I must have zoned out, that or dozed off because the next thing I know, I feel the vibration of the chopper starting up and the roar of the engine and swooshing sound of the propellers. I hear Chelsea yelling at someone not to try anything stupid, and I wonder if she's talking to me. I hear a muffled sound. What the hell is going on? I will have to wait and see. I can't do much from here.
I don't know for sure how long we fly, but it must be two hours when I feel the rough bumping of the helicopter touching down. It gets warm back here, and the tossing about does nothing to ease my stomach, which is in knots. Gripping onto the seat leg, I grit my teeth to keep from throwing up.I cannot believe how far I've gone to help you Sin, I do hope you'll understand.
When I told Billy I'd found you all those years ago, she'd laughed in my face.What were the chances that my twin would end up being in the same school? I figured it was destiny. It helped that we weren't identical, although many people commented on the similarity. Billy thought I was mad, so I stopped talking about it. But I never stopped watching, and waiting until the day I could be useful.I knew that sooner or later, you would need me.
Shuffling in the front and the chill from the door opening brings me back to reality. If Chelsea discovers me, I’ll have to attack. There is no way I am letting her get the upper hand.
"Let's go," she says. Her voice is cold and hard. I hear the muffled sound again, and when I sneak a peek, I see Sin, her hands tied behind her back, her mouth gagged. Chelsea tugs her from the chopper by her arm, and Sin stumbles, falling to the ground on her knees.
"Oh, no," I whisper, then creep lower. What the hell is she doing here? And then it hits me, Chelsea brought her here, like a lamb to the slaughter.
"Get up," Chelsea shouts at her.
When the doors shut, I wait a few minutes, then climb onto the seat and watch them walk away from the window. Chelsea leading Sin away from me. Why would Sin come here alone? Chelsea must have baited her, and selfless Sin fell for it. I have no idea where we are now, but it's pretty secluded. Just the kind of place a psychopath would keep a kid. When the two women are out of sight, I open the door and step out. The area is too open. If she has anyone on the lookout, I'll be spotted. I have to make a run for the small structure on this private helipad. When I'm sure I'm out of sight, I make my way through the small warehouse. I see a door at the far end and open it. A house sits in the middle of a small woods. It has a thatched roof, and two storeys with windows that overlook the ocean. It is breathtaking. I make my way closer, making sure I'm not being followed. Chelsea has two guards positioned at the entrance, so I'll have to find a way around them. I should have known this wouldn't be that easy. A part of me wonders if I should call the cops, alert them about what I know. I might not know where I am, but air traffic control and those CCTV cameras would have an idea.
Chelsea and Sin are nowhere to be seen, but I have no doubt they're in there. I put my hand on the pistol I took from Rob’s house. I never thought I’d need to use it, but I don’t fancy taking on those goons.
I decide that it is now or never. I’ll go around back and hope that I don’t have to put a bullet in someone’s skull to do that.
Chapter 33
Sinclair
Iarrive at the docks with a couple of minutes to spare, and it's dead quiet, like the still before the storm. I wonder if she'll make an appearance at all. A knock at my window startles me, and after two months, I finally see the woman I used to call a friend. She's cut her hair and looks as if she lost a ton of weight. She knocks at my window again, with a gun in her hand. I realize for the first time since that call how much danger I truly am in. This woman is angry, unstable, and she hates me. I put my hands up to show her that I'm unarmed, and she steps back so I can open my door. I get out and shut the door behind me. We're face to face, and I'm at a disadvantage.
"Try anything funny, and I'll shoot. I have someone watching Willow. If I'm not back at the agreed time, they'll disappear," she warns.
"Chelsea, you don't have to do any of this. Can we talk about this? Why do you have to get Willow involved in this?"
She laughs maniacally, waving the gun about. "You and Cohen should have thought about that before you took my baby."
“Please, will you just let me explain?” I step forward, my arms open, and I don't even expect the blow to my stomach when she lands it. I bend at the waist, coughing, and trying to catch my breath. "Fuck." I choke out.
“You do as I say. You don’t make a move unless I tell you to. Do you understand?’
I straighten up and nod. "Now move." She points in the direction I should go in, and I start walking. We reach an abandoned warehouse, and I'm dizzy with anticipation. Has my daughter been here all this time? Right under my nose?
“Stop here,” she tells me. “Turn around.”
I do as I'm told, knowing that I have no chance against an armed maniac. She ties my hands behind my back, the rope digging into my skin. She gags me and then shoves me toward the end of the building. When I see a helicopter, I know I've misjudged her. Nobody knows where I am. She could fly me anywhere. I close my eyes for a second and remind myself that nothing else matters but Willow. Gracie is safe, she's with my mother and father. She is going to be okay. I need to do whatever it takes to get my baby back. I let her shove me in the helicopter, which she flies herself. I guess I knew nothing about Chelsea Morgan. If that is even her name. We touch down in a place I don't recognize, after flying for over two hours. She pulls me out, and I stumble, falling. She leads me over the helipad, past a warehouse, and to what must be her house. Two bulky men stand guard at the entrance. I recognize one of them. The man at the school. How long has she had him watching me? They open the wrought iron gates when we approach. Both men are armed and look at me like I'm fresh meat.
She moves the gag from my mouth, and I feel like I can breathe.
“Where are we? Where’s Willow?”
"You'll find out soon enough.” We enter the sparsely decorated house. She makes me sit on a chair in the middle of what could be a dining room or living room. I have no idea what she is about to do. "You're going to see Willow, and you're going to tell her what you and her father did, and then you're going to walk away from here, and one of my men will see you back home.”
“I can’t do that. Chelsea, you can’t expect me to do that. She’s my daughter. I never knew what Cohen had done until recently.”
“You liar.” She spits in my face.
I want to say something, but I know that when someone like Chelsea has made their mind up about something, there is no use arguing. I have to get to my daughter, and when I do, I'll figure out how to disarm this bitch.
“Let me see her, and I’ll cooperate.” I don’t look her in the eye. A flash of auburn catches my eye. I turn my head to the window at my side, but it’s nothing. I felt like someone was watching us.
“Let’s go,” she demands, dragging me up and marching me farther into the house.
Chapter 34
