34. ....In This Together

"Put the gun away dad..."Richard chimes in stepping in Laura's front....

Laura glare at both men, her rage burning her from the inside tugging her forward to latched out on them....

"What is wrong with you Richard...?"His father glowered...

"It's my wife you're pointing a gun at..."Richard retorted..

His father scoffs..."You call this thing a wife, have you forgotten how she humiliate you by putting your nudes online..."

Richard's eyes gleaned at the bitter truth..."I haven't forgotten father but she's still my wife and whatever goes us between us stays between us..."

"Not when her actions spoil the family name...my legacy..."His father barked..

"I'm my own man father, I can take care of my business.."

"Can you...?"He chided..."Because I'm beginning to think you're becoming too chicken hearted..., I never taught you to be weak, to be pull down by a pussy....."

"Am not been pulled down dad, am been realistic...., am stepping away from your shadow into becoming my own self...."

"You're my son and my legacy you shall continue, never will i have a son who's controlled by a woman...., a stupid pussy...."

"Well dad you'll have to shoot me to get to her..."Richard groaned...

Laura heart raced with tremendous speed when his father once again tightened his hands around the trigger....., she sigh, a sigh of relief when he let go...

"You're making a mistake son..."He said giving the gun to the thug...."Having Pity for a woman who has soiled your name in the mud is the biggest mistake you'll ever make..."

"I've already make the biggest mistake of my life dad.."Richard fling back as his mind brood over his dead baby...."I'm not making another..."

"You're a fool..."His father sneer..., glare at Laura before furiously walking out of the room, his thugs tagging alongside him....

Laura took a deep breathe to calm her panic after his father left the building....

"Are you okay...?"Richard asked crisply...

"Why did you do that...?"She asked sharply..

"Do what..?"

"Standing up for me, acting like you care...."

He moistened his lips..."Laura..."He called out with low voice..."I've made so many mistakes in my life...., many towards you and I'm ready to repent from all...."

"So I should just believe you want to change....?"

"I'm trying to change...., trying to be good with you..."

"I don't want you to be good with me..."She returned downcasted.., tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she remenber his beatings, his punches and his kicks....."I don't think I can ever forgive you Richard....."

He sniffled...."I know what I did to you is hard to forgive...."

"It is..., and all this you're saying is a lot to process in...., I can't do this anymore with you..."

"Laura.."He mutter holding her hand....

A tear slid down from Laura's eyes at his touch...

"I'm sorry I hurt you.."Richard said...."Sorry I caused you pains..., forgive me..."

"Forgive you...., I lost my baby because of you Richard..., I was traumatised..., I bled for days, I almost lost myself to grief and now you come asking for my forgiveness....., I can't do it..."

"Laura...

"You think a day of sorry will make up for two years of pains and sadness...?"Laura queried

"I..I....

"Richard please let me go..."She said looking away to avoid his gaze.....

He swallowed before letting go of her hands....."Whatever you decide...., I want you to know I'm sorry and I'll love to renew my vows...."

She flick her eyes to him but didn't say a word....

"I'm really sorry for everything I did to you Laura....and i hope one day you forgive me..."He said before leaving the room...

Her eyes blinked and more tears rolled down...

******************

HOURS LATER...

Daisy stood, hands on the bar, sunken eyes staring back at her. The makeup was gone from her face, her hair was frizzed..., she was sad, devastated to the core..., she wanted to cry but she won't give Matthew the satisfaction that he has won.....

A sense of deja vu swept over her, as the ghosts of her past paraded around her and within her, a sneaky reminder of the hours she had spent in the cell, struggling to keep breathing when her entire body seemed to sag with exhaustion and numbed agony....

She wipe her soaked eyes the moment she saw a policeman approaching her cell..

"Kidnapper..."The policeman sass...."It seems you've gotten lucky..."

Shock raced through Daisy as she prays those words means good...

She quickly rushed out the moment the cell gate opened and followed the policeman..., her heart almost exploded from shock and surprise..., lips quivering, she quickly rushed to Simon....

