Chapter 15
1033 Words
WILL POV
Talia's thumb hovered over the device with a fake smile that didn't reach her eyes. Still, I pinned Nana to the ground; I couldn't shake off Lucy's pale face.
Bella, Ellen, Cullen, Hillary, and Grey were still inside in their own mayhem. The SUV's headlights flooded us with bright light. Nana's giggle irritated my nerves.
"You are finished, Andrea," Talia said in a venomous voice. "This location catches fire after just one press."
I lost my gun in the tackle because I could not reach it. With my mind racing, I tightened my hold on Nana. "You will die too,” I said, in a firm voice despite the panic clawing at me.
Talia shrugged. "The cost of burying you is worthwhile then."
Nana's eyes were gleaming as she writhed beneath me. “Andrea, you ought to have listened to me. I had more cards, I told you.”
Tension choked the air. I looked at the warehouse exit, where footsteps echoed.
Cullen was still inside, likely pulling Hillary back into his clutches. Bella's screams cut through, urgent and piercing. I had to stop Talia, but if I made a mistake, we would all be in ashes.
"Drop it, Talia," I said, stalling, "This is not what you want. You are not like them.”
She gave a harsh laugh. “Not like them? For years, I have been cleaning up their mess. A share of the Jones Group was what Nana promised me. That was ruined by you.”
A figure moved swiftly and silently behind Talia. Grey. Despite bruises on his face and his torn clothes, his eyes were burned with rage. He crept closer, holding Ellen's gun. Then the figure moved fast and quietly behind Talia, Grey.
I remain still, not showing any emotion. I didn't want to give them any more space, so they wouldn't know how I would move. Talia was too preoccupied with her detonator and her animosity toward me to notice.
"Andrea, you believe you are smart?" She scoffed. “Pretending to be Will Cannon while acting as a bodyguard." We were aware of your identity. Nana’s been watching you since you crawled back into Lucy’s life.”
My stomach turned over. Had they known who I was all along? Guilt struck me hard as Nana's smirk verified it. They had been baiting me and using Lucy to keep me close, even though I had thought I was hunting them.
With the gun raised, Grey was now just inches away from Talia.
I took a deep breath, hoping he wouldn’t miss it this time, but Nana’s eyes flicked to his side. "Talia, now!" she growled.
Grey swung the shotgun's butt and cracked it against Talia's wrist as she spun. The detonator landed in the dirt after flying.
I pushed Nana down, lunging for the gadget as Talia screamed and gripped her hand. Talia sprang at me, her nails digging into my face as my fingers closed around the device.
I kicked her back and rolled away, holding onto the detonator. Grey aimed the gun in her direction. "Stay down." he hissed, his voice was raspy. He was not the arrogant Dipson heir for once. He appeared deceived and devastated.
Even pinned, Nana chuckled. "All of you are so pitiful. While I have the actual authority, we are fighting over scraps.”
The warehouse door burst open and Hillary stumbled out, blood trickling from his temple. Despite his weak body, he held Cullen's gun steadily. Ellen held Bella, who was crying but unhurt, behind him. There was no sign of Cullen anywhere.
"Hillary?" I said, stunned. Not only was he awake, but he was defending himself.
Hillary answered, "Enough, Nana." With a stern voice, "In the safe, I discovered your ledger. Every transaction, every deal. To take the Jones Group, you and Cullen set up Lucy's mother, my first wife. You poisoned her mind.”
My blood froze. The mother of Lucy? Framed and murdered? Nana's smugness vanished, and her face turned pale. "You are lying.” She spat, but her voice trembled.
Hillary's eyes were burning. "Back then, I was weak, but not anymore. My daughter was used by you. You are not going to touch her again.”
The place rattling with each gunshot and with each scream, Talia staggered to her feet and gave Grey a fierce gaze. "You are a traitor," she hissed. "You believe you can ignore this and walk away from all these?"
Grey's jaw tightened. "I am over the falsehoods of this family."
I stood, detonator in one hand, pinning Nana with the other. My thoughts were racing… Lucy was out there, battling for her life, and I was stranded here, surrounded by enemies and betrayals.
Everything changed with Hillary's revelation. In addition to being Cullen's lover alone, Nana had planned the dissolution of both of our families.
"Where is Cullen?" I put more pressure on Nana's wrist and demanded it. She flinched but remained silent.
Hillary's eyes grew gloomy. “He took off running. As cowardly as he is.”
There was a low murmur that became louder and pierced the silence. The blades of a helicopter. My heart fell.
As I scanned the sky, spotting a black helicopter with lights piercing the night from behind the warehouse, Cullen escaped.
"No!" I roared and shoved Nana to Grey. "Retain her!"
I grabbed my gun from the ground and aimed it at the helicopter, but it was so far away. Nana laughed, wild and unhinged.
"You will never catch him." She mocked, "He is also one step ahead of everything he does.”
“Either you tell me where he ran to or you will die here." Hillary raised his gun and pointed it at Nana's head.
She continued to smile. "Shoot me because you will never find him. Lucy, too? She is already lost.”
My blood turned to ice. Lucy. I whirled to where Raymond had taken her—in his truck. It had vanished some hours ago.
A text message from an unidentified number buzzed on my phone. "Safe house compromised. We have
Lucy is with us. You must come alone, or she dies.”
- Writer
