Chapter 87

Lily's POV

It had been nearly five hours since Nathan left. Michael kept asking if I was okay, hovering around me like I might break at any moment.

"I'm fine, Michael," I assured him for what felt like the hundredth time, gently rubbing my swollen belly. "The baby's fine too. Just a little restless today."

But the truth was, I was terrified. My heart was racing, and only my trust in Nathan kept me from falling apart completely. He promised everything would be okay. He said he loved me, and I had to believe him.

I glanced toward the corner of the room where a group of men had gathered, speaking in hushed tones. Jake's face caught my attention—the normally playful expression replaced with something I'd never seen on him before: worry.

When Jake noticed me watching, he plastered on a smile that didn't reach his eyes and sauntered over.

"Everything good, Chipmunk?" he asked, using the nickname that normally made me roll my eyes.

"You tell me," I challenged, searching his face. "What's going on over there?"

"Nothing to worry about," he said, but I could tell he was lying. Something was wrong.

Jake's phone buzzed. He checked it, and his fake smile faltered. He motioned for Michael to join them, and after telling me to "relax for a bit," Michael hurried across the room.

I watched their expressions darken as they huddled together. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, feeling the slight flutter of movement beneath my palm. The baby could sense my tension; I needed to stay calm for her sake.

Several men suddenly headed downstairs. I heard Michael give an order to "secure the perimeter" and "protect the main entrance."

"Michael!" I called out, my voice sharper than I intended. "What's happening?"

He rushed over, grabbing my arm and pulling me from the couch. "We need to move. Now."

"What's going on?" I demanded as he guided me down the hallway.

"The men in the woods," he said tersely. "They took out our guys."

My blood ran cold. "Are they... dead?"

"No," Michael shook his head. "Just injured. But we need to get you somewhere safe."

He led me to a wall that didn't look special, pressed something, and a hidden door swung open, revealing a small room I never knew existed.

"Stay in here," he instructed, gently pushing me toward the entrance.

His phone rang. I watched as Michael's face hardened while he listened.

"Trust you?" he suddenly spat into the phone. "Do you even trust yourself right now?"

My heart pounded harder. He was talking to Nathan.

Michael hung up and turned to me. "You need to stay here. Alone."

Before I could protest, a loud explosion shook the building, followed by shouts and commotion. I gripped my belly protectively as Michael drew his gun.

"Michael—"

"It's going to be okay," he said, but his eyes told a different story. He pushed me into the small room. "The door will open when you press this button," he demonstrated, pointing to a red button on the wall. "But don't press it unless you absolutely have to. Do you understand?"

"Please don't leave me," I begged, grabbing his arm.

"I'm sorry, Lily." His eyes filled with something that looked like guilt. "Nathan will come for you."

Then he closed the door, leaving me alone in the dim light.

"It's just you and me now, baby," I whispered, stroking my belly. "Just you and me."

I tried to ignore the gunshots echoing through the walls, telling myself to breathe, to stay calm. The baby needed me to stay calm.

Footsteps and more gunshots, getting closer.

"Lily!" a man's voice called from outside. "Our problem is with you. Come out, and we'll let everyone else go."

I recognized that voice. One of Antonio's men.

"Everyone's locked in rooms, injured," he continued. "They'll bleed out soon if you don't come out."

My breathing quickened. I pressed my back against the wall, wishing I could disappear into it.

"Joseph says you're a good girl," the voice continued. "Says you'll give yourself up to save others."

Joseph was here too? My mind raced.

"We'll find your friends too. What are their names? Olivia? Jade?"

He pronounced Jade's name wrong, like "Jah-day," which would have made me laugh under different circumstances.

"Hey, we caught someone," the voice called again. "This guy was trying to crawl away."

Another voice—Jake's voice, strained with pain—"Leave her alone!"

"Shut up!" A thud, followed by Jake's groan.

My fingers hovered over the red button. If I pressed it, I'd be giving myself up to Antonio's men. If I didn't... Jake might die.

"Lily!" Jake shouted. "Stay where you are! My life isn't worth it—don't do it!"

But it was. Jake was Nathan's family, which made him my family too.

"I'm going to count to three," the man called. "Then I'm shooting your friend in the head."

"One..."

"Lily, if you really care about everyone, you'll face us." That was Joseph's voice, calmer than the others.

"Two..."

"If you care about Jake, you'll walk out that door." Joseph again.

I took a deep breath. Nathan would find me. He would protect me and our baby. I had to believe that.

"Three—"

I pressed the red button.

The door slid open, revealing Joseph and a man with a gun to Jake's neck. Jake's face was bloody, one eye swollen shut.

"Lily, what the hell?" Jake hissed, his one good eye wide with disbelief.

"I'd give my life for you," I told him softly.

"Let him go," Joseph ordered the other man. "We have what we came for."

"No," the man—Zachary, I heard Joseph call him—replied. "He's insurance. Antonio will want him too."

Joseph grabbed my arm, but I yanked it away. "Don't touch me," I snapped. "I can walk."

As we moved through the hallway, I saw the bodies of Nathan's men. Not dead, I noticed with relief, but injured and restrained. Small mercies.

They pushed me into a car, shoving Jake into the back seat. Zachary slid behind the wheel while Joseph sat beside me, his gun trained on Jake.

"The mighty Sullivan security," Zachary sneered as he drove through the trees. "And where's Nathan now? No backup plan?"

"If you think Nathan will let this go, you're even dumber than you look," Jake spat from the back seat.

I glanced at Joseph and noticed something strange. He had moved his gun from Jake's head to the back of Zachary's.

"Do you know how to drive this car?" Joseph asked me quietly.

I stared at him, confused, then understanding dawned. Joseph wasn't with Antonio. He was helping us.

I nodded slightly.

Joseph lifted his hand, signaling me to wait. "Pull over," he told Zachary. "I need to take a piss."

"Now? We're in the middle of—"

"Pull over or I'll piss in your car."

Zachary cursed but pulled to the side of the road.

"Close your eyes, Lily," Joseph commanded.

I did. There was a gunshot, followed by Zachary's scream: "You snake! You dirty rat!"

Jake pulled me from the car, wrapping his arms around me. "You're okay," he murmured against my hair. "You're okay now."

He kissed my forehead. "Don't ever try to save me again, you hear me? Not ever again."

Joseph motioned for Jake to turn me away. "Don't let her see this."

I buried my face against Jake's chest, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Antonio will kill you with his bare hands," Zachary growled.

"Good," Joseph replied coldly. "I guess I'll see you in hell then."

Another gunshot rang out, and then silence.