Chapter 285
Chapter 285
Lucy's POV
The mountain air carried a chill that brushed against my skin, but I barely noticed. My thoughts were trapped in an endless loop, replaying the scene of Ethan and that blonde bitch at the hospital. How fucking dare he parade her around like that? I gritted my teeth, my nails digging deep into the wooden bench I'd been sitting on for over an hour.
Hampton Hills offered a panoramic view of Manhattan's glittering skyline, but tonight the beauty was lost on me. I stared at the distant lights, my mind in chaos. Why am I still waiting for him? He'd made it clear he wanted a divorce, even going so far as to find some sexy bombshell to rub in my face. Logic told me to let go, but deep down, I knew something wasn't right.
Yesterday holding me in his arms, today screwing someone else? That's not Ethan's style. My hands balled into fists. I wouldn't give up, wouldn't just accept this bullshit like some pathetic doormat. If he truly wanted to be rid of me, he should at least have the balls to tell me the truth to my face.
The sound of footsteps on gravel interrupted my thoughts. Three men approached, their swaggering gait revealing their intentions before they even opened their mouths. The lead guy was brawny with a thick chain around his neck and a repulsive, self-assured smile plastered across his face. The other two were leaner but equally predatory, one continuously licking his lips while the other cracked his knuckles.
"Well, what do we have here?" The tallest one grinned, flashing a gold tooth that gleamed in the moonlight. "A pretty lady all alone at night? That's practically an invitation for company."
I didn't bother responding, just stared expressionlessly ahead. Just fucking perfect, had to run into these losers tonight.
"Hey, I'm talking to you," he stepped closer, his breath reeking of cheap beer and cigarettes. A flash of annoyance crossed his eyes, clearly unaccustomed to being ignored. "Don't be rude."
"Back off," I said flatly, my voice devoid of emotion. If you only knew the mood I'm in right now, you'd run for the hills.
The three exchanged amused glances, then Gold Tooth reached out, his fingers lightly brushing my shoulder. "Come on, sweetheart, we just want to—"
I didn't let him finish. In one swift motion, I grabbed his wrist, twisted sharply while applying downward pressure, feeling the satisfying crunch of bones. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at his crooked fingers, before the pain registered and he let out a piercing scream.
"You fucking bitch!" he shrieked, stumbling backward, tears of pain welling in his eyes, his face contorted with rage and shock. His buddies stepped back in surprise, unable to believe what they'd just witnessed. "You broke my fingers!"
Good! All those hours I'd put into combat training these past two years hadn't gone to waste.
I stood up, adjusting my jacket, my gaze cold as it swept over the three men. "Relax, it's just broken, not dead. Consider it a lesson for your wandering hands."
Gold Tooth's face twisted into a knot of fury, veins popping on his forehead. "What the hell are you two idiots standing there for? Grab her! I'm gonna teach this bitch a lesson she'll never forget!"
The two cronies exchanged glances, hesitated briefly, then mustered their courage and moved toward me. One tried to approach from the left, the other circling to my right. Fine, if you're that eager to get hurt...
The guy on the left made the first move, lunging clumsily. I sidestepped and raised my knee to connect precisely with his solar plexus. He let out a muffled groan and doubled over. Seeing this, the man on the right pulled out a small knife, his expression nervous but vicious.
"Nice toy," I sneered, dropping into a fighting stance. "Come on, show me what you've got."
He slashed the knife toward me, his movements appearing almost in slow motion to my eyes. Amateur hour. I easily dodged, grabbed his wrist with one hand and twisted, simultaneously driving my elbow hard into his nose. Blood immediately gushed out as he screamed, dropping the knife to clutch his face.
I followed through with a kick to his knee, hearing the sound of bone displacement as he collapsed to the ground, moaning in agony.
Gold Tooth, seeing his buddies taken down, had fear replacing the anger in his eyes. He raised a rock with his uninjured hand and charged at me wildly. "You're gonna fucking pay for this!"
I evaded easily, delivering a precise knife-hand strike to his throat. He immediately struggled to breathe, dropping the rock as his hands instinctively went to his neck. I seized the opportunity to sweep his legs, and he fell heavily with a dull thud.
What a waste of time. I was about to leave when I sensed movement behind me. An instinct made my hair stand on end, and I started to turn, but too late.
A sharp pain stabbed into my neck, followed by an immediate wave of dizziness. Shit, someone snuck up on me! I reached to feel the wound, but my fingers wouldn't cooperate.
"Who... are... you..." I struggled to turn around, my vision already blurring.
"Long time no see, Lucy Owen," a familiar voice seemed to come from far away.
My legs buckled beneath me, my body falling helplessly as darkness engulfed me.
---
Ethan's POV
My heart pounded furiously as I sped up the winding road toward Hampton Hills. Lucy was up there alone, completely vulnerable, and Helen Wilson was still on the loose. Damn it, Lucy! Why would you come here by yourself?
As I neared the summit, a white sedan drove past in the opposite direction. There was something disturbingly familiar about the driver—a woman wearing a mask—but I couldn't place it. Our eyes met briefly as we passed, sending a chill down my spine. But finding Lucy was more urgent, so I pressed on.
The parking area was deserted except for Lucy's black motorcycle. I jumped out before the car had fully stopped.
"Lucy?" I called out, scanning the area desperately. "LUCY!"
James pulled up behind me, getting out with a worried expression. "Mr. Storm, where's Mrs. Storm?"
My blood ran cold when I spotted a handbag on the ground, its contents scattered across the gravel. Next to it was her phone, its screen cracked from impact.
"She's gone," I choked out, an icy grip tightening around my chest. "Something's happened."
I suddenly remembered the white car that had passed us, and my heart sank. "FUCK! That car—twenty minutes ago, a white sedan left the park. Lucy might be in it!" My voice rose with urgency. "Get every camera on the route! Find that car, NOW!"
James was already on his phone, issuing commands. I knelt to gather Lucy's belongings, my hands trembling slightly. Hold on, Lucy. I'm coming for you.
When my phone rang minutes later, confirming what the cameras had captured, seeing those familiar eyes, I knew immediately who had taken her.
"It's Helen Wilson!"