Page 64 of Caught in the Middle

'No, Lucy, I know he's got inside your head, but I'm not a murderer. I've done some things I'm not proud of, but I'm not a -' His eyes dropped to neck level.

It took a second for Lucy to figure out what had made his face go pale, but she snapped her hand up to her neck when she remembered. Oliver pushed her hand out of the way and pulled down the neckline of her T-shirt, revealing an ugly, purple love bite.

'Well, I see he's already got inside your panties,' he snapped, a flash of anger and hurt in his eyes.

Lucy batted his hand away. 'I don't think that's any of your business, Oliver.'

'Lucy please, I care about you -'

‘- you lost the right to care for me when you made your little run-around boy drive me to the airport.'

'Please, come with me.' Oliver was getting more and more desperate now, as it was evident Lucy was turning on him.

'Oh, now you want me?! Why, to take away something that Joey wants? That's all I am to you, is a pawn in your little game. Well, he treats me real good, Oliver. I like it with him, living in his mansion with unlimited money.' She took a step towards him, rage burning through her body. 'And guess what? I like him too.'

Oliver grabbed her wrist, clenching it tighter the more she tried to let go.

'You're hurting me -'

'You don't like him as much as you like me, Lucy. Listen to your gut instinct. You. Have. To. Get. Away. Run away with me. Right now. You want money? Lucy, I can give you everything you've ever wanted and more. We can leave the country, live anywhere you want -'

'-You killed his sister!' Lucy roared, not caring who hears.

He let go of her, looking like she'd slapped him again.

'Exactly, Joey told me everything.'

'I didn't kill Layla,' he whispered, 'I would never have killed her.'

Lucy had heard enough. She was done.

In that moment, she realised something.

She didn't always have to be taken as a fool by men. She was strong enough to walk away from the situation, no matter what type of way she felt. Sure, her heart still raced when she looked at him, but she'd get over it.

And that's exactly what she was going to do.

'Goodbye, Oliver.'

And without a second look, she turned on her heels and walked away, leaving Oliver slumped against the tree.

When she got back to the car, she took a moment to gain her composure.

Deep breaths, Lucy, deep breaths.

The adrenaline from seeing him pulsated through her veins as the reality of what just happened sank in.

Oliver O'Brien had fallen for her.

If you had told her this was going to happen a few days ago, Lucy would have thought her dreams had come true. Charming, funny and fiery, she was attracted to him in every sense of the word.

As Elijah drove off, she turned to look out the back window, at the entrance of Hyde Park. Despite the fury, there was a little niggling voice inside of her, which was telling her to jump out of the car and find him. Run into his strong arms, breathe in his aftershave, and then ride off into the sunset.

But she pushed that feeling aside as quickly as it appeared.

She was all about Joey now. He was the one the one she could trust.

'You know,' the voice from the driver’s seat was barely audible, 'he's telling the truth.'

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