CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THREE : SAME

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THREE : SAME
I parked the car far away from the building.

My eyes landed on Killian making me halt on my steps.

He was typing something furiously on his phone.

His attention shifted to me and he tucked his phone in his back pocket.

I stared in shock as he unbuttoned his suit and pulled out two guns.

Then, he handed one over to me.

I was not foolish to ask where he had gotten them from because I knew clearly this might come in handy inside there.

“My men are on their way.

I had someone contact the police already,” he muttered.

I gave him no reply, turning to face the building once more.

My entire life resided there, so I ran for it.

We were lucky to find the back door unlocked.

And it made me wonder if Jennifer had any setups in place because I could not find any men littering around.

The entire place was dark.

I could barely hear any voices, and that told me  that Jennifer had no men working with her.

So I took the chance of flashing my light on, knowing it will help me find Leah and my kids faster.

Small voices of cries filled my ears the moment I passed a room, and I froze.

My wide gaze turned, and through the small opening of the door, I found piercing green eyes staring into mine with nothing but hope.

“Ashley, Ashton,” Killian whispered softly beside me, and without any hesitation, he ran towards the door.

I was a bastard, yes I knew.

I was mad and nothing but a fool, that I knew.

And the entire world would know that because even now, I’ll still pick my wife, I’ll always pick Leah before my children.

And I was eternally sorry for that.

Their gazes burned into me as Killian loosened them, probably expecting me to come and help, but I was too foolish to do that.

Because at that moment I could only see one woman’s face in my mind.

And I’ll be damned if something bad ever happens to her.

So I ran to her, without even looking back, leaving myself with the consolation that Killian had my children, and he’ll protect them.

I traced Jennifer’s location with the tracker.

And up to the door of the roof top of the sky high warehouse.

My hands twisted on the handle, opening it without any hesitation, and I froze the moment I took in the sight before me.

LEAH’S POV 

I jumped down from my car, swiping my phone back to life to see that I had only two minutes more.

I had already spent thirteen minutes.

I looked at the shy Hugh building before me.

And at that moment, I knew I’ll be fighting a losing game trying to find my children.

Heaven knows how many doors were in there, two minutes would never be enough.

And I’ll never put my children’s life at risk so easily.

So I walked whole heartedly into whatever trap Jennifer had laid for me.

I clicked on the number she had called me through earlier.

“I’m outside.

Where are my children, Jennifer?” I growled through the call.

She barked a deadly laugh.

And I could hear the contempt laced in her voice knowing she had won as she spoke.

“You had just one minute and forty seven seconds left earlier.

I would have surely enjoyed killing those two little bastards.

But it seems you are in luck,” she hissed.

“Drop your phone in your car there Leah.

And walk through the front door,” she spat venomously as she ended the call.

I was not a fool to disobey her.

This woman was dangerous.

Without thinking, I threw my phone inside the car, as I ran towards the front door.

Twisting the lock to find it open, I walked through.

The entire place was dark.

I could barely see or hear anything except the door closing behind me, and the tip of a gun pressed to my skull.

“Lovely to meet you, Leah, after all these years,” a familiar voice gritted.

And I recognized instantly—Jennifer.

Then, she pushed me harshly as my foot twisted.

“Move your hands in the air.

And if you make a noise or even a twitch, I’ll have your son's brain blown out,” a small whimper of fear left my lips the moment she said those words.

And I barely hesitated as I lifted my hands up.

The place was dark, but Jennifer knew her way through easily.

I felt myself climbing some steps for what felt like hours.

I knew they were stairs because I tripped on the first one the moment we got there.

Jennifer’s other hand stretched out, twisting the door handle before me, and she pushed me through.

This place was bright unlike the rest of the building.

And seeing the skies with the poorly made barricade which surrounded the edges, I instantly recognized where I was.

This was the roof top of the building.

And through here, I could see where my car was parked.

That means she must have seen me when I came in earlier.

Her gun still pressed to my skull, but I barely cared because I was losing my patience already.

“Where are my children?

You said you’ll release them if I come,” I clenched out.

I could feel the way she vibrated in rage from behind me as she dug the gun deeper into my skull this time.

“I never made such promises, Leah.

And I’ve said it before. 

Be careful how you speak to me.

Because I might just lose my patience, and you don’t want to see that happen do you?” Her voice dripped with poison as she spoke.

“I’ll let your children go.

But that’s after you do what I want,” she snarled, her other hands wrapping around my arms as her nails dug deeper into my skin.

“What do you want, Jennifer?

I’ll do anything.

Just let them go,” I pleaded.

Tears clung to my eyes as I struggled to remain strong, dropping all of my pride before the one woman who had ruined my entire life in the past.

And she was doing it yet again.

“Burn yourself,” she hissed darkly in my ears.

“What?” I whispered, my heart racing with emotions I could barely understand.

“You want me to let those spawns of yours go, right?

Then, burn yourself.

Set your body on fire!,” she yelled, pushing me forward as I neared the tip of the edge.

But luckily I stabilized myself.

I stood, the beating of my heart echoing in my ears, and I finally turned to face her.

The moment my eyes landed on her face, they widened in dread, watching as her lips curled cunningly.

“You like what you see, Leah?” She hissed darkly, cocking the gun before her, still keeping it straight and pointed to my forehead.

Although she stood at a distance now.

“Y…you, look just like me,” I stammered, not able to form words.

I stood, looking at Jennifer.

And it felt like I was looking at a reflection of myself.

She even wore a wedding gown.

One exactly similar to the one I was wearing.

And her face, oh God!

They were exactly like mine.