Chapter 30: Chapter Thirty

Hey, my amazing readers!

This is the last chapter of The Betrayal. Thank you so much for reading to the end. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Lots of love❤

“Go. Go. Take the corner coming up, there’s a door on your right,” Julian shouted.

Andy gripped Annie’s wrist tighter, and they sprinted down the hallway, ignoring the fact that their legs pounded loudly on the floor. His long strides eating up the short distance. It had been a miracle getting out of that room unharmed. He owed Julian his heartfelt thanks.

After Julian had shot Kyle, he’d also shot the other two men without hesitation. When their bodies had landed in messy heaps on the floor Andy knew it was time to get out of the room. Raising to his feet, he’d grabbed Annie by the hand and hauled her upright. He remembered how her hands had trembled. How her body had shaken as he pressed her to his side. From the brief glance of her eyes just as he was hurrying through the door was enough to send an electric bolt through his heart.

Andy wanted to close his eyes. But he’d couldn’t. It didn’t matter. He could still see her swollen face, pale with fear and weariness. His hand tightened around hers automatically. He heard every harsh breath whooshing from her lungs as they moved quickly down the hallway to safety.

The horrid screams that had erupted from Kyle’s mouth still rang in his ears. Kyle was like a mad man after the bullet had knocked him back into the wall. He was snarling while pulling at his hair; ripping clumps of strands from the roots. A sickening feeling had settled deep in his chest to see his once best friend acting like that.

As Kyle ranted and raved at himself, Julian had dashed across the room to get to Louie. Now they were all racing to safety. He with his hands clasped with Annie’s and Julian with Louie draped over his shoulders like a sack of onions.

The piercing sound of Annie’s cry drilled into his skull, igniting dread in his heart.

“Andy, I can’t...my feet.”

“Shit!” he cursed. Andy didn’t think, he slowed down and Annie crashed into his back with a choked squeak. Her slim arms grabbed at his back to hold her balance.

“I’m sorry, Andy. I’m so tired. Please, I can’t...”

“Stop apologizing, It’s not your fault, baby. Hold on.” He spun on his heels, locked his arms around Annie’s back and legs and swung her into his arms in a fluid motion.

Annie stiffened. “You can’t run with me in your arms Andy. Put me down, I’ll try—"

Andy’s hands tightened around her, squeezing her body to his. “Don’t worry about that, baby. Tuck your head under my chin and place your arms around my neck. Close your eyes and hold on. I got you.”

Muscles straining from the added weight. The bulletproof vest alone weighed a ton. He hefted her higher in his arms and took off. His pace was much slower this time, but it was just a short distance away. His bruised stomach throbbed as her body brushed against him. He gritted his teeth and quickened his steps.

“What are you doing, Andy?” she screeched.

“Be quiet, sweetheart. Hold onto me. Don’t let go. I have you.”

“I’m hurting you,” she breathed into his neck.

“The pain’s worth it, sweetheart.  You’re right where you belong. Let your man take you to safety. Don’t worry. The pain doesn’t matter. What is important is you being alive and in my arms? “

“I love you, Andy.”

“Love you too, baby.”

Annie nuzzled her face into his neck and sighed.

Andy tightened his arms around her and couldn’t help but feel relieved in the height of danger.

“Hurry guys, a locked door wouldn’t hold them off for long. Kyle’s coming after us like a raging bull in heat.”

Andy grunted as Julian jogged past him. His big body moving with ease.

“Here, get in there.” He shoved the door open and ushered them in plunging them into darkness.

“Where is here?” Andy asked looking around. The room was too dark to make out anything.

“It’s our hideout until they come for us.”

“They?”

“Yes. Vane, Shaquille and hopefully the police.” Andy heard Julian closed the door and locked it.

“I have to find my son. I can’t just wait here.” Anger surging through Andy, he fisted his hands.

“Reon,” Annie sobbed. “Andy we have to find our baby. What if something happens to him?”

“Don’t cry, sweetheart we’ll find him before anything happens.”

“Not to disturb, but there is no need. I found your son. He’s safe. A woman had him. She claimed to be the maid. Not taking any chances, Vane tied her up.”

The news of his son being safe and out of Kyle’s clutches brought a rush of tears to his eyes. Annie’s shoulders racked with heavy sobs. Her tears soaking through to his bare skin. He held her tight, pressing a light kiss to her neck. “Shh, don’t cry, sweetheart, Our son’s safe.”

“I-I thought I lost him. That woman took him from me. I swear Andy, I didn’t want to give him to her. K-kyle threatened to kill her if I didn’t.”

“Annie,” he whispered. “I know you would have never given up our kid willingly. Stop crying or you’ll make yourself sick. I’m sure it hurts your chest and head right now.”

When she nodded, he kissed her forehead. “I love you so much.”

“I love you more,” she breathed into his neck. The warmth of her breath sent shards of calmness through his heart. Andy breathed easier.

“Can you stand?” he asked. Andy heard Julian shuffling about. Then there was a soft thud on the floor. Probably Louie’s body.

“Y-yeah,” she croaked. “Why is it so dark in here?”

“For our own safety. There’s a wall to your right. I placed Louie on your left. He’s lost so much blood. His pulse is faint. I hope he’ll survive.”

“Let me down, Andy. I want to thank your friend for saving my son’s life.”

“No, need for that. It’s okay,” Juliana said.

Annie ignored his plea. “Thank you so much. I owe you more than anything despite I can’t see what you look like now. I would have hugged you.”

Andy heard Julian stepping away. as he cleared his throat. “There is no need for that.”

“I knew something was off when I saw you with the gun to Andy’s head. You didn’t look like any of Kyle’s men.”

