STOLEN VOWS, FORBIDDEN HEART

CHAPTER20

Lucy POV

Smoke is everywhere. It hurts my eyes and makes me cough heavily. My hand has a big ouch where the bullet went in. My head is spinning like when I spin too fast on the swing.

Will holds me tight in his strong arms. He runs down the hospital stairs. The lights are red and flashing. A loud voice on the speaker yelled, “Lockdown. Stay where you are.” All the doors were locked immediately.

I was confused why they suddenly closed all the doors. Will stops, he looks left and right, his face hard as stone. He was determined to keep me safe. But staying close to him makes my heart race fast. I’m still Grey’s wife, and William is my bodyguard, but what I felt for him is beyond that.

“We are trapped,” he said, his voice audible above whispering.

My heart skips a bit, fear grips every piece of me, and my legs feel like jelly. I looked up at him and asked in a shaking voice, “Where is my husband?”

“You mean your husband?” Will chuckled and blinked twice as if I had made the funniest joke in the world. “Wow, you are unpredictable.”

His responses were hurtful, but he had saved me from Grey's father, and I'm very sure that he meant to protect me.

Grey, on the other hand, is legally my husband and also needs my protection.

Will watched me, his hand crossed around his chest, as if he was giving up on me. Or maybe disappointed in me.

I cleared my throat and asked, “Where are Bella and Ellen?”

He turned away, avoiding gaze, “Lucy, you have to stop asking unnecessary questions and get ready for what is before you,” he turned slowly, his eyes full of rage. “Stop dreaming.”

“Dreaming…what do you mean by that? I am only asking my bodyguard where my family is, and here you are talking bullshit!” I snapped, “Where is my dad?”

Will's eyes dropped, but he didn't answer fast. He kicks a small door close to me, and my heart skips a bit. “What is wrong with you?”

But he remained silent. He pointed at the opening. I turned obediently towards the door. It was a tiny room full of blankets and bandages. He jerks me inside and shuts the door behind us. It is just the two of us in the small room.

He placed me gently on a soft pile of blankets, as if I were a princess, and my dress was stuck in my own blood. “Stay still, doll,” he says. His voice is low and soft. Then he stepped out.

Five minutes later, he returned with a white bandage and water bottles. He sat closer to me and cleaned my wounded hand carefully. But no matter how careful he was, it made me bite my lower lip, so I didn't cry out loud.

“You are stronger than I could imagine,” he whispered, his hand trembling a little as he placed the bandage on it. I was amazed that at least he cares about me, because Will was never scared of anything.

I look at his eyes, they are sad and angry at the same time. “Why did Cullen say you are Andrea?” I ask.

Will stops moving, and he looks at the floor.

“Because that is my real name,” he says quietly. “A long time ago, bad men hurt my mommy and daddy, they thought they hurt me too, but I changed my name to Will Cannon so I could hide and grow stronger to fight them.”

My mouth makes an O shape. “So… you have been hiding for all these years?”

He nods slowly. “I was keeping you safe… and keeping my secret.”

I want to be mad, but my heart feels soft. He was a little boy who lost everything that mattered to him, just as I almost lost everything today.

The lights went off, leaving a tiny red light on. Will takes out his phone and turns it on; the screen makes his face white. He showed me a picture of a little boy with curly brown hair smiling broadly. Next to him are a pretty lady and a tall man.

“That was me,” he whispers. “Before.”

I touch the screen with my finger, and the little boy looks happy. “I am sorry your father and mother went away,” I say.

His eyes get wet, but he blinks fast.

“I am sorry I let you get hurt today,” he says, his voice cracking.

We sit quietly, I hear my heart go thump-thump, then I remember the tiny drive in my pocket. I pulled it out, “Nic gave me this. He said it has bad secrets about Cullen and Nana.”

Will takes it, his face goes hard again.

“This is only a little piece,” he muttered. “The big secrets are hidden far away.”

Boom! Something loud hits the door. We both jump. “Open up!” a man shouts outside.

Will stands in front of me like a wall and pulls out his gun, ready to shoot. “Stay behind me,” he says.

The door shakes again. Boom! Boom!

