Will's POV
The gunshot echoed throughout the house, a piercing crack that froze my blood. The silence that followed Bella's sudden scream was even worse.
Lucy's hands tightened around my arm as her eyes widened in disbelief. "What was that?" She mutters, her voice breaking.
"Stay behind me." I order, my gun steady in my hand. Even though my heart was racing fast, I forced my mind to stay alert.
My name was Andrea Perkins, and Bella knew it, which was already awful. Now this. I cannot allow Lucy to get caught in the crossfire of my revenge.
Even though there was no one in the foyer, the tension filled the air as the mansion became quiet, as if it was holding its breath, as we slipped downstairs. The harsh foul smell of blood filled the air, making me feel sick in my stomach.
I looked around the room and pushed Lucy away from a pillar. No, Bella. Not even Talia was there. There was only one broken wine glass on the floor, with red liquid splattering like a warning.
Lucy's eyes darted around. "Where is she, Will?" Her voice was hardly more than a whisper.
I did not answer. Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket as I took a glance at it, and it was Raymond displayed on the screen. I answer immediately, keeping my voice low, "Speak."
"There is trouble," he said tensely. "Cullen's men have arrived, they are aware of Potter Hills and they are coming for you."
I tightened my jaw. Potter Hill's death was supposed to be clean and untraceable. Someone is watching my step. I mumbled under my breath, "Where is Bella?" I inquired.
"Gone, they took hold of her. I am tracking them now, you have to move fast because they are not just after you alone but Lucy as well."
She looked pale as I glanced at Lucy's face, then I knew that she was unaware of what was going on around her. At that point, I was not ready to tell her anything. "Go to the safehouse." I instructed Raymond, "I will take care of this."
I took Lucy's hand and hung up, "We are heading out. Right now."
Her eyes were flaming as she withdrew. "No! You have to give me an explanation before you drag me around! Who is Andrea Perkins? And why did Bella call you that?"
I remained motionless. I don't know how to explain to her to understand. All I want is to keep her safe from the fire burning in the dark room.
"Please let's talk about this later, we have to leave now," I said, trying to calm her down, even when her questions cut deep, but she stepped backward, trying to avoid me.
Tears started streaming down her face as she yelled. "What is up with the blood will?"
I felt sad seeing her crying, but I was unable to bring myself out for her and tell her my plans. As I reached out to hold her hands, I heard heavy, purposeful footsteps reverberate from the corridor. The moment I turned around, two men in black suits came out with guns, pointing at us. I immediately shoved Lucy behind me.
They were Cullen's men. I recognized him from that night seventeen years ago. His scar jagged across his cheek; it made my blood boil. "Perkins, put down the gun," Scarface snarled. "Or it goes to the girl."
Lucy wrapped her hand around my arm as she gasped. "Perkins?" she whispered in a confused and betrayed voice.
I calculated, keeping my gun steady. It was Lucy's turn to come out. Poor odds. "Let her go," I remarked in a chilly tone. "This is private between us."
Scarface chuckled and moved in closer. "You believe you can defeat Cullen? You should have remained dead because now you are nothing more than a walking ghost. "
Lucy, who was behind, pushed me away and stood in front of him before I could respond to him. Despite the fears in her eyes, she lifted her chin up. "Come get me, if you really want me," she said steadily. My heart stopped beating. What was she doing?
Then it was the weapon in her hand that caught my attention. As I was backing her, I had no idea that she had removed my backup knife from my belt and held it with a resolute yet wobbly attitude.
"Lucy, don't," I snapped, but she ignored me, looking at the men.
With a sly smile, Scarface lifted his weapon. "Adorable, but you are out of your league little princess."
Plunging us into darkness, the lights flickered and then went off. A low hum filled the air, like a generator dying. Someone had cut off the power. Shouts echo outside, followed by the screech of tires. Raymond? No, he was too far.
I grabbed Lucy's hand and pulled her towards the back exit. "Get moving!" I yelled.
This time, she didn't fight me; she was obedient. Maybe she was scared or something, but her hand remained tightly on the knife.
We slipped through the kitchen; the only thing that kept us safe was the darkness. My mind was racing: Bella's disappearance, Cullen's men, and the sudden power off. Too many players.
As we rushed to the back door, it was locked. I cursed and kicked it, but it was hard to open. Not good. Lucy pulled her hand off my arm and gestured toward a window. "There," she said in a whisper. I nodded and lifted her. As she scrambled through, I followed her behind as we leaned in the garden.
It was too quiet at night. No crickets, no wind, just the distant sound of boots crunching gravel. I pulled Lucy behind the hedge with my gun ready. Her eyes searched mine, her breath ragged. "Will, be honest with me. Are you Andrea Perkins?"
The weight of seventeen years fell heavily on my throat. "Yes," I answered in a harsh voice. "Cullen killed my parents. Since I was ten years old, I had been hunting him. I allowed you to wed Grey in order for me to get closer to them."
Anger and grief mingled as her face crumbled. "You took advantage of me?"
A figure emerged from the darkness before I could respond. Nana Jones. A chilly, calculating glare took the place of her once-cool smile. A tiny pistol sparkled in her grasp. "You two are so predictable," she said, her voice was like ice. "Lucy, you ought to have avoided this situation. And you, Andrea.... you should've remained dead."
Lucy gasped as she took a step backward. "Nana? What are you talking about?"
A twisted smile appeared when Nana's eyes shifted to me. "For years, Cullen and I have been tugging strings. Your union was only the beginning. But you..." she pointed the gun at me "...you are at a loose end."
The sound of gravel crunching intensified. Flashing headlights illuminated the garden. Raymond leaped out of a car with his gun raised as it screeched to a stop. "Nana, drop it!" he yelled.
Nana did not flinch. She squeezed the trigger with her finger. "It is too late," she said, and she shot.
Bang!
Lucy yelled as the gunshot vibrated out, her body jerked, and I lunged and caught her as she fell. My world stopped immediately when I saw the blood stain on her cloth, "Lucy!"
I yelled, pressing my hand to her side, trying to stop the warm blood that was slick under my fingers.
Nana chuckled and stepped into the darkness
.. "Andrea, you cannot save her. You never could, weak bodyguard."