by L Chapman
"What’s going on?" Mark asks, standing in the doorway.
"I’m leaving you," I answer. My heart shatters into a million pieces once the words come out of my mouth. Words I had never planned to say.
"What?" he yells. I have never seen him so angry before. His eyes are bulging.
"I’m sorry. I love you," I state, rubbing his arm. Standing on my tiptoes, I place a little kiss on his cheek. I need to be close to him one last time. I feel like such a cow. I can’t explain anything to him; hopefully, he will understand when I’m gone and not do anything stupid.
"Then, why are you leaving me?" he enquires, pushing me away with one hand.
"John."
"What about him?" he asks.
I grab my things and walk past him. If I tell him, it will make everything harder, and I don’t need to further complicate the situation. I will just have to learn to live again without Mark because I can’t see him ever taking me back again.
I look down at my mobile, seeing Luke answered me more than once.
Yes, babe. I'm in town. Xx
Jen just told me what happened. Anything I can do? Xx
Babe, I’m on my way to Mark’s. Xx
I’m so happy to hear from Luke. He will let me stay with him. I can’t see him leaving me alone. I just need to get away from Mark; I’m too scared to be alone. Hearing him yell at me and begging me to stay is killing me. Doesn’t he understand this? Doesn’t he know how much I love him? I just hope Natasha will tell him what John said and that he will catch on to what I am doing.
Chapter Seventeen
“Megan, stop!” Mark shouts as he follows me.
“What?”
“Explain, please. Why are you leaving me?” he pleads.
“If I stay with you, I lose my daughter and I don’t know where she is, who has her or if she is safe. You need to understand this,” I reply, grabbing hold of my dark purple jacket from the coat rack.
“I don’t understand. The police will find her.” I continue walking, straight out the door and along the gravel driveway. Tears pour from my eyes. I don’t want to leave him.
“Hey, babe,” Luke calls as he pulls up beside me.
“Hi, I’ve left Mark,” I say.
“What?” he exclaims. “Get in the car!”
I do what he asks before telling him everything. I feel like I have nothing to hide with Luke. I have never had this kind of relationship with him before. It’s like he has saved me. Saved me from more pain.
As the tears stream, I raise my hands, covering my eyes. I need to move forward in order to find my daughter.
“You’re coming to mine. No arguing. I know what you’re like, babe. I will contact the police and tell them,” Luke states.
“Thank you.”
Okay, I know Luke is loaded, but really? This car is so swish. It’s a red, which I did expect, convertible with leather seats that have a red “LG” embroidered on each headrest. I look down at my feet to see his car mats. I’m not at all surprised to find they are black with a red outline and have his initials in the middle to match the headrests.
"Posh car or what?" I observe.
"Posh, do you like?" he asks, taking his eyes off the road for a second to smile at me.
"It’s a car. A car is a car to me," I answer.
"What?" he interjects.
"I don’t really know cars."
"Well, babe. I’m going to have to teach you."
I laugh. “Anyway, how come your initials aren’t under my bum?"
"Special seats, babe. I’ll get you all hot instead." He presses a button. "Heated seats."
“Oh, great.” I wiggle my bum.
I have never been to Luke’s house before. I don’t know where it is or anything. I look up as we drive down the road, keeping an eye out since Lucy could be anywhere.
As we turn down the street, I see a beautiful three-story house. "Is that all glass?" I ask.
"Oh, you know it is, babe," he says, winking at me.
“So, that means everyone can see everything,” I point out.
“Babe, It’s posh glass. You can see out, but no one can see in.” He smiles wickedly.
Luke pulls the car into the camouflaged automatic drive next to the house and straight into the garage. I slide out of the car, looking out of the glass. I can see everything.
"I’ll get your bags, babe." Luke goes to retrieve my belongings. I stand there clueless as to how I get out of this garage. It must be double-sized plus more. It’s full of wooden storage containers and boxes on the shelves. I can’t help but think this is really tidy. He must have a helper here.
"This way, babe," he instructs, pulling a little handle on one of the cream walls.
"Wow."
Luke turns and smiles.
Chapter Eighteen
I reach for my mobile to text John.
I have left Mark. Now, where is Lucy?
He replies a few seconds later.
He knows where she is. He needs to pay.
Pay?
I want £ 20,000.
I don’t have that kind of money.
Mark does. Get it for me, and I’ll tell you where she is.
I fall to the floor crying, unable to hear or see anything. Why is he doing this? I feel Luke’s hand on my shoulder, and I pass him my mobile. I can’t talk to him; I can’t do anything. I need Lucy.
"What? That’s a joke." He takes a deep breath. "Come with me. I’ll ring the bank and get you the money."
"What? You can’t do that," I state as Luke pulls me up from the floor.
"I can and I will," he answers, pulling out a red retro-style chair. Of course, it’s red. I have figured out that he likes red. "Sit." I never knew Luke would or could be so selfless.
"It will take the rest of my life to repay you," I say, feeling my world fall apart.
"I don’t want it back. You getting Lucy back is all that matters."
"Thank you. I have to do something or give you something in return." I’m not letting this drop.