My leg starts trembling, and my tummy hurts more; tears bubble under my eyelids.

Will looked around fast and saw a small window high up. It was high for me, but not for him. He makes a step with his hands. “Climb, doll.”

I was scared, but to keep myself safe, I put my foot in his hands, and he lifted me easily like a feather. I push the window, and it opens; cold night air hits me hard. Will lift me out first. I fell on the grass.

“Ouch,” I screamed, then he climbed out fast like a big cat.

We are behind the hospital. Police lights flash far away. Will picked me up again, and we ran into the dark.

We run and run until my eyes want to close, but I keep myself steady; I can't give up on myself. William would be disappointed if anything should happen to me, and if I fell here, William would be in big trouble with my family.

Will finds an old garden house. He breaks the lock. Inside it smells like flowers and dirt. He lays me on an old couch. “I need to stop the bleeding more,” he says.

He pulled off his shirt, and I saw lots of old scars on his body. He tears the shirt and wraps it tight around my tummy. It hurts, but I felt safer close to him.

I fix my eyes on him; his eyes are shiny.

“Lucy,” he says very softly, “I love you, I always did, but I was too scared to say it.”

My heart goes boom-boom fast.

I want to say it back, but I am too tired and to hurt.

Will’s phone lights up with a new message.

He reads it. His face goes white like paper.

“What is it?” I ask, my voice filled with fear.

He shows me the screen. A photo of my dad tied to a chair. His mouth has tape and blood spilling from his head.

The message says: “Bring the girl and drive to the boat dock in one hour. Or the old man swims with the fish.”

Will looks at me. His eyes are on fire. “They have your dad.”

I sit up fast, pain shoots everywhere, but I do not care. “We have to save him,” I muttered.

Will helps me stand, and we walk slowly to the door. Outside, the moon was big and round. I saw a black car waiting with the lights off.

Will stops.“Something is wrong,” he whispers.

The car door opens. A person steps out.

It was my husband, Grey. I wanted to run to him, but William’s grip on my hand kept me grounded.

He has a gun too; his face is sad and sorry. “I am here to help,” he says. “But we have to hurry. Nana is coming with more men.”

Will points his gun at Grey. “Why should I trust you?” Will asks.

Grey looks at me, his eyes are wet.

“Because I just shot my own father to save Lucy.”

“I don't care,” William growled.

“William, Lucy is my wife!” he yelled, “I had to save her. My father is hurt badly.”

Will clenched his jaw and let go of my hands. Since I got married to Grey, he had never shown any concern about me. “Why now?” I asked, glancing at him.

“Lucy, I had always cared for you right from the moment you said yes to me,” he said in a low voice.

I chuckled, “Care!” I snapped, “Will, Grey said he cares.” I said, turning towards Will, who remained still.

“Nana took your dad. She wants the drive, and she wants both of you dead,” Grey said, trying to convince me that he cares.

My legs feel weak again. Grey walks closer. “Lucy, trust me,” he says, holding my hands gently. “I know where the boat dock is. I can take you, but we have only fifty minutes.”

Will looks at me, and I nod slowly. I had to trust him; he is still my husband.

We get in the car, Grey drives fast, trees go whoosh past the windows, and I hold Will’s hand tight. The road ends close to the big water. Big boats sit quietly.

Grey stops the car. “She said come alone,” he whispers. “I will wait here.”

Will help me out. My feet touch wet wood, and the dock smells like fish. Far away, I see one light on a boat. ‘My dad must be there.’ I mumbled under my breath.

Will looks at me. “Stay strong, doll,” he says and kisses my forehead softly. My cheeks burn. He kisses me in front of my husband. I turned back slowly, fearing that my husband would be watching. Luckily, he was backing us, he was talking to someone on his phone,

We walk toward the light, and when we are ten steps away, every light on the boat turns on at once. Ten men with guns stand in a line.

In the middle was Nana, who held my dad, her own husband, by the hair as if he were a criminal. Next to her was Raymond. Will’s best friend. He aimed his gun directly at Will’s head.

Nana smiles widely as if she had won the lottery.

“Welcome home, Andrea,” she says. “Now the real game starts.”