Page 54 of Ma Belle Marguerite
“Yes, he’ll be right behind us,” he tells me. “Do you remember anything about what happened?”
“I remember most of what happened. Well, until we got here. Wherever this is…” I look around warily, unsure of my surroundings. My emotions are all over the place, and even though I know he is one of Rex’s men, I don’t have the desire to talk about my feelings with him. I want to get to a place where I can process everything on my own, but I have a feeling that Rex is going to keep eyes on me at all times.
“Get in the back and get comfortable. Rex will be here in a minute.” D opens the door for me and waits for me to get in before closing it behind me and standing outside the SUV like a sentry.
I’ll need to get myself cleaned up and presentable before I see the kids after school. I definitely don’t want them to know about this. They don’t need the added stress after what has been going on the last six months.
I just wish I could figure out what all of this means. Why would Cole and Amara take me and drug me to just leave me behind?Something isn’t adding up.
My body feels normal—they didn’t do anything to me physically from what I can tell.
Wait. When I woke up, there were boxes in the room with us that weren’t there when I first went in. What if it’s bombs or poison and they are trying to kill us? It could even be bugged so they can hear what we are talking about. It was a trap all along!
I throw open the SUV door and run towards the bunker doors screaming frantically. “Get out now! Rex, where are you? Get out!”
Everyone outside is standing there, looking at me like I am crazy, not moving. D’s large hand grabs mine as he tries to hold me in place. I wriggle free and take off moving as fast as my feet can take me hearing D yelling at me to stop. I run into the bunker looking for Rex. I need to get him out. I can’t lose him now.
He walks out of the hidden room I was in, his eyebrows drawn down in confusion, looking around for me. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“We need to get out. Those boxes in the room weren’t there when I was put in here, and who knows what they are!” I am sure I look insane waving my arms around yelling, but he needs to listen.
Grabbing his hand I pull him towards the doors as hard as my weak body will allow.
“Everyone out, now!” Rex bellows.
Thank God he is listening.
Just as Rex and I clear the door, we hear a loud rumble come from behind and the ground shakes beneath us. Dust and pieces of cement are flying out of the bunker doors, making it impossible to see inside. He throws me to D and yells, “Get her out of herenow!”
“Wait! What about you?” I try to grab onto his sleeve so he can’t leave me.
“I need to see how bad that was and check on my men who are in there. I will see you at home.” He turns to walk away with a look of determination, but I catch his attention before he makes it too far.
“Rex, please be careful. I’m waiting right here. I’m not leaving your side no matter what. Maybe I can remember something elsethat might be useful too.” I don’t care what he says. There is no changing my mind. Today has had too many close calls.
Grunting, Rex looks at D, his body tense and eyes unwavering, “Protect her with your life.” He pins me with ayou better listenstare, then turns and runs into the bunker before I can grab him again and make him stay with me.
“If you don’t stay with me, he will kill me. Please don’t make this harder for both of us.” D says to me. I can hear a hint of pleading in his voice.
“Fine, but if I hear anything else, I’m going in after him, fair warning.” I can see he isn’t happy with that answer, but too bad. He can keep his eye rolls to himself. I don’t want D to die, but Rex is my main concern at this moment.
After what feels like forever, Rex emerges from the bunker covered in soot, half carrying the man who helped me when I woke up. He looks like he now needs someone to take care of him, pieces of metal sticking out of his body everywhere.
“The bedrooms and secret room all appear to have had bombs. Just enough to compromise the place. There are two more men that we need to get out before the bunker collapses. The rest didn’t make it.” Rex says his voice low and sorrowful. “Take care of what you can, I will help you contact families tonight and provide the appropriate arrangements.”
“I’ll get them, boss, you just take care of Bella.” D turns to a few guys I didn’t even realize were there and starts yelling instructions as another man takes the doctor from Rex’s hold.
“Let’s go get cleaned up before we pick up the kids. There’s nothing else we can do here.” Rex looks defeated as he grabs my hand and pulls me towards the vehicle. I can’t help but feel like this is partly my fault. I should have remembered sooner or just stayed home.
Chapter 24
Alexander
Sitting at my desk in my room, I can’t help but think that this has been the worst day I’ve had in a long time. Since Bella left me actually. I don’t even know where to begin processing everything.
My own brother is actively working against me, and he tried to kill me. I don’t understand because I would hand this all over to him if I could, which I assumed had been made clear to him by now. I would give anything to be able to live an everyday lifewith Bella and the twins. To have no worries of explosions and kidnappings. Just what is for supper, and when the next football game is.
I need to rethink my whole plan. Cole has access to the same things I do, plus whatever connections my father had him making out of town, which I’m sure he will use for himself and not our family. He has always been selfish and only cared if something furthered his position, not the family.