Luke pulls out a flat, handheld device from the wooden drawer. It is some kind of posh wireless Internet thing that I’ve never seen before. "You can design something for me."
"Deal." I can do that.
Luke pulls out his mobile, calling Natasha and telling her where I am as he clicks away on his online banking account. I’m impressed with his multitasking skills.
"Find out where John wants the money," he instructs me. I quickly send John another text.
John, where do you want the money?
Once you have it, I’ll tell you where to come. Cash. I only want cash.
I read the message to Luke.
"Will you be okay here while I get the money?"
I nod, but I really don’t know. Only time will tell. He gives me a brief tour of where everything is, telling me to treat it like my home. How can I? If I were home, Lucy would be with me.
I hear my mobile chime.
Megan, Mark is really going out of his mind here. Jen told me where you are. I’m on my way. Mia xoxo
I don’t want to see her. I don’t want to see anyone but my daughter. Why can’t people leave things as they are? I can’t have Mia here. If John finds out, I might lose Lucy forever.
Chapter Nineteen
“Megan.” I hear Mia bellow as she walks into the house.
I stand up from the sofa, turning myself around to see where her voice is coming from. Who let her in? Luke has been gone about thirty minutes.
“Sorry. I let myself in,” she says, hurling towards me.
“Oh.”
“Why did you leave?” she asks, standing in front of me with her hands on her hips.
“John,” I reply in disgust. Even his name makes me cringe.
“What about that wanker?” she enquires.
“He said I had to choose either Mark or Lucy. I can’t lose my daughter. I don’t want to lose Mark either, but I have no choice,” I whisper.
“Why didn’t you t
ell Mark?” she asks.
“I couldn’t and it was killing me. I didn’t want to leave. I want Mark. I can’t imagine my life without him.” I slip down on sofa, lowering my head as a tear rolls down my face.
“If you explain everything to him, I’m sure he would understand,” Mia says in a comforting voice. I feel her hand rubbing my knee and look up to see her on her knees beside me.
“I can’t lose Lucy though,” I state.
“I understand. Isn’t there something you two could work out? I mean, stay apart until you have Lucy and then get back together?” Mia suggests.
“I hope we can, but I can’t get back with him until I know my daughter is safe, and the courts and everything else is over,” I respond.
“You need to talk to him, Megan. He has been smashing things inside the house. He is heartbroken,” she informs me in a pained voice.
I reach for my mobile from the glass coffee table. This doesn’t fit in with the rest of the décor of the room. I do like the style; I bet he had some posh designer decorate the house because I can’t imagine Luke doing this. The house is located in Yorkshire and is perfect for his style. It definitely suits the man I know.
I type a comforting text to Mark.
Mark, I love you. Don’t smash things up. John said it was you or Lucy. You know that I can’t pick you over my daughter. I don’t want you out of my life. XX
“I have always wanted to have a look in this house. Luke is like super famous,” Mia states, standing in front on the window and rubbing her hands up the curtains. They are black with red circles. I would hate to see the curtains closed; they would be really alarming.
“How did you know where Luke lived?” I ask with an inquisitive look.
“I know those kinds of things. Don’t forget I love his movies. Oh, and his arse, too.”
“Mia!”
“What?” She pauses. “I’m being honest.”
I can’t believe that. I know she loves the men. Well, she loves the attention men give her, but really? Luke is sort of a friend. I would never look at his arse.
“Anyway, why did you get changed? You were in a dress,” I ask. I want to know because she spent time getting changed when I needed her as an extra set of eyes to help me look for Lucy.
“I didn’t think it was suitable for the day. I looked out of the window and saw the dark clouds, then when you asked about Lucy, I knew I had to dress sensibly,” she replies, shrugging her shoulders.
Why is time going by so slowly? It seems like hours since Luke left, but it’s only been about fifty minutes. I can’t stop looking at my mobile. Every little noise I hear makes me check it. I need to make sure I don’t miss anything from John. I can’t let him mess me around; he has hurt me too much today. He has destroyed by life. There is no way he will ever be able to fix this.
I’m pulled away from my thoughts at the sound of an incoming text from Luke.
Hey, babe. I got the money. On way back. XX
Thank you, Luke. I will owe you for life. XX
I walk over to my bags in the dining room. When I arrived, Luke placed my bags there out of the way. I quickly search through my bag, taking out my mobile charger. I can’t have my mobile go dead. I need to contact John.
I have the money. Now what?
I go into the kitchen, finding the nearest outlet. I have some charge, but I’m not going to risk it. After placing my mobile on charge, I sit at the bar.
“Natasha is here,” Mia bellows as she comes walking back into the room. I have no idea what she is doing or where she has been. I will find out when I have both the time and energy to care about her.
Chapter Twenty
I pace the kitchen back and forth. Why isn’t John answering me? I’m surprised Mark hasn’t answered me either. Everyone seems to be taken their own time. Luke should be back by now, and Connor should have my medication here. Why is everything taking so long? Natasha has a police officer with her in the dining room, trying to find out more information, but I still don’t know where the money is to be dropped off. I don’t care about anything apart from Lucy.