Simon wrapped her in a warm swaddle of his chest and arms, she didn't want to leave. It felt as if when she's in his arms all her pain went away - mental and physical, mostly the depressing pain. If she could only stay in his arms forever, safe from the world's harmful people. One could only hope.....

"How are you here....?"She asked crisply separating from the hug....

"I escaped...."He said with harsh breathe...

"It was Matthew...."Daisy chided..."It was that bastard who kidnapped you..."

"Yes....."He nibbed..."I already told the police, they're searching for him....

"Oh God..!"She exclaimed when she saw the bruise in his forehead..."What did he do to you...?"

"Is just a scratch...."He said.....

"I'm so sorry..."She mutter...

"It's okay..."He mutter.., for a while they stare at each other before they hugged again....

*****************

A MONTH LATER

"Easy easy...."Daisy mutter as they supported Janet to walk inside the house..

"Thank you..."Janet mutter dropping the crutches before sitting.., and Daisy crunched down beside her....

"So are you really back with Richard....?"Lily asked Laura...

Laura gave her a half-smile....."I think so..."

"You think...?"Daisy chimes in...

"Yeah....."She said..."Though we had sex four days ago...."

"Laura..."Lily blare out..

"It was a mistake okay..., he was standing right there, shedding tears and I was crying too..., I didn't know, it just happened...."

"So does that mean you have forgiven him....?"Daisy asked curiously

"I can't continue hating him even if I wanted to...."

"You think he has changed..?"Janet asked

"He does seem like he has...."Laura replied with shrugged shoulders.....

"What about the girl he wanted to marry...?"Daisy asked

"I told you girls.., he never intended on marrying her.., it was just a ploy to bring me home...."

"So he's not seeing her again..."Lily chimes in..

"Trust me girls, if I find out he's struck to his old ways, I'll be the first to walk out..."

"Seriously Laura..."Daisy said..."I for one is glad you're finally happy...."

"There's a lot more to make me happy..."Laura returned and they burst into laughter...

"So Lily..."Janet cut in cutting the laughter...."You really keeping the pregnancy...."

"Yeahhh...."She beamed with excitement...."Am definitely keeping it dear...."

"Aren't you bothered of been called a single mum..?"Janet asked

Lily scoff..."Girl.., better a single mum than been barren with a fag..."

"But are you still going to serve him the divorce papers....?"Laura asked...."Since he said he wants to be part of the baby life...."

Lily sigh...."I don't want him to be part of the baby life...."

"Lily, he wants to be the father of the child despite not his..."Daisy chimes in...

"Look, am thinking about it okay...."

"A father figure is good for the child Lily..."Daisy said..."Let Tony be the father...."

"Okay..., please let me think about it...."

"So you girls should fill me in ..."Janet said..."What else have I missed....?"

"Well somebody is still having pre-mother-inlaw issues....."Lily teased

Janet laugh and turn to face Daisy.....

"His mother is a headache..."Daisy said

"And she's thinking of breaking up with him..."Lily added....

"Uhm..."Laura eyebrows waggled..."Are you breaking up with him....?"

"I might..."Daisy shrugged...."I see no damsel in distress if I break up with him...."

"But he's been good to you..."Laura said..

"And still a mummy's boy...., I don't want to get married to a boy who's still tied to his mother aprons string....."

"I thought you told us he said he doesn't care what his mum says..."Laura said

"Laura it's hard.., his mum hates me, thinks am after her son's money.., it will be better for everyone if I just end it, honestly am seeing no future in this relationship....."

"Well I see a future...."Laura said..."If you put your mind to it..., Simon is different from the rest of the men that we have encountered..."

"Do not rush into anything Daisy...."Janet chimes in...."And don't be too excited when he proposes...."

"Trust me girl...., from what has happened to you all..., I'll be very observant...."

"That bastard better prays I don't see him anywhere..."Laura chided...."Look what he did to you Janet..."

Janet sigh..."It's my fault..., should have listened to you all....."

"Is okay dear..."Lily mutter walking towards her..."Anyone could have fall a victim, I for one is a victim of sadomy....."

