Crystal walked over, and picked it up, looking smugly at the screen. She pressed the call button, as she turned a hand pistol on Lucy. She went cold, as Rachel let out a little scream. It seemed that her mother truly meant business this time.
“Hello Ashton, its Crystal. I have your unsavoury infatuation standing right here with me. Believe me it would be my pleasure to kill her as soon as I can.”
Crystal laughed coldly, before marching towards a wide eyed Lucy. She quickly hit her daughter with the butt of the gun, and watched her collapse with satisfaction. Rachel let out another terrified scream, but Crystal just shook her head at the girl. Now, she could get everything she had ever wanted.
Chapter 32 – The trouble with mothers
“No!” Ash managed to say through the shock. “You’re lying,”
Crystal's smug voice sounded horribly convincing. Ash’s heart dropped and lurched anxiously. He felt the beginning edge of fear swelling, as he realised that she wasn’t lying.
“I need to talk to Lucy. Put her on the phone,” Ash demanded.
“She’s a little under the weather right now,” Crystal’s superiority only increased the dread that he felt.
“What have you done to her?” He forced the words past his dry throat.
“You do what I want, and you can have her back all to yourself, safe and sound, I promise.” Crystal told him in a sickly sweet voice.
“What do you want?” Ash asked, as he viciously stabbed a hand through his hair, and prayed that Lucy would get through this.
“Well, because of your rudeness to me a few weeks ago, my life has become a living hell.”
“And you want me to change that, how?” Ash interrupted with a snort, thinking that she deserved everything she got and more
“Now, don’t you get high and mighty with me, mister! Remember who’s lying here at my feet.” She chided him harshly.
“If you hurt her…” Ash started, but a groan came over the phone, and he felt fear prickle through him “Belle?” He could barely contain the anxiety he felt at the sound of her pain.
“Money, Ashton. I want money to start a new life, and you can provide it for me. The longer you take the more I get to hurt her. Do we understand each other?” Crystal’s stark words enveloped him.
“Yes.” Ash’s voice dropped into despair.
“Call me on her phone when you’re ready to hand it over. Don’t involve my son.” She hung up on him.
Ash felt his world crash in around him. He dropped his forehead onto the desk where he had been working, and tried to get some control. This was his fault. He had left her defenceless. Never once did he think that she would need protecting.
He thought she would be safe in their sleepy little town. Now he could see how very wrong he was. He should’ve known that Crystal wouldn’t let him get away with humiliating her. He should’ve figured that she would take things out on Lucy; her history had shown that much.
His phone started ringing again, and Ash wanted to let it be. He couldn’t handle any more bad news, when his head was swirling with how to get Lucy back. A completely different number looked back at him from the screen, so he cautiously decided to answer it.
“Ash, have you heard from Crystal?” Daz’s stressed voice came down the line.
“She just rang me using Lucy’s phone. How did this happen?” Ash snapped, before taking a deep breath, and trying to calm down.
“What do you mean? Lucy had rung you earlier to tell you what was going on,” Daz stated clearly, his voice sounding increasingly alarmed.
“No, she didn’t, I had a missed call from when I went to get dinner,”
“Dammit Lucy! She sounded like she was full on arguing with you. That little fibber, she is in deep trouble when we get her home.” Daz cursed under his breath, while Ash considered his words.
“She didn’t want me to know.” Ash said feeling defeated.
“Yeah, she didn’t want to worry you. You know what she’s like, bloody idiot sometimes. She walks in the door, says right, I’m off to see Crystal like it’s no deal at all…”
“Wait a minute, you let her go, and meet up with her mother?” Ash shouted in disbelief over the phone.
“Like I could’ve stopped her. Ash. I know where she is; I set up a tracking device on her phone.
“Then let’s go get her.” Ash snarled furiously.
“We need to step delicately around this. We both know Crystal has the ability to hurt our girl. Tell me what she said to you.” Daz tried to speak logically, to get through to Ash the importance of not rushing into anything.