“Babe, I’m home,” Luke calls as he runs through the door with a black and grey hold all bag.
“Thank you, Luke. I owe you everything.” I pause. “I mean everything.”
“You owe me nothing,” he states, standing in front of me. He turns his head around the massive open room, seeing people he has never met before.
“I’m sorry. That’s the liaison lady Natasha and a police dude I have never met. Over there is Mia.”
“Oh, Mark’s sister,” he says, winking mischievously at her.
“Hey, no flirting. She already wants your arse.”
“Oh, really?”
I stand there giggling and shaking my head. I suddenly hear the ping on my mobile and run to it.
The park down West Street near the river. NO POLICE.
Fine, what time?
15 minutes or Lucy is gone.
“Luke, I need to borrow a car,” I say.
“You’re not driving, hun. You can’t because of your shoulder,” he points out.
“I don’t care about my shoulder anymore. Are you letting me have a car or what?” I snarl.
“No, I’m driving you.” He bends down, grabs the bag, and flies out of the door towards the car. I run after him with my mobile in hand. Stopping at the front door, I turn around to face Mia.
“Mia, don’t tell Mark anything. I will be back soon!” I yell.
I run into the garage, finding the car with Luke already inside. It’s the same one he picked me up in earlier. I quickly jump in the passenger side. Before I’m even fastened in, he is already driving.
“Luke, you don’t have to do this. I can do it on my own,” I inform him.
“I know, but I need to keep you safe. I promised Jenny,” he states.
I sit watching the roads. I feel so shaky because I don’t know what to expect. I hope John just hands Lucy over to me and realizes what he has done.
“We are here,” Luke says as we pull up into a car park on a hill. Turning off the engine, he gets out of the car. I unfasten my seat belt, slide out of the car, and inhale a deep breath. This park is enormous. Mark brought me here when Lucy was a month old. We had a lovely long walk and a picnic. I pull out my mobile and send John a text.
John, I’m here. Where are you?
By the river.
“He’s by the river,” I tell Luke.
We walk through the car park and down into the grassy area of the park. When we pass through a few trees, I see the river.
“You should stay here, please, just in case I need you. You can see him from here,” I say as I point out where John is. Luke slowly passes me the hold all.
Chapter Twenty-One
“John, here is the money. Now, where is Lucy?” I enquire, standing in front of him, but with a little bit of distance between us. I’m scared he is going to hurt me. There is no way I’m giving him any of the money until I have Lucy back. I keep a tight grip on the hold all in my arms.
I have never seen John wear such an outfit. He’s very untidy in blue jogging bottoms with holes in them and a brown short-sleeved top that shows off his arms. It’s not at all what I’m used to seeing him in. His hair is messed up and mucky looking. As I look down his arms, I see cuts. What the hell is going on?
“Someone else has her.” He pauses. “Come with me.” He grabs hold of my wrist so tight that I’m unable to pull away. He leads me along the riverside, and I’m forced to willingly walk with him.
“Let go of me,” I say in a solid voice. I don’t want to make a scene since I don’t know what will happen if people notice. I need to get to Lucy.
He lets go a little, but only a little bit, so some of the feeling returns in my hand. I wish he would just trust me; he knows I’m not going to run. I would lose Lucy if I did that. “Is Lucy safe?” I ask. I need to know she is safe. I knew he wouldn’t have Lucy with her. But who could have her? Who would
he trust with my child?
“I don’t know nor do I care,” he replies, pulling me in close to him and locking his arms around my back. I wiggle, trying to get free. “Stay close.” He places his lips on mine, forcing me to kiss him. His hand clenches the back of my head, making it impossible for me to get free. As John tries to force his tongue down my throat, I edge my foot slowly forward into the gap between his feet. I quickly lift my knee, hitting him square in his groin.
“Don’t you ever fucking do that to me again!” I shriek between gritted teeth as he bends down in pain.
“You fucking bitch! That hurt!” he yells, holding his cock and trying to catch his breath.
“Don’t make a scene, John. Give me my daughter.”
John stands up tall, rubbing his cock. “Walk now,” he states with pure anger in his eyes. He grabs my wrist again, tighter than the first time.
“Why do you want all this money? You don’t care about our daughter,” I spit out. I need to know the truth.
“She wants Mark to pay.”
“Who does?”
“You will find out soon. Cross over here,” he says, pointing over to the main road. I do what he asks, walking straight over the calm road. I don’t turn around to see if Luke is following us. I don’t want John to know he is here. I need to keep him safe, so he can save me.
“John, I need answers.”
“I’m not talking. Go into the third house on your left. It has a black door.”
John lets go of my wrist, setting me free. I rub my wrist, trying to clear the red marks his fingers left behind. I rush ahead towards the houses, keeping the money close to me. I find the house and open the door. I walk inside, but I can’t see anything. It’s all pitch black. Why is it dark? Why would he let our daughter be in here?
“Lucy!” I yell.
“She is upstairs,” John says, grabbing hold of my upper arms tightly and turning me around. “Walk. The stairs are there.” I follow his instructions. I’m so scared. What is up there?