The room is dark, and I gingerly move to the edge of the bed, allowing myself to take a moment to allow the slight dizziness in my head to come to a stop. Once the dizziness has subsided, I slowly get to my feet, my legs feeling weak with the effort of standing up.
Taking deep, steady breaths, I move one foot forward, careful not to make any sound. The last thing that I want to do is alert Michael to the fact that I am awake. I need to get out of here, no matter what state I’m in.
Another step taken, another sigh of relief.
I don’t have a plan, but my mind focuses on freedom.
I can’t stay in this apartment with a man who wants to control my every move.
I can’t allow myself to be sucked back in by him.
I never wanted to be this woman. A woman who allowed herself to be abused, mentally and physically. I never imagined that it would happen to me, but then again, no woman would imagine this kind of life as the one that she wants to live.
I make it to the bedroom door, my heart racing, adrenaline pumping through me. I place my hand on the handle of the door and urge myself to be strong.
You can do this, Lucy. You have to get out.
If you don’t, he will keep you here, like a prisoner.
With that thought in mind, I push the handle down and open the door a slither. I peek through the gap and can see that the light is on in the kitchen, but there is still no noise. I open the door some more, my ears pricked. I only open the door enough to squeeze my body through. I put my hand over my mouth to muffle the sound of my heavy breathing and my eyes stay fixed on the kitchen doorway.
Another step and I’m in the hall.
A couple more and I am stood adjacent to the kitchen doorway on my right, and the front door on my left.
I feel like I want to pass out, but that isn’t an option. I can’t let this opportunity pass me by. If Michael hasn’t heard me already, then there is a good chance that I can get out of here.
A side-step to the left, and then another.
I am inches away from the front door when there is an almighty banging. My back clashes with the wall as I stumble backwards, my heart palpitating with fright.
It takes me a few seconds to register that the banging is coming from the other side of the front door.
“MICHAEL!” an angry voice shouts. “MICHAEL, OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR!”
Oh my God, it’s Cal! Cal’s come to get me.
With a renewed batch of adrenaline, I rush to the front door, but before I can lay my hand on the handle, an arm snakes its way around my waist causing me to jolt, an involuntary shriek coming from my mouth.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t do that,” Michael sneers in my ear, his lips touching my ear lobe. His tone is menacing, and I know that, at this precise moment, I’m not getting out of here, not by a long shot.
Chapter Fifty-Three
The climax
“Michael, I wasn’t doing anything.” A brazen lie that I know will piss him off unless I can convince him otherwise.
“Don’t insult me by fucking lying, Lucy,” he sneers, his lips by my ear. The banging on the door continues.
“I’m not lying, I was disorientated and started to panic when I couldn’t find you.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes!” I answer urgently. I turn my face to look at him, and I do everything I can to look genuine even though all I want to do is get away from him. “Michael, you have looked after me, you have been there for me, I see it now, I see how much you have tried to protect me. When I woke up my head was dizzy, and you weren’t there. You promised that you would never leave me, and I woke up all alone––”
“MICHAEL! IF YOU HAVE HURT HER I SWEAR TO GOD THAT I WON’T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ACTIONS!” Cal screams loudly, cutting me off.
Michael is looking at me intently, ignoring the pounding on the door. My heart is beating fiercely as I wait to see if he has bought my bare-faced lies. The seconds tick by and with each one, I feel my fear building.
“You know, Lucy,” Michael starts, his voice low. “You have no idea how long I have waited to hear you say that.”
He grabs me and pulls me against his chest, his arms locking around me in a vice grip. I am temporarily stunned by his reaction. I was bracing myself for a punch, not a hug.
“LUCY, CAN YOU HEAR ME?” Cal continues to shout, and I desperately need to see him before he gives up and goes away.
“Michael, you should let me open the door.”
“No.” His response is instant, his tone firm, but I have to try and convince him.
“I’m not going with him, Michael, but if we don’t answer the door then one of the neighbours is going to call the police and that will open up all sorts of drama that I really don’t want to have to deal with.”
I have no idea how I am saying all of this off the cuff. I guess my desperation to placate Michael is fuelling my brain to help me voice the words that I need to say.
“I just want to concentrate on us, and I can’t do that with Cal trying to smash the door down.” I pull my head back and look into Michael’s eyes. Eyes which once held so much warmth. Eyes which mesmerised me but now leave me feeling cold inside.
“If I open that door and he so much as dares to come in here, then I won’t hold back, Lucy. I won’t let him take you from me.” His eyes blaze and I know without a shadow of a doubt that he means every word. His so-called love for me is fucking scary.
