CHAPTER 14
1139 Words
WILL POV
The warehouse shook from the truck's collision, and the air was choking with dust.
Mrs. Dipson remained motionless close to the car door, her gun aiming directly at Nana. Her eyes flashed with betrayal.
Lucy stuck firmly to me behind the crate, her breath shallow and her hands dripping with blood. Despite my heartbeat, I kept my gun steady, scanning Nic, Nana, and Cullen's next move. Everyone seems dangerous before me. I can't stay around them now, not when everything is messed up.
Mrs. Dipson stepped down. "You deceived us all, Nana." He spat, "Years of lying, robbing us, and making a mockery of Cullen."
Nana's pistol remained up, her expression contorted. "Ellen, you are a joker." She scoffed, "You ignored Cullen's deals even though you were aware of them. Do not pretend to be innocent here. We are in the same boat and you are the captain here.”
Lucy's voice was a feeble whisper as her grip tightened. "Will, what is going on? Why is she here? Is she part of these?”
I did not respond. With Raymond's treachery, Grey's comeback, Nana's betrayal, and now Ellen Dipson interrupting the scene, my thoughts were racing. Too many guns, too many players. Lucy was bleeding out, and I had to get her out.
Cullen scowled at Ellen while holding his bruised arm. "Ellen, put down the gun. This has nothing to do with you.”
Ellen chuckled, “Do you say it has nothing to do with me?”
“Yes, Ellen, this is not your battle, so do yourself a favor and drop your gun,” Cullen said in a voice, but an audible voice.
I realized that I was the only one trapped in all these. It looked clear to me, but the reason all these are going on that I don't know.
"It is my family!" Ellen yelled, her voice cracked, "You and Nana played sick games with my children, Nic, Grey, and Bella. I’m terminating this today.”
Nic took a step forward and held up his hands. "We can fix it, please Mom, do not do this, “ Ellen squinted her eyes. "Fix it? You are as greedy as your father.”
Bella broke free from Grey and hurried to her mother before anyone could react. "Mom, stop!" She shouted out, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I gave the documents away! In order to expose Dad and Nana, I gave them to Will.”
My mouth fell open. Bella? The pampered, slack-headed girl who hardly gave a damn about the family business? Has she been supporting me from the start? Or is she pretending?
I glanced at her, and the moment her eyes met mine, I sensed she was scared but defiant. "I could not allow them to destroy any more lives." She muttered.
Ellen's face crumpled as her shotgun faltered. "You betrayed us, Bella?"
“No, Mom, I was saving us!” Bella moved closer and begged.
I fired a warning shot close to Cullen's feet as he shouted and lunged for Bella. He cursed as he froze.
"Cullen, stay back." I snarled, "This is over now."
Lucy sagged against me as she coughed. "Will... I am unable to…”
My heart skipped a bit as her eyelids fluttered, her voice trailed off; she was running out of time.
"Raymond!" I yelled. Torn between sides, he flinched while still holding his gun. “Take her to the hospital right now.” With shame in his eyes, he hesitated. "Yes boss, I…"
"Get moving!" I snapped, shoving Lucy into his arms.
He caught her, nodding, and ran for the truck. My chest tightened, watching her go, but I had to get this done.
Nana gave a sharp, frantic laugh. "All of you are idiots. Do you believe you can stop me?” And do you think if any of you tried to stop me, I would give up?”
“Hell No!” She shouted and aimed her gun at Ellen, but Grey attacked her, and the gun skidded across the floor. Nana clawed at him like a savage animal as they struggled.
Cullen took advantage of the confusion to seize Hillary and drag him towards the door. "You are coming with me, old man." He growled.
"No!" Cullen dodged my shot and dragged Hillary into the dark. My shot struck a pipe, causing the warehouse to become cloudy as steam hissed out.
A figure moved quickly through the steam—Hillary, not as frail as he appeared. He cracked his cane against Cullen's skull with a swing. Cullen dropped his gun and stumbled.
With trembling but steady hands, Hillary snatched it and aimed it at Cullen.
"You used my daughter.” He hissed his voice more powerfully than I had ever heard before, “Years ago, you and Nana set up my family, now I recall.”
I gasped. Was Hillary aware of the Perkins plot? Had he been waiting, playing weak? I moved closer, Cullen retreated, hands up, fear lingering in his eyes for the first time, and the gun was still raised.
"Don't, Hillary," I murmured. "He is mine."
Hillary’s eyes flicked to me, hard and stiff. “Andrea, you also made use of Lucy. You are not any better.” His words were powerful and hit me like thunder.
He was correct. I have allowed Lucy to marry Grey to get close to Cullen.
Now she was bleeding out because of me. I suppressed the guilt that choked me. Not right now.
Ellen gazed at Bella before she lowered her gun. "Why don't you tell me?" she said, her voice audible above a whisper.
Bella cried. "Mom, I was scared. I…”
A harsh c***k cut her off. Now that she was free of Grey, Nana had grabbed her gun. She fired the bullet, grazing Ellen’s shoulder, her gun shot rattling to the ground. Ellen staggered, Grey pounced on Nana again, but she was faster and ran out through the exit door.
Dodging crates and pipes, I ran after her, my heart pounding in my chest. She ran quicker, but I was faster.
Just outside, I got her and pinned her to the ground with a tackle. Her eyes were wild with anger as her pistol skidded away. "Andrea, you will never succeed," she spat. "I have further cards to play."
Tires shrieked before I could react.
With blinding headlights, a black SUV sped in our direction. Nana laughed, even pinned under me. “You’re too late,” she muttered.
The SUV stopped, and Talia stepped out holding a phone that lit up their faces. Her arm was bandaged, her smile poisonous.
“Time’s up, Andrea,” she declared, raising a device in her other hand—a detonator. “This warehouse is wired to blow.”
- Writer
