I Told You To Run But You Didn't (Georgia) novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Georgia’s POV

4.67%-

Finished

I cleared my throat, trying to steer the conversation back to sane territory. “No need for that,” I said, forcing a light tone. “I much prefer hands when they’re still attached to a warm, living body. Not so much as cold, lifeless specimens.”

“That’s a pity,” he mused, leaning forward slightly, his expression genuinely disappointed. “I thought it would be a rather unique way to convey my gratitude for you saving my life.”

My jaw went slack. He is absolutely, one hundred percent serious. I was so utterly speechless that all I could do was offer him a tight, forced smile. “No, really. I don’t want your hands, Mr. Salvatore.”

He raised a single, perfect eyebrow. “I believe I asked you to call me by my first name.”

“Estevan,” I corrected myself through gritted teeth, “I do not want your hands.”

A slow, wicked smirk spread across his face, and I knew he was enjoying every second of my discomfort. “Fine,” he conceded, though he looked anything but disappointed. “No severed hands. So, what is it you do want? Name it, and it’s yours. A car? A house? Just say the word.”

“I don’t want any of those things,” I said, shaking my head. “A car, a house… that’s not what I need.”

He rose from his chair and walked around the desk, stopping just a few feet in front of me. His presence was intense, filling the space between us. “Then what is it you want, Georgia?” he asked, his voice low and serious.

I took a deep breath, feeling a blush creep up my neck. It was embarrassing to ask, but this wasn’t for me. “There’s a school,” I began, finding it easier to look at his tie than his eyes. “The New Hope Academy. It’s an orphanage and school my parents founded. They poured everything into it… it was their legacy.”

I finally dared to meet his gaze. been three years since they passed away, and the funds have dried up. The building is falling into disrepair, and they can barely afford to keep good teachers. The children there deserve better.”

1. When they were alive, their contributions kept it running smoothly. But it’s

Estevan listened intently, his expression serious. When finished, he gave a casual, almost imperceptible lift of his hand. A moment later, his secretary entered soundlessly.

“Arrange a donation to the New Hope Academy,” he ordered, his eyes never leaving mine. “A substantial one. Set up a perpetual fund. See to it that they have everything they need, effective immediately.”

“Yes, sir,” the secretary replied before discreetly exiting the room.

It was that simple. Years of struggle, solved in seconds.

Estevan’s gaze softened slightly. “If you wish to rename the school, you can do so. We could incorporate your name into it, for instance.”

A real, heartfelt smile broke across my face, the first one I’d felt in a long time. “Thank you.” I said, shaking my head. “But there’s no need for that. You have no idea what this means.”

As I smiled, I saw his eyes drop to my lips. He stared for a long, charged second, a touch of something unguarded in his expression.

He seemed caught off guard, and when his gaze snapped back to my eyes, he held it for a moment longer

Chapter 16

༢. 67%-

Finished

before abruptly turning away, as if breaking a spell.

As he turned away, my eyes drifted toward the vast window behind his desk. That’s when I saw it-a tiny, sharp glint of red light moving across the far wall, heading straight for him.

A laser sight.

Estevan was still distracted with a strange look on his face. “Why are you staring like that?” he asked, a frown forming.

There was no time to explain. “Get down!” I screamed, launching myself at him.

I tackled him with all my strength. We crashed to the floor in a tangle of limbs, my body sprawled on top of his, his arms instinctively wrapping around my waist to break our fall. His eyes were wide with shock as he stared at my face.

Two silent, deadly sounds zipped through the air where he had been standing just a second before, embedding themselves in the wall behind his desk.

He cursed under his breath, his grip on me tightening, pulling me down as he shielded me with his own body.

Another shot. He reached a hand up, blindly grabbing his phone from the edge of the desk and pressing a button. An alarm, I hoped.

“Don’t move,” he commanded, his voice a low, urgent rumble against my ear.” watching.”

down. The sniper’s still

Oh, shit. My mind raced. I was pressed against him, his body a solid shield over mine, even though I had been the one trying to protect him.

I was trained for this, for the sharp crack of gunfire and he threat of a well-aimed bullet. Being this close to him meant being close to that danger again.

I gasped as he shifted, pulling me even tighter against his chest. His voice was a low rumble against my ear. “Do you trust me?”

“I… I don’t know,” I stammered, my heart beating so fast.

“Then you’ll have to learn,” he said. In one explosive movement, he wrapped an arm around my waist, a we rolled across the floor, coming to a stop in the small protected corner by the office door.

We were both gasping for air, hidden from the sniper’s line of sight.

Seconds later, his security team burst into the room, we pons drawn. One of them immediately used the window as a vantage point, shouting, “He’s on the move Rooftop, adjacent building!” Another agent vaulted over the desk and out the shattered window in pursuit.

Estevan scrambled to his feet, immediately turning to me. He pulled me up, his hands quickly scanning my arms and shoulders, his eyes wild with concern. “Are you hurt? Did any of the glass hit you?”

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