Page 121 of Perfect Three

“Allison, you can’t do anything and...”She heard him take a deep breath.“I’m sorry, honey, but you’d only make things worse if you went back inside.Just drive home.”

Allison felt wretched at Geoffrey’s words, but what he said was true.It hurt to know, but she had done this.Now she had to face this horrifying consequence.“Okay.I guess you’re right.”

“I’ll meet you at home in about fifteen minutes.It will be all right, honey.Those men love Lucy, and she loves them.I’m really proud of you, Al.You did the right thing apologizing.The guys will take care of her.Come home.”

“I will.Bye, Geoff.”

Allison dried her tears, then started the car and drove off home.As Geoffrey had said, there was nothing more she could do.She just prayed it wasn’t too late to save her mother.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Jack snarled his question.“Where is she?”

When Allison answered, the two men sped around the side of the house as fast as if the hounds of hell were at their heels.Wrenching open the back door, they raced into the living room.

Lucy wasn’t there.

They searched the house and found her upstairs in the bath, fully clothed but thankfully without water.

She peered at them as they entered.“Ooh, the cavalry’s arrived.”She looked around and in a fake whisper said, “Now I’m in trouble.”

She tried getting out of the tub but kept sliding back in.

Jack held back a smile as he went to lift her out, but Lucy was a dead weight.She put her arms around his neck and tried pulling him into the bath.Finally, he managed to get her out and carry her into the bedroom.

He glanced at Sebastian over her head, and it worried him at how stressed he looked.

Sebastian shook his head sadly as Jack deposited her on the bed.She immediately tried getting off and fell to the floor.

Jack picked her up again.“Stay on the bed, Lou.”

She mimicked his voice, trying to sound gruff, her head going from side to side with each word.“Stay.On.The.Bed.Lou.”She pointed to him.“Youstay on the bed.”

She scared him, but at the same time she was comical.Jack hid his grin as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Lucy narrowed her eyes, peeking at Sebastian standing at the foot of the bed.She hit Jack on the arm.“Mr.Boss looks cranky.”She waggled her fingers at Sebastian.“Yoo hoo!”

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