STOLEN VOWS, FORBIDDEN HEART

Chapter 16

WILL POV

I could not get the text out of my eyes: "Safe house compromised." We have Lucy with us. You must come alone, or she dies.

While Cullen flew away, the helicopter's dying sound mocked me while my heart pounded against my ribcage.

With Grey now pinning her wrists, Nana's giggle irritated me from behind. Ellen gripped Bella, both of them crippled in shock, while Hillary stood solid, his gun still on her. Cradling her damaged hand, Talia glared from the ground.

I grabbed my phone, my knuckles were white as I clutched my phone tightly. Lucy was injured and bleeding in the hands of the person who sent the message.

Raymond? Where did he take her to? No, he had brought her to the safe house, had he? Even though his deception still hurt, I could not believe he would harm her. Could I?

"Talk, Nana," I snarled as I moved in her direction. "Who is holding Lucy?"

Her grin grew poisonous. "Andrea, you will not know until you are dead."

Hillary put his gun against her temple. "Answer to him correctly, or I will shoot you."

Nana did not recoil. "Okay, then go ahead and kill, and you succeed. You lose your only lead.”

Her words made my blood boil inside of me, but she was right. She had too much knowledge. I turned to face Grey, who was just as shaky as I was. "Make sure she is safe," I said. "I will go out and look for Lucy."

Bella moved nearer and spoke in a shaky voice. "I will accompany you, Will. I owe Lucy.”

"No," I yelled. "You remain here and assist Hillary and your mother.” Ellen nodded at me and drew her back despite the defiant spark in her eyes.

"Go,” Ellen murmured, her voice remaining firm despite the blood on her shoulder, "Go and save her."

I reached into my pocket and tossed the explosive to Hillary. “Use this if Nana moves.” His eyes hardened, and he nodded. Talia swore and scrambled to her feet, but Grey shoved her down.

"You’re not going anywhere," he stated in a chilly tone. He had betrayed his family, but I still did not totally trust him. For now, that was enough.

With the keys still in the ignition, I ran to the SUV that Talia had arrived in. Another text message appeared on my phone as it buzzed: "Old mill, north side. Half an hour. No trick.”

My stomach turned. The lonely and deserted mill was a deadly trap. Perfect for a surprise attack, and a good place for an ambush.

I sped off, the warehouse fading from the rearview. Lucy’s pale face was flawed in my mind; I’d used her, and now she was paying the price. I held the wheel tightly, my hand turning white, and guilt and rage bubbled inside me.

My phone rang midway to the mill. Anticipating Raymond, I replied, but Nic was the one. "Perkins, you are heading into a trap.” He remarked in a quiet, frantic voice, “Dad is not running. He is luring you in. Lucy is with him at the Dipson estate, not at the mill.”

My heart stopped beating. "What makes you think I would trust you?"

I growled.

"Because his games are over," Nic remarked. "He intends to blame you for everything, including Potter's passing and the Jones Group takeover. I am currently at the estate.

Lucy will die if you do not come here.”

The SUV skidded when I pressed the brakes. Is Nic betraying Cullen? After everything, it didn’t add up. But his voice had a c***k of fear in it that I had never heard before. I turned the wheel and headed for Dipson's estate. I would kill him myself if he were lying.

As I got to the estate gate, it was wide open, the lights were off, and it was very quiet, like a graveyard. I parked a block away and crept through the darkness.

The entrance door was open as if they were expecting someone, but nobody was around the door, unlike the disposons that would linger around his house.

It seems like a trap, but I don't care; all I want is to save Lucy. As I stepped inside. My heart raced a bit, and the air felt heavy that settled on my heart.

“Where could she be?” I mumbled under my breath.

Raymond lay lifeless in the foyer, blood pooled around him. I felt sick to my stomach. My best friend, who betrayed me, has been killed by the same people he worked for.

‘Some set of devil,’ I cursed under my breath, and tears streamed down my cheeks.

When I walked closer to him, they had pinned a message on his left shoulder: "Andrea, you are next." I was furious, and my hands trembled. This was what Cullen had done, tying up loose ends. Where was Lucy?

Upstairs came a faint wail. With my heart racing, I rushed upstairs holding my gun firmly. One door was slightly open, but the others were locked, and the corridor was dark.

With my heart racing and my gun raised, I ran up the steps. The corridor was dark, and one door was slightly open, while the others were locked. I kicked it open and aimed my gun well, ready to fire.

Lucy was sitting on a chair, her robe tied around her, gagged, her wound bandaged, but her face pale. Cullen stood behind her, a knife to her throat. “Welcome, Andrea,” he said, smiling. "You are just on schedule."

With my rifle aiming at his head, I froze. “Cullen, let her go.”

He smiled, pressing the knife closer to her throat. Lucy's neck had a small line of blood running down it. Her eyes met mine as she whimpered, begging.

"Do you want her?" "Cullen said." "Slow down, and drop your gun."

My thoughts were racing. He would cut her throat if I shot. We will both be dead if I drop the pistol. Lucy's gaze strayed to one side, toward a wall mirror.

I saw Grey's reflection, slinking through the doorway behind Cullen while holding a pipe.

Lucy's voice was weak but firm as she muttered, "Do not do it, Will," through the gag. "He is playing a bluff."

Cullen's eyes narrowed, and his smile faltered. "Shut up." He hissed and he tightened his grip.

A floorboard creaked, but Grey lifted the pipe. Cullen turned around and saw Grey still holding the knife to Lucy's throat. “You traitor!” He yelled and lunged for him.

I shot directly at him, but Cullen dodged, and the bullet grazed his shoulder. He pushed Lucy’s chair, and it toppled; Lucy's skull cracked on the floor. She froze as her blood accumulated beneath her.

"No!" I yelled and sprang for her.

Cullen grabbed Grey, taking him as his shield, and jumped through the window. Glass shattered as he disappeared into the darkness.

I untied Lucy, my hands trembling, her pulse faint under my fingers. Grey stumbled to his feet, blood on his face. “Go after him,” he gasped. "I will get her assistance.”

I paused, conflicted. Cullen was running away, but Lucy was dying. Then, from behind the chair, I heard a faint beeping.

My blood turned to ice. Wire

d to the floor, a bomb with a 00:30 flashing timer.