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My mother’s accusations certainly didn’t help anything. She’s always so worried about her image, never caring how any of it has affected me after all these years.
At least, now, everything is over. Everyone who was trying to hurt me is in custody, and I can wholeheartedly begin my life with my men at my side and no interference from the outside world.
As we pull onto their street, Lorde slows the vehicle down before reaching the house, and the tension in the car grows. Their home reminds me of the one from the movieFather of the Bride.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. I don’t see anything amiss, but they obviously do.
“Duke and I will check it out,” Noble says, looking over at Lorde. “You stay with Sol and get her out of here if needed.” I already don’t like this plan.
“Shouldn’t we just call the police or something?” It’s early afternoon; the sun shines with warmth in the sky, but my gut screams that something terrible is about to happen. “Please,” I try when I realize they aren’t wavering.
“We’ll be right back, little girl.” Duke gives me a quick kiss before opening his door and getting out.
Noble pops back in and cups the side of my face. “Stay with Lorde.” He places a kiss on my cheek before closing the door and leaving.
“I don’t like this,” I mutter as the men split up. Noble enters the front door while Duke goes around the back of the house. I know Flounder isn’t much for protection, but he’d alert to someone being there. He can’t help it if he loves everyone.
“They’ll be fine.” Lorde reaches a hand back for me. “Come on up here with Daddy.” His tone is heated, but his eyes flicker around, searching for danger. He’s trying to calm me down; I realize that. So, I slip into the front seat, keeping his hand between mine, needing an anchor in this moment because something is wrong. They felt it, I felt it, but I don’t know what it is.
“You know,” Lorde begins, his eyes settling on my face. “We haven’t been using protection.” I bite my lip. I know where he’s going with this. We’ve briefly talked about it before. “Yeah, you know.” His grin melts my worry away.
“I could be pregnant.” I whisper the words just as the world explodes, and our car is flipped in the air before landing on the passenger side.
Glass has shattered, and before I can get my bearings, it tips onto the roof, and I’m being yanked out by my hair as Lorde reaches for me, blood dripping from his head. I’m always getting him hurt.
Sobs burst from my chest, and adrenaline pulses through my veins as my heart pounds painfully. I register screaming and sirens as I’m dragged behind someone and tossed into a panel van before a hood is shoved over my head and my hands and feet are bound.
Hyperventilating, I work myself into a panic attack that eventually knocks me out because I can’t slow my breathing down. This can’t be how I die.
* * *
My head spins as I try to figure out where I am and what’s going on. My senses are dulled from the covering over my head, and I can feel the handcuffs digging into my wrists and ankles. I’m lying down on a cold floor, and I can’t tell if there’s anyone else, but I’m too afraid to move.
None of this makes sense. Beau told Noble that everyone had been arrested, and Gabe had Scuttleworth literally in his hands when we left my father’s building.
It would be too weird for this to be someone else. There can’t be that many people who hate me. There’s no possible way. The ones who targeted me, I almost understand, but this is too much.
My arm tingles from where I’m lying on it, so I need to get up. I just wish I could see. It would make everything easier. But if they aren’t allowing me to see them, then maybe they’ll let me go. It’s wishful thinking, I know, but I need to hold onto some sort of hope.
Forcing my body to cooperate, I become lightheaded as I get myself upright. I hear echoes of movement, causing me to think I could be in some kind of warehouse. I don’t make a sound as I reach around to find a wall to lean against, but everything is more challenging with my hands behind my back.
I pause when I notice a scraping sound that feels closer than the other noises I’ve been hearing. Inhaling deeply, I recognize the scent and feel sick to my stomach.
“Mother,” I hiss. I’d always suspected she hated me, but I'd been relieved when the guys cleared her. I didn’t want to believe she had such little regard for me.
“Well, I guess this is no longer needed then.” She tears the hood off my head, and I blink at the blinding fluorescent lights of the room.
“Why are you doing this?” I already know, but I need her to voice it.
She scoffs and taps her high-heeled shoe on the dirty floor. “Isn’t it obvious?” Her head tilts to the side, and I use the opportunity to figure out that my guess is correct. I’m in a warehouse.
“No, it’s not.” I don’t care about her reasoning. I just want to keep her talking so someone can rescue me.
“For someone so smart, you’re awfully stupid.” She rolls her eyes as the door to the room opens, and fear shoots through my blood like never before.
“Vanessa?” It can’t be. She should be in prison.
The woman laughs. Her eyes are crazy. “No. Her twin. Veronica. You didn’t think you’d get away with ruining my sister’s life, did you?” Shocked doesn’t begin to cover what I’m feeling.