“I’m not leaving you, and no-one will take me away.” I have to play him at his own game. He thrives on the fear that he instils in me, and I have to try and keep it locked down, hidden away.
“MICHAEL, OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!” More shouts, more time ticking past. Cal must have been shouting and banging for nearly ten minutes by now. More than enough time for someone to have alerted the authorities.
“They better not,” Michael replies as he lets go of me. “You stay behind me, and don’t talk.”
I nod my head and try to contain the bile that is rising in my throat. Michael walks to the door and I stand there, hoping that I can convey some sort of message to Cal without Michael noticing anything.
Michael grips the handle of the door so hard that his knuckles go white. I hold my breath as the door begins to open and the banging stops.
My eyes connect with Cal’s the minute he comes into sight and all I want to do is run to him and let him take me somewhere safe. The urge to have him comfort me is overwhelming, but I must compose myself.
If I am to get out of this alive, then I need to trick Michael, just as I did a few minutes ago when I told him that I wanted to be with him.
“You son of a bitch,” Cal says before he lunges at Michael. It all happens so quickly.
Cal has Michael pushed against the wall.
Michael has a smirk on his face and I know that he is formulating a plan.
Cal looks frantic, his eyes locked with Michael’s. His hair dishevelled.
I freeze, unsure what to do.
Michael tries to push Cal off.
“Run, Lucy,” Cal says, his focus still on Michael.
Run.
That’s what I need to do.
An opportunity for freedom.
A lifeline to get away from Michael.
A choice.
If I run, then I’m going to be running forever.
If I stay, then Michael may very well end up killing me.
Two choices, both with shitty endings.
The two men continue to struggle with one another, and I am aware that I need to make my choice before any serious harm can be done.
Run.
Leave.
Get out.
Escape. It’s all within my grasp.
Indecision. It clouds my brain.
I don’t want to be a coward.
I don’t want to drag anyone else into this fucking mess of a relationship.
I need to do this myself. My way.
I have to regain my i
ndependence of my own accord.
I can’t keep expecting others to save me.
Protect yourself. That’s what I should have done in the beginning. And that is what I intend to do now.
Please don’t hate me.
Please understand.
“Lucy, come on, get out of here,” Cal urges as he chances a look at me. I try to portray how sorry I am without saying anything. Cal knows me, and I have to trust that he will be there for me when this is all over.
Take a chance.
A leap of faith.
I can run, but I can’t hide.
I never thought that I would be saying this.
I never dreamed that I would choose this path.
Michael remains quiet, waiting to see what I am about to do, and I am pretty sure that he will also be shocked by my response.
“Lucy, go,” Cal urges.
I was ready to stop fighting before, but seeing Cal here, fighting for me gives me the confidence to know that I can do this.
I’m ready to tackle Michael. I’m ready to take the bastard down.
I’m a fucking fighter, and I hold onto that as I realise my next move could possibly cause irreparable damage between Cal and me.
Forgive me, Cal.
Forgive what I am about to do.
I take a deep breath and open my mouth.
“No.”
THE END
What will the consequences of Lucy’s actions be?
Part two of the Losing Control series coming soon…
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About the Author
Lindsey lives in South West, England, with her partner and two children. She works within a family run business, and she began her writing career in 2013. She finds the time to write in-between working and raising a family.
Lindsey's love of reading inspired her to create her own book series. Her favourite book genre is romance, but her interests span over several genre's including mystery, suspense and crime.
Author Acknowledgements
Thank you to the amazing Melanie who picked another fabulous cover for the start of this duet.
Thank you to my beta readers, Melanie, Nikki and Ashlee. I couldn’t do this without the support you ladies give me.
Thank you to my incredible Street Team that share my book posts and teasers. You guys are amazing, and I am always so grateful every time you share.
Thank you to my ARC review team, and to all the new readers that signed up to read this one early.
This book is very different from my usual romantic suspense, but Lucy’s story has been with me for a while, and I knew I couldn’t just let it sit on my laptop any longer.
As always, thank you to my other half who has to hear me talk all things books 99% of the time.
And thank you to my readers. You are all awesome!
The second part of Lucy’s story is releasing soon, so be sure to stick around to see if she gets her happy ending…
Finally, if you would like to leave a review on amazon, goodreads or bookbub, then just remember, it doesn’t have to be a long one, a few words are absolutely fine.
Until next time,
Much love,
Lindsey
Losing Control (The Control Duet Book 1) Page 15