72

CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO
GABRIELLE
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"Please wait here! don't go anywhere." Devin told me.
"But..." I started, but he was already gone, I watched anxiously as he blended with the slight crowd.
What was that sound all about? Why was Derek here? Was Loretta alright?
I was too nervous to standby and wait any longer, I hurried after him, and at the same time, I could hear the sound of sirens.
I finally found Devin, he said the first thing I noticed was the bloodstain on his hand which spiked my anxiety, I looked behind him but there was no sign of Loretta, nor Fred.
"What happened? Where are they?" I barely finished talking when my eyes fell on the paramedics walking out with a stretcher, I couldn't tear my eyes away, not even a blink. The person lying unconscious was Fred. Was he dead?
god no!
Without a word, Devin grabbed my arm, hurrying us out of the mall and more security that were starting to flood in.
He led us towards the car and the engine roared to life.
"What's going on here? What happened, where is Loretta!" I yelled. It took some seconds for him to answer.
"Fred was shot! Loretta has been kidnapped!"
I stared at him startled. How could? Who could... My mind drifted to Derek, was it only a coincidence that he was present at the mall? Did he do this? If so, why would he?
If only I knew that today would end up this way...
I could hear Devin talking to Lucian on the phone, I was struck in a trance to completely listen to their conversation. We were halfway home when Lucian met us. I ran towards him and he hugged me tightly.
"Are you okay?" His eyes searched me as though he was searching for signs of injuries. I nodded, at least I was physically alright.
"Fred, he got shot, the ambulance took him, Loretta, she was t..taken Lucian, we need to find her, what if something bad..." I didn't want to imagine it. She had to be alright. A sudden thought struck my mind, I didn't take mom's words too seriously before, what if all these were all related, first my sister, then my father, and now...
"I need to tell you something!" I met Lucian's gaze. He led me towards his car and the driver started driving.
"My mom called me this morning, she told me that my father and sister didn't return home since last night..."

His head snapped towards me, and I grew nervous, I could read the question there even before he asked.
"Why didn't you tell me anything about it?"
"At that time, I didn't think that..." I didn't get to finish when he exploded.
"You didn't think!? For fuck sake you left the house knowing that there was the possibility of danger out there! Fred is currently fighting for his life, Loretta was taken! And you as well as our baby could've been hurt and you didn't think it was important!"
I choked on the guilt. He was right, if anything happened to Fred or Loretta, then it would be all my fault, I shouldn't have dispelled mom's worries just like that. If I had said something, then things might have turned out differently.
I contemplated telling him about meeting Derek, would Derek do something like this? I would want to believe that he wasn't that kind of person, but at the same time I couldn't leave out any possibility.
The car halted and we walked into the house, I followed after Lucian's long stride into the living room.
"I saw him moments before the shooting took place, I don't know if it's anyhow connected..."
"Who are you talking about?" Lucian stared at me as I mentioned the name that was banned between us.
"Bastard!!" He hissed seeming even angrier than before.
Just then, Devin walked inside, holding a cellphone.
"The unknown number keeps calling, he wants to speak to... " Devin stared at me, and Lucian and I shared a look.
The phone started to ring again and Lucian snatched it from Devin.
"Who the hell are you!" He blasted but got no response.
Why would the caller want to speak to me? Unless it was...
"Let me speak to him!" I mouthed to Lucian but he shrugged me off.
If it was Derek who wanted to talk to me, then I would wish to know what he wanted. "Lucian, Loretta's life is at stake, we can't waste time, let me answer to know what he wants!"
After several tries, Lucian reluctantly handed over the phone to me while urging me to put the call on speaker.
The moment I answered, I was greeted by a familiar voice.

"Derek, what do you think you're doing!" His next words proved my suspicions all along. " I want you back Gabby, I can't live without you, so I found a way, isn't that great?" He spoke, sounding proud like he had accomplished a great deal.
By kidnapping Loretta?
This wasn't how the Derek I knew sounded like, was he high on something?

"You shot Fred? Where the hell is Loretta!" I couldn't contain the anger in my voice while holding Lucian's stare.

"Those are their names? I wouldn't have done that if that bastard hadn't attacked me at the mall, I wanted to take you back with me where you belong, Now that son of a bitch has no choice, I'll kill her if he doesn't allow you to come to me!"

I shut my eyes closed, this wasn't Derek, what happened to him? He was still under the impression that Lucian had taken me away from him.
I met Lucian's impatient and angry gaze.
"You won't kill anyone Derek." I stated.
"Then you will come?" He sounded hopeful.

"No. Try to understand, what we had is over, by doing this, you're not only hurting me but yourself as well!"
"I'm not the one hurting you Gabby! He is! He separated us and forced you to be with him! You're just brainwashed! And that's something I'm going to set right. Even if he doesn't give a damn about his sister, you do care about the life of your family, don't you? You are going to save them aren't you?"
I didn't get a chance to reply when Lucian snatched the phone from me, looking as though he'd had enough.

"Listen here..." He started but Derek already ended the call.
"I'll fucking kill him as I should have done long ago!" He growled, when he saw my distressed expression, his arm went around me as he led me to the sofa, but I couldn't calm down even if I wanted to.
Derek has gone completely crazy!

"Lucian...he wants me to..."

"Not a fucking chance!" He growled.
"What if he hurts them, what if Loretta dies because..." I choked on my word and he grasp my shoulders.
"Nothing is going to happen to them. I'll get them back, you trust me don't you?"
I nodded without hesitation and a small smile formed on his lips.
"You're stressed, I'll bring your supplements, I can't have our boy stressed, now can I?"
"A boy? We don't know that." I whispered as his palm touched my growing stomach.
"I'm convinced, but we will see about that."

The moment he left to get my medications, I buried my face into my palms, I had to be strong during these times, Lucian couldn't be worried about me and the whole situation.

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Finally a chapter! I've been down with fever these days, please don't blame me.