Ash told Daz an in depth of the conversation he had with Crystal, while he paced the floor anxiously. He shoved a hand through his hair, as he tried desperately to plan his next move. All he could feel was anguish and guilt.
This was his fault for not thinking things through. He should’ve known that Crystal would return looking for retaliation, or he should have planned for it. Even as he organised things with Daz, his mind whirled with trepidation. All he could do was keep praying that she would come out of this fine. The last thing he wanted was for her to have any further scarring by her mother.
Lucy blinked her eyes, and groaned at the massive headache that throbbed through her skull. With building panic, she tried to remember what had been happening, but her mind refused to co-operate. A blind wall of blank came back to her, until she heard her name whispered. She knew that voice. She had never really liked that voice, but she knew it.
“Please, Lucy, please don’t be dead. I know I’m the worst person in the world, but I never wanted you to die.” The voice pleaded tearfully.
Everything came back to Lucy in a rush. Of course, she knew that voice it was Rachel’s. The stupid girl had led her out to meet her mother. Then her mother had wanted to call… Ash.
“Ash,” Lucy said the word into the silence, and she heard a sigh of relief from behind her.
“Thank goodness you’re alright, Lucy. I thought she had really hurt you,” Rachel’s voice sounded full of relief.
“Why can’t I see, or move for that matter?” Lucy asked, as calmly as she could manage.
“She moved us somewhere… I don’t know where, because she blindfolded me. Then she tied us up. She’s decided that I’m someone she can use to her advantage. Oh God, my family are going to kill me.” Rachel babbled on with her voice getting increasingly hysterical.
“Calm down,” Lucy said, but Rachel’s voice hit dramatic levels. “Stop this now!” Lucy shouted, and the other girl finally settled with a whimper.
“I just… don’t cope well…” Rachel stuttered.
“Hell, will you just shut up!” Lucy said with frustration in every word.
“Okay.” The blonde girl went quiet, but Lucy could feel her shaking with fear. It seemed that she would have to be the strong one. She rolled her eyes at this stupid predicament, and let out a sigh.
She found her eyes finally adjusting to the surrounding darkness. There was a tiny window in the room, but it was small, narrow, and high above their heads. Lucy couldn’t see anything else, except that tiny slice of moonlight from said window. The room smelt dank and metallic; although the floor felt covered with dirt, it seemed too solid to be earth.
“Do you know where we are?” Lucy asked the other girl.
“No, why would I?” Rachel replied perplexed.
“Because you were the only one conscious during our move obviously,” Lucy said dryly “Alright, do you know where Crystal is?”
“Um, no, should I?”
Lucy let out a little growl at Rachel’s stupid answers. She still wasn’t sure if the girl was involved with Crystal’s plans. She forged on asking questions, even when Rachel’s answers were vague and stupid.
“So, either you truly are as dumb as I always believed, or you’re in with whatever Crystal is up to.” Lucy finally stated firmly.
“What are you talking about? Why would I want to be here with you of all people? I mean my
mascara has probably run, and I know I broke a nail earlier. Plus, this place is rank.” Rachel continued complaining, making Lucy shake her head.
“Dumb theory it is.” Lucy said sarcastically.
Without Crystal around Lucy’s panic eased considerably, and once Rachel began bringing up petty stuff, it lessened even further. She still wasn’t sure how they were going to get out of this predicament, but she was determined not to let her mother get the best of her again.
Time drifted on endlessly, and Lucy tried testing the bonds that were holding her. Her mother had obviously planned everything out quite well. The knots were tight and every time Lucy tugged at them, they only seemed to tighten, so she quit trying. Eventually, after Rachel’s dramatic tears, and the dead silence that surrounded them, Lucy was able to drift into an uneasy doze.
A loud crash and the glare of harsh sunlight startled Lucy into waking. A shadow stood in front of her giving off a menacing air. She felt her heart clench with anxiety, as she heard her mother’s voice, but she focused on it regardless. Her hands began to shake, and she tried to hide her obvious fear by clenching them into fists.
“You know what? I’m really starting to despise that celebrity of yours,” Crystal growled, as she paced towards her daughter.
