Twisted loyalty

I LOVE YOU

“My love, are you ready?”

Lisa looked at him.

“Yes.”

She took a deep breath.

“Let’s end this.”

After that, they all got ready to move out. Raymond’s plan was solid, but it was also dangerous. Still, it was their best shot.

“Jason, are you done hacking the system with the code I gave you?” Raymond asked.

“All done,” Jason replied.

That was the first step of Raymond’s plan. He needed access to the CCTV cameras around the facility. He had access to them before on his own phone, but something was blocking him from accessing them now, so he had to use Jason’s phone instead.

They needed to know how many people were guarding Richard.

Raymond looked through the cameras and finally found him.

Richard was sitting on a chair, facing the door where he expected Lisa to come through. He had a gun in his hand, and there was a timer beside him. Their time was running out.

Richard didn't move. He simply sat there, smiling like a maniac and playing with his gun, waiting for something to happen—as if he knew something big was about to happen.

Raymond felt like going over there and putting a bullet through Richard’s head. Richard was sitting there relaxing while his beautiful Lily was suffering. Raymond was going to make him pay, but he knew he had to wait.

For now, he focused on finding out how many people were there.

He saw three armed men outside the door and four more patrolling the area. There were about seven people inside with Richard. Some were holding the hostages at gunpoint, while the others stood guard.

“Now, listen, everyone,” Raymond said. “He has tight security, and we need to be on our guard. There could be more people we haven't seen. So, let's go over the plan once more.”

His plan was to have Lisa go and meet Richard while he followed behind her. He knew Richard would most likely be able to guess what they were planning, but it was worth a shot.

They were going to separate.

Jason and Kate would use another entrance to rescue the hostages while Lisa and Raymond distracted Richard. Damion and Anna would come from the roof, taking the guards by surprise. Dr. Joshua would stay on the lookout in case more people arrived, while Raymond would remain in the shadows.

“Hope you all got that. There are some guns here too.”

Raymond opened the bag he had been carrying. It was filled with weapons—pistols, smoke bombs, and other equipment.

Anna was shocked when she saw how prepared he was. Even Kate had to ask about it. She knew they normally carried small guns for security, but this was a lot.

“Raymond, I have to ask because I know some people here probably have the same question. You are all prepared for this? Where did you even get these guns from? I know you're a former general, but this is way more than usual. Even Jason doesn't have this much.”

“Hey! Why am I being dragged into this?” Jason protested.

“Oh, shut up, Jason. Now talk, Raymond,” Kate said.

Lisa simply gave Raymond a glare.

He sighed before answering.

“Well, I don't want to be caught off guard. And you said it yourself—I was a general in the army for a reason. I don't like being unprepared. And please, if there are any more questions, I'd like them to be put on hold until after we get out of this.”

His voice became colder.

“As for now, my wife and my child's lives are at stake, along with innocent people. All of our lives are in danger, so please, let's focus on the matter at hand. Is that clear?”

Everyone was shocked by the sudden change in Raymond’s character.

He sounded like he was ready to kill someone, and they understood why.

It was his wife who was going into the lion’s den.

And if the plan failed—

God forbid that happened.

Raymond would go crazy.

Kate quickly apologized.

“Raymond, I'm sorry. I kind of forgot about the situation at hand. You know me and my mouth—I can never keep it shut. Please understand. you know I care about you too. And Lisa too.”

“Oh, do you?”

Raymond glanced at her without emotion.

“If you do, then mind what you say or do, please.”

Lisa sensed that Raymond was extremely angry now. She quickly stepped in, held his hand, and gently pulled him away to talk.

She mouthed an apology to Kate before walking out with him.

Everyone was shocked.

Raymond never allowed himself to become overwhelmed or let his emotions take control during any situation.

But this was different.

It was his wife and his child they were talking about.

Everyone silently picked up their weapons.

Lisa dragged Raymond into a small room nearby.

Before she could say anything, Raymond pulled her into a hug.

He buried his head against her neck, and she hugged him back.

She knew he had been trying to stay strong for both of them. And, truthfully, she was afraid too.

But she couldn't allow herself to think about what would happen if things didn't go well.

No.

She couldn't think like that.

Then she felt something wet against her neck.

She realized Raymond was crying.

She immediately hugged him tighter.

“Ray, my love… it's going to be okay. Nothing is going to happen to me, the baby, or you. Please, let it all out. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere.”

Soon, Raymond raised his head to look at her, tears still falling from his eyes.

He grabbed Lisa's hands and brought them to his cheeks, burying his face in her palms.

She allowed him to do as he pleased.

He always did this whenever he felt sad or angry. He said it helped him calm down.

Then he looked into her eyes.

Lisa was crying silently too.

Raymond gave her a small, loving smile and wiped away her tears. Then he gave her a soft, heartfelt kiss on the lips, and she kissed him back.

They poured all their emotions into the kiss.

Soon, they separated to catch their breath, but they kept their foreheads together.

“I f*****g love you so much,” Ray whispered. “I don't know what I would do if something happened to you. Please promise me you'll be extremely careful. I wish I could just end everything now…”

“I know,” Lisa interrupted softly.

“I feel the same. But we're in this together, and we're going to end it together. Nothing is going to happen to me, and I promise I'll be extremely and extra careful. So please, try to relax a little—for me and the baby.”

She smiled softly.

“He or she wouldn't want anything to happen to their father or me. We love you so much, you know.”

Raymond smiled without even realizing it.

Lisa noticed immediately.

“Is that a smile I see? Now don't be a baby. Let's get this over with and go on a nice vacation together with the kids.”

Raymond simply stared at her with so much love in his eyes.

“You're right. I'm so worried about what could go wrong, but I know nothing can go wrong with you here with me.”

He took a breath.

“Now, we should get back. No more waiting. And we should be careful about who we trust. I still haven't found out who could have given those men my password and told them about the hidden room in my office.”

“Yes, that's true. I even wanted to ask you about it, but the chance never presented itself. And now, who could it be? We can't point fingers at anyone. All we know is that Richard is back.”

Lisa's expression became serious.

“But I know someone—an insider—helped him. And I'm going to find out who. For now, let's keep this to ourselves. And I know something is cooking in that head of yours.”

“You know me so well, my beautiful Lily.”

Raymond smiled.

“Well, I will tell—”

He stopped himself.

“You understand everything I said, right? So let's get going. And I still have to apologize to Kate.”

“You do.”

Lisa smiled.

“Now, let's go kick Richard's butt.”

They both laughed softly before heading back.

When they entered the room, everyone immediately knew Raymond had calmed down. The thick tension around him had lessened.

Kate apologized again when she saw Raymond enter.

She had spoken with Jason, and he had helped her understand where Raymond was coming from. She knew she had messed up and needed to make things right.

“There's no need to apologize,” Raymond said before she could say much. “I was in the wrong too. I was taking my frustration out on you, so I'm sorry.”

Kate felt even more guilty, but she still apologized.

After that, everyone was ready to move into their assigned positions.

Meanwhile, somewhere else, someone was lost in their thoughts.

You both don't know what's coming.

You're in for much more.

Enjoy your little love life now… because it's about to be destroyed.

Then they heard their name being called, pulling them out of their thoughts.

They immediately went to their assigned position.

Lisa and Raymond exchanged one last look before separating.