“My wife is fucking pregnant. I’ve told you pricks this already!” I roar. Spencer comes to stand beside me and gives me a look of warning. He can shove that warning up his fucking arse for all I give a shit. “Listen to me you goddamn waste of space. My wife rang me, petrified, and told me what was happening. When they crashed I heard Leona. Leona Goodridge. She’s taken her and she’s hurting her every minute you all waste here.”
“Damon, you need to calm down. We’re going to find her.” Spencer tries to soothe. I grasp his shirt and pull him to me, so we’re face to face.
“How the fuck do you think we’re going to find her when these cocks aren’t doing their job?” I growl.
“Sir, you’re going to have to calm down if you want to find your wife. I need you to tell me everything you know.” I ignore the police officer and stare into my brother’s eyes. In the brown depths I see something but I’m not quite sure what. Spencer lifts a brow at me and nods his head towards the car. Grinding my teeth I release him.
Spence steps away, adjusts his shirt and faces the policeman. I take a deep, calming breath and wait to hear what Spencer has to say.
“We’ve already told your colleagues what happened but they’re not listening. Ella Hunt was targeted by that man you’re currently trying to revive. He ran her off the road where he met a fate too kind for him if you ask me. My sister in law was on the phone to my brother as we drove here and we heard Leona Goodridge screaming at Ella. When we arrived at the scene Ella and Leona were gone. None of you are looking for the real fucking victim here and each second that passes allows Leona more time to cause damage. I know where they are and I’m leaving now. You can choose to do your job correctly and follow me, or you can let my brother and I go sort Leona out. Either way, we’re leaving now.”
As soon as he says the words I’ve been desperate for I walk away, back to the car and climb in the driver’s seat, staring the engine. Spencer quickly hops in beside me and I watch as the policeman gathers more forces.
I don’t wait around.
I can’t.
My foot hits the gas pedal and we take off. Racing to get to my beauty.
“Where are they?” I growl. My rage is ready to explode. If I get my hands on Leona I’m going to bury her.
“An abandoned barn five miles that way. Close to the rents.”
“How did you find them?” I ask, only to take my mind off the fury consuming me. If I don’t focus then I’m letting Ella down. She’s my main priority.
“Tracked Leona’s phone,” he replies, nonchalantly. I turn my gaze on him a second in silent question before looking back to the road. “I have my ways of getting what I want. It was as simple as providing Leona’s phone number. I have an area where she is, but she could be anywhere Damon. I just get an area, not a specific location.”
“An area? What the fuck does that mean?” I growl.
“It doesn’t give me the exact spot Damon. It’s like an area on a grid. I can get us to where she is but we’re going to have to find her. She’ll be there but she could be in any field.”
“I’m gonna kill her Spence. If anything has happened to Ella I’m going to tear Leona limb from limb. I can’t lose her,” I choke out.
“You won’t. We’re going to get her back.” Spencer’s voice is strong, sure, but I can hear his trepidation.
My phone rings and when Steen’s voice sounds through the speaker I see red. His fucking daughter has my wife.
“Steen,” I growl.
“Damon? Thank fuck. Damon, Ella is in trouble,” he stutters, flustered.
“No shit. Your fucking daughter has her,” I snap.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. She killed her mum, stabbed her. I went to see if my daughter had been murdered too only to find she was the murderer. I heard her on the phone Damon and she caught me. I was trying to warn you but she hit me over the head. I blacked out. I’ve called as soon as I’ve come round.”
“I don’t have time for this Steen. I’m going to get my wife back from your bitch of a daughter.”
“You know where she is?” he asks, sounding relieved.
“We have an area but it’s not a specific location. From what I can tell there is nothing in that area so we’re going to have to search,” Spencer replies.
“Where is it?” Steen enquires, sounding desperate.
“Six and half miles past my mum’s,” I answer.
“It’s mine!” he exclaims. “It’s my land. We have some waste land. Leona and her friends hung out there when she was in secondary school and there’s an old shack.”