“Oh yes, and why is that?” Lucy asked, forcing a grin onto her face.
“Because he won’t agree to my terms unless he talks to you first.” Crystal said through gritted teeth, as she pressed the number to call, and set it to loudspeaker. She threw the phone onto Lucy’s lap, as tears threatened in her eyes when she first heard Ash’s voice.
“Belle?” He asked, sounding frantic with worry.
“Ash,” Lucy said tentatively.
“Why did you agree to go anywhere with her?” His worry quickly turned to fury, as he got straight to the point.
“To protect Rachel.” Lucy whispered, looking away from her mother’s triumphant gaze.
“To protect Rachel? Are you kidding with me? How do you know she’s not in on it?” Ash shouted through the phone at her, and Lucy wished that she could see Rachel to judge her expression.
“The simple truth is I don’t, Ash. But I knew if my mother was willing to come after me, then she might come after you too.” Lucy’s voice cracked at just the thought of her mother anywhere near Ash. She heard him let out a sigh. and she knew he was running a hand through his hair.
“Why didn’t you truly want to tell me?” He whispered the words in such a heartbroken way, but at least she knew that he had talked to Daz.
“To protect you, and keep her away from you. I didn’t even think about her wanting your money, it’s something that never occurs to me.” Lucy said honestly, and Crystal let out a snort. She sent Lucy a knowing look, but Lucy decided to ignore her.
“Yeah, I know. It looks like she wins again,” Ash muttered. “I’ll pay anything that she wants to keep you safe.”
“I’m sorry, Ash. Just in case this all goes wrong don’t forget that I love you.” Lucy whispered.
“Belle, I’m getting you back no matter what, so don’t you dare think like that.” Ash said determinedly.
“Okay.”
“But you know how much I love you, even when you do something stupid like this.” His warm words washed over her, making the tears prick her eyes.
“Alright, enough of your loving nonsense!” Crystal interrupted. “You get me my money, and we will organise where to meet.”
“You’ll have your money, Crystal, but if you hurt Lucy in any way I will warn you now that you will regret it.” Ash’s voice hardened, but Crystal just laughed.
“Why would I want to hurt the very bait that will bring me all my just desserts?”
“Because you’re jealous of her. Lucy has everything that you have ever wanted, yet you think she doesn’t deserve it. Lucy is…”
“I’ll ring you back when I’m ready to tell you where to meet me.” Crystal said sweetly.
She hung up the phone, and turned to Lucy with a savage look in her eye. Lucy instantly felt fear dash through her. Ash had goaded her too far.
“How you caught him I will never know,” Crystal slid her finger against the scar under Lucy’s chin. “I mean look at you! Do you ever do anything to make your hair not a frizzy mess? Do you bother to cover that face of yours with make-up to improve it? I know you have never once dieted when I see how flabby you are.” Crystal poked a finger into Lucy’s stomach painfully. “Yet, you still have his undivided attention.”
Lucy stayed quiet, not wanting to encourage the crazed fury that was in her mother’s eyes. Instead, she looked around at the area where they were housed. It seemed like some kind of underground bunker. The solid steel door that Crystal had opened appeared heavy duty, as did the empty room surrounding them. Lucy couldn’t see anything beyond the door except the bright, rather cheery sunlight.
“Like he’d want you, Crystal, with all your jaw clenching Botox.” Rachel spoke, and Lucy closed her eyes to the blow that Rachel would be getting.
Instead, a huge fist came flying her way, and hit Lucy square on the jaw. Her eyes watered, her teeth clattered together, and the pain throbbed through her skull. She opened her eyes to see her mother watching her gleefully. Lucy realised it wasn’t her mother that hit her. A large hulk of a man stood in front of her, watching almost sadly. He was the one that had hit her.
“Who are you?” Lucy asked gruffly.
Nobody answered, but when the man turned, so he was no longer a shadow, Lucy gasped. Tears of betrayal flooded her eyes, as Lucy saw Sam, Ash’s bodyguard in front of her.