"Lily that isn't how you say it..."Laura said..

Lily jut her chin...."Does it matter how I say it, point it, we're all victims of circumstances and wrong men..."

Daisy laugh before reaching for her ringing phone in her bag..., she stare at it, it was an unknown number.., curious as to who it might be.., she answered...

"Hello..."She mutter...

"Baby..."A voice rumbled from the other end..

Daisy's heart raced as she recognise the voice, eye-wide, she stare at her friends before calling out his name...."Matthew..."

"Matthew..."Laura reiterated....."Let me talk to that bastard...."

"You miss me...?"Matthew asked from the other end....

A raw anger washed over Daisy....."What do you want Matthew....?"

"Oh that's simple...., I want you to come to where I am..."

Daisy frown..."And why would I do that when I know fully well the police is searching for you..."

"I will make this simple bitch..."Matthew riposte...."I have Simon here with me, if you don't come, I'll kill him and it will be your fault, you feel me..?"

Daisy heart froze...."How...how do I know you have Simon...?"

"Daisy don't come, it's a trap..."Simon shouted from the other end....

Daisy almost collaspe from shock as her heart raced with tremendous speed...

"I will text you an address of where I am..."Matthew continue...."And a warning Daisy..., do not bring anyone, not your friends, not his family and especially not the police..., if anyone other than you come to this place, I will kill him and I'll hunt your friends down, do you understand me....?"

Mouth quivering, Daisy nodded before saying the words....."Yes...,I understand..."

"See you in fifteen minutes...."Matthew said and the call ended....

"What did he say...?"Lily asked anxiously

Adrenaline coursed through Daisy system and she quickly collaspe on the chair making the rest of the girls rushed to her side...

"Daisy..."Laura whimpered slapping her back to live....

"He has Simon...."She said with quivering lips

"Again..."Lily shouted...

"And he wants me to go there..."Daisy added ....

"You can't go there Daisy.."Janet chimes in...."You know you can't..."

"I have to..., he'll kill him if I don't..."Daisy said standing up, feeling herself once again...."I need to go there.."

"Then we'll come with you..."Laura said

"No.., he ask me to come alone..."

"You can't go there alone Daisy..."Lily said..

"He threatened to kill him if I don't go alone...., I will go alone for now..., you call the police and inform Simon's parent...., no matter what, Simon must not die..."

"What about you Daisy...., no matter what happens you cannot die.."

"I'll be fine..."She said....."I can handle Matthew..."

"He's crazy..."Janet chided..."You don't handle a crazy person..., you put them down before they put you down..."

Her phone beep, her heart hammered hard against her chest when she saw the address..."I have to go now....."

"Daisy be careful...."Laura said..."No matter what you do..., know we are solely behind you.., we are all in this together girl...."

Daisy nodded...."Thank you.."

"I'll ask for help from Richard..."Laura said

"Will you do that...?"Lily asked

"We need all the help we can get...."Laura returned....

******************

Taking a deep breathe, Laura knock on Richards door.....

Her smile slipped when he opened...

"Hey pretty one..."Richard said, a smile playing on his lips..

"I need your help...."Laura said walking in....

"I'll be happy to do anything for you..."

Laura sigh...."My friend is in trouble..., she needs help getting out....."

"What kind of trouble are we talking about...?"

"Her ex abducted her present boyfriend and he is threatening to kill him if she doesn't go to where he is..."

"So what do you want me to do....?"

"I want the bastard down...."Laura scowled...."You have connections..., call someone to put the bastard down and bring my friend back home..."

"Wait, she went there..."

"Yes.., and I have this feeling things won't end well if she's left alone..."

"What about the police...?"

"The police are going there too...., but you know we can't trust the police to a job like this, we need men with experience for this game..., I don't want a scratch on my friend's body....."

"Okay hold on...., sending someone to kill him is not the right call..., these guys don't mix with the police...."

"Something should be done...., can't leave my friend in the fate of the police...., you know the..."She pause when a knock rumbled on the door...