That’s it.
I don’t reply. I just press my foot down harder so we shoot forward, speeding to my beauty as fast as my car will allow. Ice fills my veins as we near, we’ll never find Ella. Steen directs me to take a turn down an old dirt path, barely visible from the road.
As soon as I pull up in front of the old barn I jump out and try to take off towards the door but Spence grabs me and holds me back. I lash out, wanting to beat him to preventing me from going to my woman. Bringing his lips to my ear, Spencer gives me the words to calm down.
“Damon, if you go in there you risk Ella being killed. Listen to that, I can hear them both. Ella is fine but if you go storming in there that could all change. You need to think with your head, brother. Your woman is alive but you could end that. You need to wait it out.”
I sag against him, broken inside. How can he expect me to not go in to take my beauty back? I’m desperate to hold her in my arms, to make sure she’s okay, but I know Spence is right.
I can hear Leona speaking but I can’t tell what she’s saying. Police cruisers pull up and start to move into position.
“Did you hear me?” Leona screams. My whole body tenses as I hear Ella cry out in pain. It takes everything in me to remain on the spot. I want to rush in there and take the pain away and I want to end Leona’s life so fucking much.
Spencer moves us closer to the door, as officers suit up in protective gear, drawing guns and checking they’re loaded. When Leona begins to speak again, we can hear hers words clear as day.
“When Damon thought he killed my baby he was easy to manipulate too. I could play on that to get my own way. He felt guilt and that gave me power. Until you came along. Until you fucking ruined it all you cunt!” Leona shouts.
Her words shock me, knocking the air out my lungs. It was all a game. There was no fucking baby. I want to release my wrath and set it all on the woman who has invaded my life for far too long.
“You were never pregnant.” Ella says. It’s not a question, it’s a statement. “I bet you weren’t even fucking raped.”
“Of course I fucking wasn’t. I used that rape and a fake baby as a way to get Damon and that’s when your fucking sister fucked everything up again. After that I thought he would comfort me the way I wanted, if he thought he’d killed my baby. Instead he closed off more.”
“Because you made him believe he was responsible for two deaths in one day!” Ella shouts.
Leona’s voice is quiet as she replies and I can’t make out what she’s saying.
“If you would have thought about it properly Leona, you would have known that convincing him he’s a monster wouldn’t work in your favour. He locked himself away from the world, blocked himself off from living. You. Did. That.” I can hear Ella’s fury at what Leona has put me through and I love her all the more for it.
The police move into position and crash into the doors as an ear piercing scream sounds out. Spence and I go to move in but get held back. I thrash and fight to get free but these fuckers are holding steady.
A gun being fired stops my breathing, my heart skipping a beat as the bang resounds in my head. My knees give out and I pray. I pray with everything in me that that gunshot was fired at Leona and not my beautiful Ella.
“Oh God. Oh fuck. Is she... is Ella okay?” I gasp. I struggle to catch my breath as all my biggest fears take over my body at once. Have I
lost my wife and daughter?
Spencer’s arms band around me, comforting me, but it doesn’t help. I feel trapped, like I’m being held under water. Shouts and movement surround me but my mind is blank of anything but torture. This is all my fault. Leona would never have gotten near Ella if I would have protected her. Hell if I wasn’t part of Ella’s life, then they would have never crossed paths.
Sirens wail in the background, drawing closer to our destination as an officer cautiously approaches us.
“Mr. Hunt?”
“Yes,” Spencer answers, knowing I can’t find the words.
“Mrs. Hunt is alive. She’s unconscious and has some injures but she’s breathing. An ambulance is about to arrive to give her the medical treatment she needs but we don’t know how bad her injuries are.”
I slump forward at his words, tears streaming down my face. My baby is breathing. She’s alive.
“What about the baby?” I ask.
“We won’t know until she gets to the hospital, sir.”