Juliana chuckled nervously. “That was me hiding from Kyle’s view. And it seems I was doing a poor job.”

“I thought you were excellent, Kyle and his bodyguards didn’t notice a thing.”

“That’s because they were too busy listening to Kyle. And Kyle was too busy talking. None of them had the time to observe you,” Andy said.

“They thought I was one of them.”

Andy loosened his hold, and she slid down his body. Her arms went around his waist in a death grip. Her body trembled, and he wrapped a hand around her soaking in her nearness. He felt around for the wall and propped against.

“That was one big risk you took back there,” Andy said looking over at Julian seeing nothing.

“You thought I betrayed you.”

“For a moment there I thought you did.” Andy agreed.

“And who could blame you? Your best friends betrayed you.”

“Wasn’t my best moment. Both had their reasons, I guess.”

“Gregg did what he had to do killing his men in the process and Kyle blamed you for something that was never your fault. I don’t know what to say, but Kyle is a psychopath.”

“He is,” Annie whispered.

“The ones closest to you are the ones that are the deadliest,” Julian grumbled.

Andy frowned. “What about Gregg? His wife? Did you find them?”

Julian sighed. “Gregg looks bad. We found him beaten to a bloody pulp. Hardly recognizable. They broke his arms and legs—his bones were protruding through the skin. It was sickening to look at. They fucked him up real bad, Andy. What he did was unforgivable, but he didn’t deserve such a beating. When I saw him it turned my stomach. Even Vane lost the contents of his stomach. He was barely alive. As for his wife, she’ll live; just a few bruises scratches.”

“I saw a woman tied to a bed when they brought me to this place. She was unconscious,” Annie said.

“Probably Gregg’s wife. They drugged her up real good. The chit hardly could speak without a slur or walk without her legs curling like a noodle.”

Andy dragged a hand down his face. Sympathy rushing through him for what had been done to Gregg. “How did you find me? How did you know I was in trouble?”

“I saw when they took out Louie and I followed behind as they dragged him away.”

“How come no one saw you?”

“Most of the men were in the break room. I locked the door from outside to buy us time. Vane had taken off to find Gregg and his wife. While I looked for your family. When I only found your son I knew something was wrong. That’s when I saw Louie go down.”

“Kyle had taken Annie, and he was waiting for me.”

“Yeah, I figured that out when they dragged Louie into the room.”

“We parted ways. They had to have ambushed him,” Andy muttered.

“Yes, they were so many of them I could not intervene. Sorry, I took so long to come, I had to wait for Vane to collect your son. He took him back to the van.”

“It’s fine. What matters is that you saved the day.”

“We worked as a team. That’s what. If Gregg had done that from the beginning we wouldn’t be in this predicament. We wouldn’t have lost so many men.”

“May their souls rest in peace,” Andy said.

Silence breezed over the room for a moment at the words.

“What do we do now?”

“We wait. Vane knows where to find us.”

“For how long?”

“Not—”

The loud wail of sirens answered the question. The police were here.

*******

Annie slumped against the wall. Her heart pounding as tears streamed down her face. It was all over. She felt a rush of cold air over her, covering her for a long moment before it moved on. How odd, she thought and moved into the warm arms of the man she loved.

The place was too dark to make out his features, but she knew he was shaking just as she was. Their son was safe and so were they. Annie felt Andy’s hands searching for her face. She took pity on his fumbling hands and brought it to her cheek. She felt his body moved as he leaned into her.

“Are you okay?” he whispered. “No—shit, don’t answer that. You’re far from okay.”

Annie turned her face into his palm and placed a light kiss. “I’m okay that everything’s over and you’re here with me.”

“I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you, Annie. I can’t live without out you or my son. It’s impossible.”

“Do you think we would have found our way back to each other if Kyle hadn’t betrayed your friendship?”

“I would have found you again Annie with or without Kyle’s interference.”

Annie searched the darkness knowing Andy did the same. She didn’t have to see his face to know he loved her. The way the soft pads of his fingers brushed against her face—the tenderness and the gentleness were enough to satisfy her.

“Annie?” Andy whispered, his warm breath fanning over her face sending a flash of pleasure through her heart.

She soaked in the sensation and experienced a funny fluttering in the pit of her stomach as his lips touched her nose. She giggled when his tongue caught the tip with a wet swirl.

“Andy?” she called. Another flick of his tongue on her nose sent warm tingles down her spine.

“Hmm.” he rasped.

“That’s my nose.” Annie giggled again. God, she felt high.

“What?”

“You’re making out with my nose.”

“Oh.” Was his answer.

Julian cleared his throat but Annie swore he tried to cover his laugh.

Andy pulled away. “What are you laughing at, Julian?”

“Did you say something over there Andy?”

Andy growled and Julian chuckled.

Annie reached up, grab his chin, tiptoed and planted her mouth on his. She parted her lips and his tongue darted into her mouth in a flash. His huge arms came around her and she melted against him. With their mouths and bodies sealed, their tongues rubbed and danced together until she moaned low at the back of her throat. As if it was a signal, Andy made a sound of pure happiness and deepened the kiss. He kissed her as if he wanted to taste her soul. Held her as if they were one.

Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she could love a man without reservations the way she loved Andy. Heat pulsed through her veins simmering low in the pit of her stomach as his hands climbed up her back to clasp around her neck. He tipped her head back and nipped at her lip. He breathed hard; her heavy breathing equally matching his.

“I love you, Annie, with every breath I take.”

She opened her mouth to reply when the place shook as footsteps stampeded throughout the house. Annie heard a shout: “It’s the police. Come out with your hands up, we have the place surrounded.”

Annie smiled into Andy’s chest, she’d never heard sweeter words.

THE END

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