“How could you do that to him?” Lucy asked, her voice quiet, laced with misery and fury. The man looked away from her, his jaw tight.
“See, you little boyfriend isn’t the only one who can buy people off,” Crystal laughed joyfully, and Lucy felt sick.
“But you’ve been his bodyguard for years… why, Sam, why?” Lucy cried out the words, as the man’s shoulder slumped.
“She deals in lives not money. She made some kind of deal with my ex. She took Jace away from me,” Sam’s sounded stricken.
Lucy’s heart leapt with anxiety. Jace was Sam’s five-year-old son. He had been divorced from his ex-wife for the last three years, and had been fighting for custody in all that time. He had told Lucy all about it one night when they were waiting for Ash to finish signing autographs.
“God, Sam, I’m so sorry that you got dragged into this.” Lucy wanted to reach out and hug him, but the bonds around her only tightened, as she pulled against them.
She didn’t blame him for her jaw that hurt like hell. He was another one held hostage in this situation. Crystal was determined to win, and it seemed that she would stop at nothing.
“I just nearly broke your jaw, Lucy, so don’t you dare apologise to me.” Sam muttered gruffly.
“Would you have hurt me in any other situation, but this one?” Lucy asked him seriously.
“Of course not!” He stated emphatically.
“Oh, enough with the whiny dramatics! The point is that he works for me now.” Crystal said with a swish of her finger.
“You know what? One day it will all fall apart for you, mother of mine, and boy do I wait for that day.” Lucy said decisively, as she glared at her mother. Crystal just sent her a snide smile, while she tutted under her breath.
“Sort her out, or risk never seeing your Jace again. Tootles!” Crystal warned Sam, before waving her hand at them, and striding out of the bunker.
She slammed the door shut behind her, and it reverberated through Lucy’s already throbbing skull. Darkness reigned, until Sam turned on a gas lamp that he had carried in with him.
“Do your worst, it’s the only way you’ll ever get to see your son again,” Lucy raised her face to Sam who let out a sigh at her obvious determination.
“I can’t, Lucy, I won’t,” Sam shook his head. “I already regret the first one. Martin is going to kill me.”
“No, he won’t
, this is about Jake, and he will understand.” Lucy assured him.
“Is she gone?” Rachel asked with a tremor in her voice.
“Yes.” Lucy and Sam answered together.
“You were going to hit me,” Rachel said with a whimper.
“Well, he got me instead, so why don’t you just shush.” Lucy told her firmly.
“This is so wrong,” Sam muttered with a shake of his head, as he stood in front of Lucy, looking down at her jaw that was already bruising.
“I forgive you, Sam. You are a good man who’s been done over by a beast of a woman, just like the rest of us.” Lucy told him truthfully, and he bowed his head.
“I won’t betray Martin like that. He’s been the best to me since the first day I took on the job. He was only a little scrawny kid then, but he could still draw a crowd like you wouldn’t believe. Before he was even fully recording, I was working for him.” Sam told Lucy his recollections, as he worked on the knots that held her tight.
“Tell me more, Sam. It’s so funny that I first knew him, as the new guy in town. I guess I had an inkling when I made him get up and sing, then when he was playing his guitar, while I was in detention.” Lucy mused.
“You know he’s freaking out. I’ve never seen him look this worried or scared in his life. I’ve watched him on stage totally rocking, completely in control in front of thousands of people. Through all his family dramas and his fan dealings, I’ve never seen him as panicked as I did today.” Sam finished with a grunt at a stubborn knot that didn’t want to give way.
“Wait, you saw Ash today?” Lucy managed to ask through a tightened throat.
“Of course, Lucy. You don’t really think I would work for the likes of her, did you?” Sam asked with a hint of a smile.
“So, that was all for show? What about Jace?” Lucy demanded.
“I got joint custody last week, but Melinda said she’d play along. She’s always had a soft spot for Martin, he’s probably the only reason that we were together for so long.” Sam replied, and Lucy felt an unbelievable relief flow through her.
I Met Her On the Balcony Page 34