Twisted loyalty

"THE PAST"

“Speak,” Lisa demanded of the man.

“I…I…the boss wants you.”

Lisa was shocked as he looked at her. Ray immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her from the man’s hateful gaze.

“Why does your boss want my wife? What does this have to do with everything that’s happening now?” Ray demanded.

The man gave a small, hateful laugh.

“You don’t remember us? Because of you, you’re the one who put us behind bars to rot there forever, ‘cop.’ Our boss was willing to do anything for you, but you were a spy, and you made our boss a madman. And now he’s back to torment you for what you did, b***h. Die, you useless bit—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Ray shot him in the head.

Lisa was still in shock after hearing what the man had said. She had a very good idea who the boss was now.

“Richard,” she whispered.

That manipulative maniac.

When she was still with the CIA, Lisa had been told to go undercover. At the time, Ray was still in the military, so she left their child with her parents.

Richard was a very influential businessman, but beneath that respectable image, he used his company as a cover for his criminal activities. He dealt in different types of drugs and weapons. He was one of the biggest drug dealers, and he even had a laboratory where he manufactured drugs to sell.

The Feds knew about him, but they had never been able to gather enough evidence or catch him in the act for years.

So they sent Lisa in, posing as a potential client.

She spent five years building her reputation in the business and eventually made her way to Richard. The moment he saw her, he became desperately interested in her. He loved her confidence and her aura. He especially loved the fact that she never tried to seduce him or throw herself at him like the other women around him did.

Still, Richard remained cautious of her.

It took Lisa another year to finally gain his complete trust.

She was able to gather valuable information about him. She secretly took pictures of him conducting business with drug dealers while she stood by his side, pretending to be completely loyal to him.

Eventually, they even planned to get married.

But Lisa soon discovered that Richard was involved in far more than drugs and weapons.

He manufactured the drugs himself, and he was also involved in human trafficking.

Lisa felt disgusted by the man.

Then, one day, Richard forced her to take one of his new drugs, claiming that he wanted her to be the first person to try the sample.

It was hell for her, but she endured it and eventually managed to expose him.

Richard had been in prison for years.

So why now?

No… No… No…

How could he have come back?

Lisa remembered the promise he had made before he was taken away.

He had vowed to destroy her life and make her existence a living hell.

Suddenly, she began having a panic attack.

She sat on the floor, wrapping her arms protectively around her stomach, terrified that the madman would somehow get to her child.

Then she felt herself being pulled into the cool, warm embrace of her husband.

“Love, I’m here. Nothing will happen to you. I will kill him before he gets to you. And it might not even be him. Even if it is him, I will kill him. Calm down. If not for me, then for the baby. Please, my love,” Ray whispered gently into her ear.

Lisa slowly began to calm down.

She looked up into his green eyes and suddenly burst into tears.

“I’m scared. You don’t know how dangerous that man can get to get what he wants. H-he might even try to kill you. That crazy bastard. Please, believe me. Why did he come back now, of all times?”

“I will kill him this time if he tries anything to harm my family. I promise.”

She was still crying when Jason and Kate suddenly rushed into the room.

“We have to move now. The zombie patients are on their way. They’ll be here in ten minutes. I know a shortcut.”

They quickly moved.

They had been on the run for almost an hour now, but it felt as if someone knew exactly where they were. Every new hiding spot they found was located almost immediately.

Ray frowned.

“It’s like we’re running in circles. I don’t understand how they keep tracking us. Someone must be working with them from the inside. They can’t just know where we are every single time. I’m sure about that. What do you think, babe?”

“You’re definitely right,” Lisa replied. “They must have someone backing them from the inside, giving them information.”

She clenched her fists.

“f**k… f**k. And we have no idea who it could be. We have to be extremely careful.”

“Yeah, you’re both definitely right,” Jason said. “We need to get out of here fast. It’s definitely not safe here, especially for Lily, since she’s pregnant.”

Lisa unconsciously wrapped her hands around her stomach.

A warm touch suddenly covered one of her hands.

She looked up and saw Ray giving her a gentle smile.

That smile was filled with words he didn’t need to say. Somehow, it calmed her.

But before they could enjoy the moment, they heard a voice echoing through the hallway.

They immediately turned toward the sound.

A small television mounted on the wall suddenly came into view.

And on the screen was the face of the man Lisa hated more than anyone in the world.

“Richard…” Lisa murmured.

She instinctively clung to Ray’s arm as her body began to shake with fear.

She stared at the face of the monster she had tried so desperately to forget.

His dark red hair.

His blue eyes, as bright as the sky yet somehow deadly.

And his once-perfect face, now covered with scars.

She had been the one who caused the scar across his face. She remembered hitting him with a lamp stand when he had tried to force himself on her after she refused to be intimate with him.

Lisa began shaking even more when she heard his voice.

“My rose… My love. Where are you?”

Richard smiled wickedly at the camera.

“Come to me. I have missed you so much. I wanted to see you so badly that I couldn’t wait in jail anymore. Don’t you miss me?”

He laughed.

“Hahaha… Hahaha…”

“My heart hurts just seeing you with that leash that wouldn’t let me have you.”

His expression darkened.

“Don’t worry. I will not harm him or anyone else. All you have to do is come back to me, and no one gets hurt again. Promise.”

He smiled.

“You know I always keep my promises. Just like I told you I would come back…”

He leaned closer to the camera.

“And here I am. As promised.”

Lisa’s blood ran cold.

“I see you. No matter where you hide, I will find you. I have always found you.”

Richard’s eyes seemed to bore directly into the screen.

“You thought you could escape from me?”

He suddenly shouted,

“NEVER!”

“You are mine forever. Mine… Mine… Mine…”

His voice became filled with possessiveness.

“No one else is allowed to have you but me. Only me.”

He paused before continuing.

“I’m giving you one hour to come to me. Or else…”

Richard turned the camera toward a group of terrified workers who had been captured by his men.

Everyone watched in horror as he raised his gun and shot one of them dead.

Lisa froze.

Her blood ran cold as she stared at the screen.

Richard turned the camera back toward himself.

It felt as though he was staring directly at her.

“I will be waiting, my love.”

He smiled.

“Meet me at the large hall, Room One, within an hour.”

He chuckled.

“You know I love you. That’s why I don’t want you to rush here. But if even a second passes after the one hour I gave you before you get here…”

His smile disappeared.

“I will have their heads waiting for you as a welcome gift.”

He tilted his head.

“You know what I can do for you, my love.”

A chilling smile returned to his face.

“See you.”

The video ended.

Lisa stood completely frozen.

It felt like she was trapped inside a nightmare and desperately needed someone to wake her up.

No…

How could he have come back?

She could never go back to him.

But what about her husband?

What about the innocent people who had been dragged into danger because of her and her possessive ex?

She didn’t know when the tears had started falling from her eyes.

Her legs finally gave way, and she fell to the floor.

Ray immediately caught her in his arms and pulled her into his arms.

Lisa cried against his chest.

And for the first time since Richard had returned, one terrifying thought filled her mind:

What if Raymond couldn't keep his promise?