep this from Chase. Keeping secrets never ends well, but with how fast Chuck found out that the sedan was stolen from Nikki Pearson, it won't take long before he gives Derek a name or, better yet, puts a face on the person behind the wheels. As much as I didn't want to keep this from Chase, I needed Derek's resources and skills. "I will."

Besides, after hearing Chase's conversation with Jacobson, I knew he was also hiding things from Derek. "You ready?" Chase came back, a nurse behind him pushing a wheelchair.

I eyed the wheelchair, scowling. "I can walk." I pushed off the bed, biting on my tongue when I felt the pressure of my weight on my lower body, but I refused to be treated like a fragile doll.

"Sofia," Chase sighed. "Please, just sit on the f*****g wheelchair."

"No." I walked past them, wincing with each step; my stubbornness and pride kept me going until I reached the parking lot. Chase and Derek were behind me.

"Well, follow behind you," Chase said to Derek.

"What's the real story behind you and Jacobson?" I launched as soon as we were on the road, flanking behind Derek's pickup. We are headed to Leo's place where Elise waited for us. Miles had to pick the kids up from the art studio and take them there. "She believed that Letty and I were involved with Loco," Chase said, eyes laser-focused on the road.

"Loco... The local gang leader who killed Letty's dad?" We only talked about Letty's death one time. It's not something we talked about over breakfast, so I had to be sure.

"Yes," his voice was strained. Clearly, this was a sour topic for him. "After he died, the local PD cleared out his house and turned over his businesses, but Alice didn't find anything to link Letty and me to his business. My story checked out. Letty's death was ruled an accident; Alice wasn't happy about that."

"Why are you on a first-name basis with her?" I asked out of curiosity, but his silence left a scowl on my face. "Oh damn," I chuckled, acid rose from my stomach. "You slept with her, didn't you?"

"We needed information from the inside," he said, as if that would justify him using Alice for his own benefit. "You used her. No wonder she's mad at you." "It's in the past, Sofia."

"For you, but not for her. Do you think she'll be objective with this attempted murder on me?" jealousy wrapped around my voice like a vise. I knew it was in the past, but how many more women from his past will come back into his life? Now I have to speak with Jacobson while this case is rolling.

"Alice will bitch out on me, but she worked by the book, I can assure you that. She'll find out everything about

the car and the driver who tried to hit you."

"It was a sedan," I murmured.

"I know, baby." Chase reached for my hand, gently caressing my knuckles. "I will get to the bottom of this." Those words coming from him sounded like a death threat. Unlike Derek who'd been in the military, Chase was a civilian all his life. There was only one person I can think of who'll work with him. Eros.

Eros was one of his best friends. He even nominated him to be Elise's godfather. But that guy was surrounded by darkness. He worked with dangerous people, and I'm okay with it as long as my family stays safe. "Please tell me you won't be asking for Eros' help. We stopped at a red light, and Derek's car remained in front of us. Chase turned to face me, looking offended. "I have my own resources, Sofia. I don't need someone else to protect my family."

Despite the determination in his voice, I can't help the apprehension itching its way into my head. "I want to know everything, Chase."

"Do you trust me?" The light turned green. He shifted gears, and the car moved again.

"Don't use that tone on me." It sounded as if he was testing how much I trusted him.

"That's not the answer to my question," his tenor was firm and business-like. "Do you trust me?" he put weight on each word.

Agitated, threw my hands in the air. "Of course, I do, Chase. But I want to know everything. Clearly, someone out there wanted to hurt me. I don't want to live my life in fear. I want to know who's after me and what they want from me. I didn't f*****g do anyone any harm to be a walking target! I just bought a dress for my daughter, and the next thing I knew, a car was coming at me at full speed-" I fired without pause. I was vaguely aware of Chase's arms coming around me, our car already parked on the side of the road. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's okay, baby."

His embrace was a cage of steel. I fought his hold, but to no avail. I didn't realize tears leaked from my eyes while I was rambling out. The aftermath of my near-death experience was coming at me in full force.

"I almost died!" I wiggled from his embrace, refusing to cave. "Elise almost lost her mother. She would've been devastated if I died!"

"Sh..." Chase cooed, quickly unbuckled my seatbelt, and lifted me carefully onto his lap. "It's okay. It's okay." He cupped my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. "You're safe. I'll do everything I can to keep you safe, Sofia." It suddenly felt like the air inside the car turned solid. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. A heavy chain was wrapped around my chest, slithering. onto my neck, choking me. I was gasping for air, yet sobbing at the same time. It doesn't make sense. "Look at me. Focus on me, baby," Chase said, pressing his forehead on mine. "Sofia, focus on my voice." He pulled me tighter against him. "Breathe with me. Breathe. That's it. Inhale, exhale... feel my chest, yeah?" I closed my eyes, following his instructions.

We did that a few times until I was finally calm enough to meet his eyes.

"I was so scared, Chase," I sobbed, burying my face in the crook of his neck. "I thought I was going to die. I thought I won't see you and Elise again."