CHAPTER 22
1331 Words
Lucy's POV
The black speedboat comes straight at us fast. Cullen stands at the front like a bad king. He holds a huge gun and smiles like he is happy to see us scared.
Will pushes me behind him, “Swim to the bridge!” he shouts.
The big bridge lights are closed. Police boats are coming too, but they are still far.
Dad was still coughing, and Raymond held him up so he did not sink.
Cullen’s boat turns and comes even closer; the loud engine roars like a monster.
Will looks at me. “Take a big breath before we dive.”
I nod slightly, my heart pounding against my chest. If I swim out, what about my weak father? What will happen to him here?
“No, I can't leave with you,” I muttered, avoiding looking at him.
“Lucy…?”
“I just can't leave…” I interrupted him before he could finish.
“Lucy, you can't stay here, you should understand the condition that you are in right now.” He tried to plead with me.
He was right. I don't know who to blame: my father, my dead Mom, or the woman who pretended to be nice to me for years.
Even my so-called husband didn't care about me; he was only a piece of s**t to them, that they would use and dump some days.
I lifted my head and gazed into his eyes. “What about my weak father?” I snapped.
"Lucy...” he grabbed my hands gently and patted them, “I am here for you, and your father is under my protection.”
I blinked twice, trying to process what he meant. Then yanked my hands away and crossed around my chest. “Are you taking him with us?”
His eyes turned soft as if he was sipping my sadness, a gentle smile spread at the corner of his lip. “Yes, Lucy.”
“Okay,” I smile, ignoring his stare. We all take deep breaths and go under the cold water.
It is black. I kick my legs hard. Will holds my hand tight. Raymond holds my father's hands. We swim under the water until my chest hurts.
We pop up under the bridge. The police lights flash above us, their sirens screaming.
Cullen’s boat circles like a shark.
Will pulls us to a small ladder on the bridge leg, and we climb up one by one. My hands are ice, but I kept myself steady from slipping back in the water; my side hurts a lot.
We hid behind a big metal beam.
Cullen’s voice shouts over the water.
“I know you are here! Give me the girl and the old man!”
Dad whispers, “He is lying.”
I know Dad is right.
Raymond looks very sorry for what he did earlier. “I did not want to help them,” he says. “They said they would hurt my little sister if I didn’t.”
Will looks at him for a long time, then he nods once, “I believe you,” Will says. “Help us now, and I promise to keep your family safe.”
Raymond nods fast, “Thanks Boss.”
“Boss, what do you mean like that?” I snapped, rolling my eyes, my voice shaking in disbelief.
“Oops! I meant brother,” Raymond said, sputtering and flustered as he corrected himself, his voice breaking, but William silently pressed heavily into my chest.
Police boats get closer, their big lights sweep the water. Cullen’s boat turns and runs away into the dark.
We all breathe again.
A police boat stops under the bridge, and a man with a loudspeaker says, “Come out with your hands up!”
Will help me stand, we walk to the edge and wave, the police pull us into their warm boat and place warm blankets around us.
A nice lady doctor checks my side. She says I need stitches again, and they took Dad to the hospital’s boat, too.
Will and Raymond went with the police to talk, while I sat alone for a minute. My teeth chatter.
My phone in my wet pocket buzzes.
I pulled it out. One new message from an unknown number.
A picture loads slowly.
It displays Bella tied to a chair in a dark room. Her eyes turned red from crying, and her mouth was taped.
Under the picture, it says:
“You are next if Will does not come alone to the Old factory.”
My hands were trembling, tears bubbled under my eyelids. Bella had helped us before, and now she is in danger.
I looked around and saw him with the police officer, maybe they were having an important discussion that I shouldn't interrupt.
I hid the phone fast, ready to move, but the police officer talking to Will suddenly pulled out handcuffs. “You are under arrest, Mr. Cannon,” he says.
Will looks surprised. “What for?”
The police officer shows him a paper.
“You're under arrest for k********g Lucy Jones and shooting Mr. Cullen Dipson.”
My mouth fell open, and I stood up fast. “No!” I yelled, “That is wrong! Cullen is the bad one!”
The police officer does not listen. Two more men grab Will’s arms. Will looks at me. His eyes filled with regret.
They put the cold cuffs on his wrists.
I ran to him. “Stop! He saved me!”
The police officer pushes me back gently but firmly. “We have orders, miss.”
They started to walk William away. Dad holds me so I do not fall.
Will turns his head towards me. “Find Bella,” he says quietly. “Save her.”
They drag him into the police van, red and blue lights flashing around his body. I felt like crying, but I couldn't. I have to be strong.
A doctor helped me sit again, and as I glanced at my phone. The time hit 11:12 p.m., and it was 45 minutes to midnight.
I glanced at my father; he was very tired but awake. “I have to go,” I told him.
He grabs my hand. “No, Lucy, you can't leave, that is a trap.”
“I know,” I say. “But Bella is my friend now and Will is in jail because of me.”
Raymond walks over. His clothes drip water. “I will drive you,” he says. “I know the old factory.”
Dad tries to stand. “I’m coming with you too.”
“No,” I said softly. “You need to stay safe, I love you.” I kissed his cheek.
I ran to where Raymond parked his car. Raymond was behind me as we entered the car, Raymond drove fast, the city lights faded behind us, and my hand hurt with every bump.
We stopped outside a big, dark factory. All the windows were broken and looked scary.
Raymond gave me a small gun.
“Point and pull if you have to,” he says.
I took a deep breath, and I nodded slightly, my hands shaking. We walked inside quietly.
It was dusty and smelled bad, then we heard someone crying, so we followed the sound.
In the middle of the big room, Bella was tied to a chair. Tape on her mouth.
But nobody else was here, just her. I ran towards her and pulled the tape off gently.
“Lucy!” she cries. “this was a trap!”
The big metal doors slam shut loudly behind us, and all the lights turn on bright.
Twenty men with guns stood around us, and in front of them was my husband, Grey.
He holds a big gun, and his eyes are cold as ice. “Hello, wife,” he says. “Time to come home.”
- Writer
