Page 78 of My Destiny
Mike places his finger against his mouth, quieting us, before gesturing for us to follow. My uncle taps my back a few times for encouragement as I move forward. I feel bad for the way I’ve been treating him. I love this man, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to forgive him if this situation doesn’t have the desired outcome.
We spot a light on in the back of the house, which lifts my spirits slightly.Please be in there, and please be unharmed.
Mike again holds up his hand, halting us when we near the back door. He quietly creeps up the three cement stairs and grasps the door handle. It’s locked. Great, how the hell are we going to get inside now? Busting the door down is only going to alert Jake.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out the black leather pouch before passing me the torch. I press the small button on the side as I move closer, shining it in his direction. Pushing my hand down slightly, Mike points the light towards the ground. He holds the unzipped pouch below it, and I find myself smiling when I see what’s inside. This man is a genius, and I’m so glad he’s on our side. He pulls out two of the metal tools and gets to work picking the lock on the door. It only takes seconds before we hear the click.
“I’m going inside to have a look,” he whispers. “I need you both to stay out here for now.”
“But.”
He holds up his hand again, ending my protest. “Just let me see what we’re dealing with first.”
I know exactly what we’re dealing with: a deranged lunatic.
I’m not familiar with situations like this, so I need to trust him here. My hands are fidgety as my uncle and I stand there and wait. I can hear his heavy breathing beside me, but I’m pretty sure I’m holding my breath. So much is running through my mind at this moment as I try my best to remain positive. Surely the universe couldn’t be so cruel as to take her away from me, since we’ve barely scratched the surface in our relationship.
Seconds, maybe minutes, pass before Mike reappears. He points to me, gesturing with his finger for me to come forward. He then points to my uncle and holds his palm up. He wants John to wait outside. I have to agree there. He’s already made a mess of things. Mike points to his eyes, then his ears, and that’s when I realise, he wants him to keep watch.
“Is she alive?” I whisper.
Mike puts his finger up to his mouth before turning and re-entering the house. I’m right on his heels. When we round the corner, I can see light pouring out of the room down the hallway. My heart thunders in my chest as we get closer, and I mentally try to prepare myself for what I’m about to see.
As we near, I can hear soft moans in the distance. “Brooke,” I whisper, pushing past Mike. Reaching out, he grabs my arm. “She sounds like she’s in pain.” My voice is soft, despite the panic I’m feeling on the inside.
“Remember, think with your head, not with your heart.” He’s right. I can’t go off half cocked. The last thing I want is to jeopardise Brooke further.
He pushes me back behind him as we continue down the hall. The noises cease when we reach the doorway. Mike stops before carefully peering into the room.
“Stay here,” he mouths, and I nod, but the grim look I see on his face makes me feel sick to the stomach.
My mind is racing as he swings around, filling the doorway with his large frame. “Freeze,” he screams, his gun raised. “Move away from the girl.”
The few seconds of silence that follow are deafening.
“Drop the gun, or I’ll kill her,” Jake replies, and I feel my legs buckle beneath me. Mike pauses, weighing up his options, but when I see his body deflate, my heart sinks. “Now!” I can see the despair on his face as he lowers his arms, before dropping the gun by his feet.Fuck!“Kick it towards me.” Again, Mike does as he’s asked. His plan has now backfired, and I have no clue what to do next. “Get up against the wall.” I release the breath I’ve been holding when he disappears into the room. I have to do something.
Turning, I head back down the hallway. Maybe my uncle can call for help. Both Brooke’s and Mike’s lives are in danger now. I could charge into the room all heroic, but that’s liable to get us all killed. I may be able to handle myself, but even I know I’m no match for a gun.
I only make it a few steps when I hear Jake’s voice behind me. “Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.” I swing around to face him. He’s only a few feet away from me and pointing a gun at my face, but it’s his blood-soaked hands that send chills through my body. Is that Brooke’s blood? What has he done to her?
I’m in no way prepared for what I see when I’m forced to join Mike in the small bedroom. Brooke’s on the floor, lying on her side, with a small pool of blood by her head. My first thought is she’s dead, and I can’t even put into words how that makes me feel, but when I notice the slight rise and fall of her chest as she breathes, some hope returns. Her arms and legs are bound, and a needle protrudes from her upper arm. Next to her lies a tiny vial of liquid.
Rage courses through my veins as my eyes meet his. If the others weren’t in the room, I wouldn’t hesitate to risk my own life, just so I could get my hands on him. “What did you do to her?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“How does it feel to lose the one you love?” he replies, a sadistic smile plastered on his face.
“What did you do to her?” I repeat.
“I should kill you right now for what you’ve done.”
“What I’ve done?”
“You seduced my wife.”
“She’s not your fucking wife,” I seethe.
I feel Mike’s hand come to rest on my arm. “Don’t,” he whispers.
