SHADOWS OF THE PAST

Chapter 12

"baby what's wrong?" i have been trying to calm her down for the past five minutes but nothing, she's a crying mess, I tried to remove her from me to look at me, but she clung onto me like her life depends on it, not that I'm complaining but I would really like to know what's going on.

I look at April and James for any sign but they remain quite.

"I need to prep for surgery, I'll see you guys later" Jeff says, kissing April's forehead and leaves us. April is still in her scrubs but she looks down.

I continue to cradle her, smoothing her hair over so she calms down, I tried giving her water but nothing, she's stressing me but I'm glad I'm who she called, I don't think I would have taken another day pretty well.

"come on love, you shouldn't cry like this, I'll be forced to admit you too" April said, brushing Bellas back. "come on now, you need to be strong okay"

"April, what's going on?" she sighs and sits down.

"Lukas was involved in a car accident" I feel my blood turning cold.

"what happened?"

She shrugs her shoulders. "I don't know, but they conducting investigations, she's, not taking all this really bad."

"is he going to be okay?" cavin asks, I even forgot that he was here.

"it's not looking good, but James is doing his best"

At the words, Bella lifts her head up. "so… So he's not dead?" she's looking at April.

"what? Of course not love"

She sighs and rest her head at the crook of my neck. I shouldn't be happy, but I'm goad she finds confort in me.

She stays like that for a few minutes until I her breath even and I know she's asleep.

Her friend Matthew Black and Alexander John came towards us, "what are you still doing here?" Miss John asked.

We looked at her dumbfounded. "I asked you a question Carlos" I found myself getting angry "I don't want her anywhere near Lukas do you understand me?"

I clenched my Jaw and unclenched.

"miss John, I don't appreciate your tone" she looked at me and chuckled.

"I'm going to call security if you don't leave" she shouted.

"Lexy come on, don't be ridiculous now, she had as much right to be here" Matthew said. Good boy.

"you not serious right now, she's the reason we here right now, she caused the accident"

I don't know how but suddenly I was infront of her, cavin pulled me back.

"don't speak of things you know nothing of Alexander, that's a serious accusation against my wife" she folded her arms and looked at me square in the eye, not flinching.

"come on man, Bella is okay, let's get her home" she stepped infront of me and pushed me slightly aback. I still kept my eyes on hers.

I turn and carried Bella all the way to the car, I sat with her at the back, while Cavin took the wheels.

"what do you think?" it didn't take a genius to figure out exactly what he was talking about. I had her head on my thighs so I brushed her hair and looked out the window.

"not now" I said.

"okay" and then the drive home continued in silence. I continued to brush her hair absent-mindedly thankfull that she's still here with me.

When we got home, I carried her to our bedroom.

"call Ty to find out what happe-"

"I'm here" he came from the kitchen stuffing himself with a sandwich. Behind him was Roy, with a Manila envelope.

"where the f**k were you?" I don't wait for him to answer because I head straight to our bedroom and put her there, it's not until now that I see that she's wearing male clothes, I try not to think too much but I can help reply a her words "my ex"

I don't even want to know who the ex is, so I remove the clothes and put my shirt on her.

For the first time since she walked out, I feel better, for the first time since she walked out, I head to my shower and let the water run its course. I hate how much I want her, but I can't say I want to stop needing her. She's become my lifeline. I don't see myself without her, I don't even understand how life was before she came, it all seem like I joke that, it's like we've been together for long and yet I still want her, nobody but her.

I finish my shower and wear my sweats. And t-shirt and walk out barefoot. I find those three sitting on the couch watching TV, the headlines is Lukas' accident.

I stand behind the couch, balancing myself with it and watch. The elevator doors open and Cruise walk in like he owns this place.

"that was not his car" that's the first thing he says. "and y'all better make sure you thank me because no one knows little Robinson was the involved, your mother is playing dirty deLuca"

"now why would you think it's my mother?" they all turn to look at me like I lost my mables.

"now boss, I know you all like to exclude me, but I did my job before working for you, your mother is a crazy woman, trust me, she's responsible"-Roy. he takes the Manila folder that he had earlier on from the table and gives it to me.

"what's this?"

"open it"he says. I look at him and they all focused on me.

I peel it open and immediately I feel my heart beating fast.

I see papers after papers." what joke is this? "

He keeps quite, his eyes still glued to me. I take the papers out and look at them, these papers literally have everything about Luca creations, every single thing. I search inside the folder again, there's something small inside. I take it out and it's a memory stick.

I take it and connect it with the TV, I should be skeptical but curiosity gets the better of me. I press play and regret it immediately.

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"where did you find this?" I take a step towards him. I can feel my anger radiating from me. Ready to be unleashed.

Taylor steps in front of him. "I told him to search, the emails you have been getting, the ghost account, Lukas did too, just before the accident, it's all linked."

"what do you mean" - cavin.

Taylor looked at us all, "Mirabelle is coming for us, Lexy was the one who was supposed to have been involved in the car accident, Luu was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, she's coming for everyone we care about"

I looked the direction of my bedroom.

"I can't afford to lose her" I said.

"you think?" River had his eyes set on me.

"don't please, she might be your niece, but she's more to me, she doesn't even know about you cruise"

"and whose fault is that?" He asked Stepping towards me.

"not now you two" - Ty. "we need to come up with a plan, if she went for Lucas then who knows what she's got planned for us, Luu was just a fish swimming in sharks"

He's telling the truth. She's gunning for the ones we love, she knows I love Bella, but what is her ultimate goal. Taking her away from me would kill me, but I know my mother better than them all, she draws everything out, she's like a litch, latches on until she sucks you dry.

"I don't think so" I say. "mirabelle is anything but a quick eliminator, and if anything, she would gun straight to me, not you guys, and going for Lucas, that's not like her"

"I agree, Mirabelle is anything but a quick eliminator, I would know that, I grew up with her" they all turn to look at River, I just chuckle and sit down.

"what do you mean grew up with her?" Cavin asks.

"how the hell do you think, don't me being Bellas uncle give you any hint? Come on brown"

"you knew about this?" cavin directs his question to me. I just nod my head.

"mirabelles' maternal name is Dela Cruise"

"no s**t!... I-Hey Bella" my head snapped to the direction where he's looking.

"hey baby, you shouldn't be up" she smiled and descended the stairs.

"you guys make too much noise, I cake here to get a glass of water and painkillers" I walked towards her to meet her halfway. Unexpectedly, she wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me, I wrap my arms around her too and return the embrace.

"come, go back I'll bring them to you" I kiss the top of her head.

"no, it's fine, I got it.." she looked the direction of the longed and waved.

They greeted her back and she disappeared to the kitchen, I dint even think twice following her, "you don't have to baby me Travis"

"of course not, I want to be next to you" she smiled and filled her cup with orange juice. " I'm hungry"

"I'm sorry there are no food in there, I just… I'll go get them"

She nodded her head"ill come with "I smiled.

We've never casually gone out together, it will be a first and I'm looking forward to it.