"Are you expecting anyone...?"She asked anxiously..

"No..., only you.."Richard replied before walking to open the door..

Laura eyes glimmered with irritation the moment she saw Caroline...

"Are you still seeing her...?"She queried immediately...

"No.."Richard said...."Caroline what are you doing here...?"

"So this is it..."Caroline sneer pushing her way in...."You're still seeing her after what she did to us..."

"Caroline, I apologise to you..."

"Apologise..."Caroline retorted...."I lost my job because of the pictures.., my dad disowned me, called me an indecent whòre..., I waited for you to do something about it, instead you forgave her...., what about me huh, what about me...?"

"You know what this was all about Caroline.., I was never interested in you.."

"Yet you proposed..., why did you propose to me, to destroy my live..?"

Laura grunts..."You know what Richard..., I'm leaving..."

"Oh you're going nowhere...."Caroline retorted before bringing a gun from her bag and pointed it at her....

Cold chills run down Laura's spine...

"What do you think you're doing...?"Richard ask stepping in Laura's front..."Put the gun away..."

"Your wife and you, destroyed my life..."Caroline said...."And then you left me after making me a public mockery.., what did you think, that I'll just cry and all this will go away..., there are consequences for every bullshit and this is your consequences..."

"Drop the damn gun..."Richard growled rushing at her...

Laura froze to the spot as Caroline pulled the trigger, the gunshot ringing in her ears....

She quickly snapped out of her shock state the minute Richard crunched down to his knee, blood dancing it's way from his mouth and chest....., she needed no one to tell her what to do next...., caught between anger and tears, she rushed at Caroline and they both clatter to the ground...

A sudden gush of pain jolted throughout Laura's body, but she didn't care.. , she climb on Caroline to take the upper hand and slammed her fist on her nose until she bled....

Caroline struggled against her...., finding no other way to defend herself, she deep her fingernails into Laura's eyes...

Laura screamed and Caroline Pushed her off of her body....

Laura tried to see but seeing prove even more difficult than she anticipated..., she shut her eyes only to reopen them and bluntly see Caroline picking the gun...

Heart pulsating, she rushed at her again and tried to reach for the gun in her hand..., they both struggled for possession of the gun....

"You stupid bitch..."Caroline growled pushing Laura off with her shoulder but Laura didn't back off..., her eyes was hurting but she didn't dare let go....

Raw anger triggered Laura's gut and she immediately hit Caroline's head with hers...

Pain erupted from the point of contact making Caroline lose focus.. , laura grabbed the opportunity and snatched the gun from her....

"Rot in hell..."Laura growled pointing the gun at her...

"Lau...."Richard whimpered in pains...

Holding the gun firmly, Laura glared at her, then she furiously hit Caroline head with the back of the gun sending Caroline into an oblivion of unconsciousness...

"Richard..."Laura cried out rushing to his side...., she lifted his head and dropped it on her legs...

"Lau...."He mutter in pains and more blood gushed out from his mouth....

"Richard, please stay with me, Richard please...."Laura cried, tears welling her eyes....

"Lau...., I.. I..."He tried to talk but words escape him, slowly, the little breathe left in him began to disappear....., he glance at Laura one last time before giving up the ghost....

"Ric..., Richard....Richard..."She shook his body, just then the reality hit her and she screamed aloud....

*******************

Heart beating irregularly, Daisy stepped into the hut....

"Here comes the princess..."Matthew sneer pointing the gun at her...

Daisy burrowed her eyes into him before it flicked to Simon whose hands and legs were tied...

"You shouldn't have come here Daisy..."Simon mutter..

"No kiss for me...?"Matthew smirked...

"Am here now Matthew...., let Simon go..."

"Oh sweetheart, that isn't how this works..., let me give you a quick clue to how we're going to play this game...., loverboy here will be the criminal.., and you my sweet Daisy will be the king who will decide with your actions if the criminal should live or die and I....., will the executioner....."He turn his gaze from Simon to Daisy..."So gamers...shall we begin...?"

MARRIED AND SINGLE...Three Episodes to the finale...