I stand on shaky legs and move to enter the barn, only to be stopped again. I glare at the uniformed man, ready to rip him a new arsehole when I see paramedics rush past.
Everything passes in double speed. Police and paramedics swarm the scene, orders and medical jargon is shouted out in a mix of hums. Spencer holding up my slumped body is the only thing anchoring me to this scene. It’s like watching a movie playing before my eyes.
Seeing Ella being wheeled out on a stretcher, unconscious, brings me back to focus. Standing, I stride over towards the ambulance they’re loading her in, when a female paramedic stops me with a hand on my chest. I glare down at her, waiting for her to move.
“Sir, you can’t go back there.”
“That’s my wife,” I say with incredulity.
Ella opens her eyes at my voice, and calls out to me. I push onward, forcing my way to her. Needing to be with her.
“F-Faith,” she gasps. “H-help her.” As soon as the last word leaves her lips she passes out. I roar out in agony.
Please don’t die.
The paramedic grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop when I try to storm forward.
“I’m sorry for that sir, but you can’t go back there. We’re doing all we can for your wife, and we need to get her to the hospital as quickly as possible. Her body is showing signs of advanced labour.”
I stumble back a step. It’s too fucking soon. Our daughter isn’t ready yet, she can’t be in labour. My head spins with horror.
“But she’s... I’m...” I stutter.
Giving me a sympathetic smile she moves her hand from my chest to my shoulder and gives me a comforting squeeze.
“It’s too early.” I tell her panicked. “She has a month left before the baby is ready.”
“We’re going to do all we can.”
She turns and walks away but I grab her arm, stepping after her as she goes to leave. A hand clamps on my shoulder and I turn to glare at a stocky police man.
What the fuck?
“I suggest you remove your hand Mr. Hunt,” he says, with a surprisingly menacing voice.
“It’s fine Teddy.” The paramedic replies.
“No it’s not,” he growls.
“He just wants to travel with his wife,” she tells him before turning her eyes to me. “You can ride up front Mr. Hunt but we need to leave now.”
I don’t waste time. I move forward on autopilot and take a seat in the cab of the ambulance.
****
I’m pacing in the family waiting room at the hospital, surrounded by my family and friends, and I’m going fucking crazy. It’s been over an hour since we’d arrived at Charing Cross hospital and I know nothing. Not one fucking person can tell me what’s happening to my wife. No, it’s not that they can’t tell me, they won’t tell me.
Spencer must have called my parents because they arrived not long after me. My mum pulled me into a hug and told me everything would be okay and it’s the first time I’ve ever doubted my mum. Spencer arrived twenty minutes later with a shaken up Faith, but she was unharmed.
Spencer tells them what happened and each detail takes my breath away and feels like a punch to my guts. My mind replays this day over and over again, adding in Faith’s experience, making me relive the horror and making me fear the worst.
My dad, Spence and Faith went to get some hot drinks five minutes ago and my mum stayed with me. I know she wants to talk about how I’m feeling, and she wants to reassure me that Ella and our daughter will be okay, but I can’t hear that at the minute. I don’t want false hope.
“Come and sit down, Damon.” My mum says in a soft voice.
I can’t sit down. I’m restless.
“Take a seat, son.” My dad says, resting his hand on my shoulder. I didn’t even notice him and Spencer returning.
I slump down into a seat, my chin resting on my chest, and my hands in my hair. I’ve never felt despair like this before. Not knowing what’s happening is making my fucking brain run wild.
“I can’t lose her,” I choke out.
“You won’t!” My family all say in unison. I wish I had their fucking belief.
“But what if–” I’m cut off when the door opens. Steen sticks his head in and steps inside, and I’m on my feet instantly. I thunder forward and grip him by his shirt. His fucking daughter is responsible for all this and I have no one to take my anger out on.
He seems like the most appropriate.
My fist connects with his jaw with a satisfying crunch before anyone can respond. Spencer’s arms wrap around me a second later and pull me away. I thrash and struggle to free myself from his grip but my mum steps in front of me with a disappointed look in her eyes.
