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They were going to execute her—of that, she was sure. But they were going to kill him, too, likely in front of her. And she couldneverallow that.
The crowd was still riveted to the screen as she snuck around the podium, dashing toward one of the open doors that led to the house. Lucero met her in a room close by, handing her a blonde wig and quickly changing her clothes with those of Noelle.
“It might buy you some time, but…”
“I know,” Noelle replied grimly. “I just need to make sure he’s free. They can take me—they can doanythingto me as long as he lives to see another day.”
“Take care, okay?” Lucero murmured softly, squeezing Noelle’s hand.
“I will. You too.”
They shared a look before each went their separate ways.
Lucero would wear a black wig and Noelle’s clothes and lead the crowd away while Noelle hurried to the facility to get to Raf.
“I’m sorry, senora, you’re not allowed in,” the guard of the facility said the moment they saw her.
She didn’t give him the chance to alert anyone else of her presence. She simply took out her gun and aimed. The silencer worked to ensure that no one heard the shot, and after hiding the body out of sight, she entered the building.
She encountered a few more people on her way to Raf, and she shot them both before ether could even conceptualize her presence.
When she reached the front of his door, she stabbed the key into the lock, quickly unlocking it and stepping inside.
She didn’t have time to think what he might think or say when he saw her. She only knew that she needed to get him out of there by any means possible. If not, she would witness his death…
No!
She couldn’t think about that. She was going to save him if it was the last thing she did.
As soon as she entered the room, she realized that Raf was in the throes of the drugs. He was sitting utterly still on the floor, simply staring at the wall.
“Goddamn it,” she muttered under her breath.
She would have preferred his animosity and his hate toward her as long as he had agency over his own body and could move. But this? How was she going to help him leave when he was fully under the influence?
“Raf?” she asked tentatively as she stepped toward him.
He didn’t hear her at first.
Only when she crouched in front of him did he seem to react, his eyelashes fluttering in confusion.
“You…” he wet his lips, his eyes nearly black from his enlarged pupils.
“Oh, Raf,” Noelle cried out, flinging herself at him and hugging him to her chest.
There was no time! She knew it, yet she couldn’t help herself. It had been too long.
One second. She’d take one second for herself to drink him in, feel his skin atop his—if only for one last time.
“I love you,” she whispered, tears coating her lashes. “I love you so very much and I want you to know I am sorry.”
“What’s happening?” he asked, his voice as sluggish as the rest of him.
“We need to leave,” she sniffled, swallowing back her tears. “We need to go right now.”
She helped him to his feet, and as he took a few steps, she was surprised to see he could hold his balance. That was good… right?
He was wearing a pair of loose linen pants and a shirt—his usual.
