I wake up to the sound of someone calling my name. The first thing I see as I open my eyes is a dark brown ceiling. Someone touches my arm, and I turn.
“Thank God, you woke up. I was worried sick.” Tamara gets up from the chair she’d been sitting in and pulls me into her arms.
“Tamara?” I don’t return her embrace, confused about where we are and what happened. “What’s going on?” I ask as she pulls away from me.
“You don’t remember?” Tamara’s eyes widen.
Closing my eyes, I try to force my brain to recall what happened. Tears flow down my cheeks as I remember. It wasn’t just a horrible nightmare. It’s true. I open my eyes and face Tamara, just as Harvey walks in.
“Harvey, please tell me Jenny was lying,” I plead, begging him to tell me the words I wish to hear.
“Lilah…” His eyes are filled with sadness.
“Please say it.” More tears stream down my face. Tamara grabs my hand and gives it a small squeeze.
“I wish I could.”
I swallow and force myself to ask a question that I’m not sure I want the answer to. “What happened?”
“I don’t think you know since you were unconscious, but the day Beau rescued you, there was an incident between him and your kidnappers.”
“What did he do?”
“He beat one to death and shot the other in the heart.”
My hands cover my mouth as it hangs open. “He did what?” I ask, shocked Beau is capable of such violence.
“He didn’t plan to hurt them, but rage overtook him, and he did. I’m sure he would have done even more damage if not for the fact that he had to take you to the hospital.”
“Oh my God.” I pass a hand through my hair. “I can’t believe Beau did such a thing. I didn’t even know he had it in him. Did I bring out that side of him?”
Harvey hesitates briefly before answering. “No, you didn’t.”
I can’t believe Beau killed two people. But even knowing what he’s capable of, I’m not scared of him. I know I shouldn’t feel happy, but I do. I’m delighted Beau killed those men. I just wish I could have done it myself. They deserved to die for taking my baby away from me.
“What does killing those men have to do with you guys saying Beau is dead?” Tamara asks, interrupting my thoughts.
“Those thugs my grandfather hired are from a very dangerous gang. They were angry when they learned Beau had killed two of their members.”
“Oh my God! Please don’t tell me they came back for revenge.” My heart rate quickens. I’m praying to God I am wrong.
“Unfortunately, yes. As we speak, they are making him pay for what he did.”
“Please someone tell me this isn’t happening!” I exclaim. I understand now why Jenny accused me of killing Beau. If he hadn’t taken revenge for our baby and me, then he wouldn’t be in this situation. My heart clenches as guilt seeps in. If Beau wasn’t in love with me, then he wouldn’t be suffering right now.
“I know that look,” Harvey says, drawing me from my thoughts. “You are not at fault.” I lift my eyes from where I’d been aimlessly staring at the ground and look at him. “If anyone is at fault,” he continues, “it’s my grandfather and aunt. Not you or Beau. And he isn’t dead. We know they are torturing him, but nothing else has been confirmed.”
“Do we need confirmation? We all know there is no way in hell that gang will let Beau live. He is as good as dead, even if he’s still breathing as we speak,” I say, voice cracking. I bite my bottom lip as it begins to quiver. My love must be in so much pain right now.
“You need to have faith, Lilah. I promise you we are doing everything we can to get him back. Trust me.” Harvey tries to sound encouraging, but it’s hard to believe. I know how much I suffered at the hands of those devils, and I hadn’t even done anything to them to deserve it. But with Beau, they’re out for revenge.
“I do trust you,” I lie. No matter what Harvey says, I know the truth. The love of my life is gone, and it’ll only be a matter of time before his unmoving body is placed before me. I pull my knees up to my stomach, and wrap my hands around them before lowering my head.
“Beau, my love,” I whisper to myself. “Why did you have to fall for me?” Tears stream down my face as I imagine the horrors Beau must be facing. Even more tears come when the reality that I’ll never see him alive again fully sets in.