I instantly still. I will forever be haunted by that look in her face. I’ve never seen my mum show anything but love when she looks at me but in this minute she looks like I’ve committed the world’s worst crime.
“I know you’re hurting, Damon. We all are. But that does not, and will never, mean you can go around throwing punches at innocent people. I know you’re angry, and I know you’re looking for someone to blame, but the only person to blame is dead.” Tears sting my eyes. She’s right. I fucking know she is but it doesn’t help this rage inside me. I need to let it out before I’m consumed with it. I can feel the fury pulling me into the darkness, making me want to tear the world apart.
“Ella and my daughter might be dead too,” I snap.
“Ella is strong and she’s going to be okay.” My mum’s words are so sure, so certain, I almost believe her. “My granddaughter has the strongest parents I know. She’s going to have the same kind of strength. They will fight.”
“It’s okay Flora,” Steen says. My mother turns to look at him.
“No it’s not, Steen. You have done nothing wrong and my son knows that. I’m sorry for your losses,” she says with a soft voice, placing her hand on his arm. I’m not fucking sorry for his losses. The world is better off without Leona and Sandra in it. My body tenses at her words. Her warm eyes come back to mine.
“I’m not sorry she’s dead, Damon,” she says with conviction and she looks back at Steen. “I’m sorry about Sandra. I’m sorry for your losses but I’m not sorry she’s dead. Leona caused harm to my family and for that I’m glad she can’t cause anymore harm. You saved my daughter and granddaughter today and for that I can’t ever repay you.” Her voice ends on a choked whisper.
She’s right.
Steen alerted me to Leona’s location, he tried to warn me, but that doesn’t mean seeing him is any easier. I begin pacing the length of the room again. I just need to fucking know what’s happening.
When the door opens again and a doctor walks in, I stop pacing, and turn abruptly. I face him and wait for him to speak, holding my breath.
“Mr. Hunt?” he asks.
“That’s me. How are my wife and daughter?”
“Your wife is in recovery, Mr. Hunt. Upon arrival she was unconscious and in late stag
es of labour. She has a fracture in her fibula, along with some ligament damage. She has a large laceration on her forehead, and she’s banged up with extensive bruising and cuts, but otherwise seems to be recovering well. The baby’s heartbeat was considerably low due to stress, and we had to perform an emergency caesarean. Your wife regained consciousness before we preformed the caesarean, and she was aware of what happened and where she is. Your daughter is currently in the neonatal unit, but is doing well.”
My knees give way at his words, my relief instant. My beauty and our daughter are alive. I finally let out the breath I’ve been holding since I first got the call from Ella, and drop the floor. My emotions are too much to process. There’s too much going on and I need to look into my wife’s eyes to clear my mind.
She’s the only one who can give me peace.
“I want see her,” I demand.
“Your wife?” he asks.
“Yes. Has she met our daughter yet?”
“No, Mr. Hunt. She was under general anaesthetic during the operation and is in recovery at the moment. As soon as she’s ready she’ll be moved to the maternity ward.”
I’m desperate to see our daughter, to make sure she’s alright and see who she looks like. But I want to meet her at the same time as my wife does.
“A nurse will come and collect you when Mrs. Hunt is settled into her room, and take you to see her. I’d be more than happy to show you to your daughter in the meantime?” he asks.
“I want to wait until my wife is awake and can meet her.” I pause and look at my family. I know they’re going to be just as eager to see both of my girls and I don’t want to take one of those options away. “You can show my family there though. I’m sure they’re desperate to meet her.”
“We’ll wait.” My mum speaks up. “Ella needs to meet her before us.” I could kiss my mum.
The doctor nods before asking if I have any questions. When I say no, he exits the room, leaving me to my relief.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
December 24th 2014
Ella
Avowed (The Manipulation Trilogy Book 3) Page 21