46

CHAPTER FORTY SIX
GABRIELLE
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Silence followed.
Whoever it was outside was either going away or thinking of a way to enter inside. Lucian met my gaze, then held a finger to his lips.
My heart missed a beat when he started to approach the door slowly, his gun firmly clenched in his hand.
Panic jolted through me, why was he heading towards danger, whoever it was out there was probably armed, what if he gets hurt? Or killed?
My heart clenched tightly in terror, I didn't want him to die.
The door kicked open, splinters of wood flying everywhere, shortly followed by gunshots.
My eyes were shut close, I didn't realize that the scream that rendered the air was mine until I felt a touch on my shoulders. My eyes flew open, words couldn't express the relief that soared through me when I saw Lucian.
His arms went around me, almost the way one would hold a scared child.
"It's okay, now. We are fine." He murmured, caressing my hair.
I looked behind his shoulder and couldn't be any less horrified.
A man lay dead. A pool of blood was starting to form around him. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the sight.
"Who is he? Why did he want to kill us?" I whispered.
"That's what I'm going to find out, you have to stay here, I'll be back shortly." Lucian spoke and I instantly rejected the idea. I couldn't stay here alone, he couldn't leave me here.
A movement caught my gaze and I realized it was the doctor, I had almost forgotten about her presence.
My eyes caught on the dead man once again and I didn't realize that I was gripping tightly to Lucian's arm as though my life was dependent on him, maybe it was at this moment.
"No, I want to go with you, I don't want to stay here, what if..."
He cupped my face, ensuring my eyes never wavered from his.
"It's could be dangerous out there, you are going to stay here! it's a lot safer for you." He spoke in a harsher tone, leaving no room for argument.
I swallowed at the hard lump in my throat but knew that he was right.
It was quite ironic that when we first got here, I was scared that Lucian would find out that I was not pregnant, and now I was scared for our lives instead.
The sound of gun fires from a distance continued at random intervals, the enemies weren't gone yet.
"And you? You can't out there! didn't you say that it was dangerous? " I yanked at Lucian's arms, what if he got badly hurt out there? I suddenly imagined him getting injured, or killed and the coldness spread inside of me, penetrating deep into my bones. I didn't expect to suddenly feel so vacant.

"Nothing is going to happen to me." He actually smiled.
How could he find anything amusing in a situation such as this?
I nodded numbly, nothing was going to happen to him, he still was yet to discover my lies and punish me for it, how could he die so easily?
It was me trying to convince myself, this was when I officially admitted that I had finally lost it.
Could a sane person process these kind of thoughts in their mind?
"Remember not to leave before I come to get you." His lips brushed casually against mine before he straightened to full height.
He gave me and the doctor a final look before walking out the door, he was considerate enough to take the dead body along.
I gnawed on my lips anxiously and turned to the doctor.
It was just the two of us present and I supposed Lucian knew her well enough to know that she could be trusted, after what had happened with Anya, I didn't think I could trust another person so easily.
I closed my eyes and tried my possible best to relax, I didn't know how much time had gone past until the doctor spoke. Julia, that was what she said her name was.
"We are going to be fine."
I barely managed a nod, I also noticed that the gun fires had ceased. She was trying to start a conversation, maybe to relieve the stress.
"About your test results, you are not..."

"Pregnant, I know." I completed, taking a closer look at her, I wondered if I could tell her to keep it a secret for me and not tell Lucian...I quickly decided against the thought, I couldn't afford to implicate anyone else along with me. She shouldn't get into any trouble with Lucian because of me.

The gun fires had already ceased, there was only deafening silence left.
Why wasn't Lucian returning? Did something happen to him? What if he was lying somewhere, waiting to bleed to his death?
My entire body was trembling, I could feel cold sweat sliding down my back. I could taste my fear, it was raw and metallic against my tongue, I think I might have bit the inside of my cheeks.

"I think it's over, I will go check on everything." Julia spoke.
"I'll join you." I quickly added, jumping to my feet and ignoring the way my leg muscles screamed in protest.
She shook her head at me, wearing a doubtful look.
"I think you should stay, I know my way around this place, remember your husband told you to stay here for your safety."
I narrowed my eyes straight at her as she started to leave, I would admit that she made a little sense. Lucian had told me not to leave until he arrives, he would surely be upset if I disobeyed. On the other hand, what if he was bleeding to his death somewhere and needs help?
I told myself to give it a few more minutes and prayed Lucian returns by then.
It wasn't up to about two minutes since Julia walked out when I started to hear footsteps.
It didn't seem to belong to just one person.
Lucian and Julia? Hopefully?
I started towards the door when another thought hit me.
What if it wasn't them?
I caught the faint sound of a gruff male voice that didn't belong to Lucian and my stomach sank.
Casting my gaze around, I searched frantically for a good hiding spot. There was only the cupboard which was too small for me to fit in and the bookshelf.
Run Run Run!
There was no place to conceal myself, I couldn't think of leaving the room as the footsteps were so near and so were the voices.
Think Think Think!
trying to control my ragged breathing, I raced towards the shelf, the small space behind was enough to fit in. The books would assist to block me from view.

"Where the hell is she!" The gruff voice yelled.
"See, I told you there's no one here!" It was Julia who responded.
Shit! She'd been caught.
The fright in her voice was undeniable. The man with the voice stepped to view. He was a giant with red hair, a scar ran from across his face. On one hand, was a gun while the other gripped onto Julia's hair.

Oh god!
I stifled back a terrified gasp.
"I saw you come out from here! You were the doctor who saw to them, so where is she!" He demanded harshly.
I didn't need anyone to tell me that I was the "she" he was referring to.
"I told you that Lucian already took her away, they left..."
The sound of a slap echoed in the air, followed by Julia's cry of pain.

"Don't fucking lie to me! I'll give you five seconds! Or I'm going to kill you and I promise that it won't be a pretty sight!"
I could see the gun pointed at Julia's head, I think I must have made a noise because her eyes snapped in my direction, she averted her gaze almost immediately.

"I'm not lying! They already left, I swear!"
She knew I was here, we've barely known each other, why was she trying to help me when she would be killed for it.

"Fuck! Casper will be so furious if he can't get her!" The man yelled.
Who was this Casper? I think I might have heard the name before. I couldn't process where I heard that name when I caught sight of the man's finger pulling around the trigger.
"And as for you useless piece of cunt!"
I didn't stop to think twice about it, whoever this Casper was wanted me alive, which meant I was going to be kidnapped and not killed immediately.
We might have not known each other before but Julia had lied to save me, the least I could do was to try to save her as well.
I moved out of my hiding spot, ignoring the way Julia's eyes were screaming at me not to.
The man's eyes snapped in my direction and I spoke.
"Are you looking for me?"