Leading Lady | Charlie Barber x Reader.

Safe.

*AN - I hope you all love this chapter!!! sorry it's taken so long! Please comment, vote and enjoy. Love you all, SithKween.*


You stood beneath the looming underpass in silence; all except for a gentle breeze that drifted through your hair and the faint noise of car engines in the distance. You clutched onto the empty briefcase with both hands, your knuckles turning white in your anxious grip. You just wanted this to be over. You thought back to when your first met Charlie, you were happy, finally enjoying your time in New York; finally healing from the scars Vic had left you with. But he found you again, as he said he would, and sadly Charlie had his own Vic, not Nicole, but Mary.

You didn't understand why Mary hated you so badly, or why she wanted money from you. In a way you didn't care, you just wanted her out of your life, as well as Vic and his despicable brother Gray, before any of them could cause anymore harm.

In the dim lighting you couldn't make out any figures, just a vast empty space. The underpass was tall, covered in artistic graffiti that caught your eye. You pondered it for a few moments, checking into the distance and over your shoulder every so often. You knew Charlie was close by, in an unmarked cop car, waiting for you to run back to him; but the distance between you both was hurting your heart, you wanted him beside you, holding your hand and protecting you. You brought your hand up to your face, inhaling the oversized hoodie Charlie had lent you. It smelled of him, the scent comforted your anxious mind as you stood and waited for what seemed like hours.

You looked down at your watch, it was almost midnight. As the clock struck the hour you noticed a figure walking towards you, it was too dark to make out any features, but the sound of clicking high heels made you shiver. The sound came closer, the figure coming into sight. But it wasn't who you expected.

"Hello, love."

"Liz?"

"The very same." She sneered. "Where's your lover boy?" 

"What the fuck is going on?" You snapped.

"Back when you signed my contract, without reading it through..." Liz smirked, walking closer towards you. "Well, you really should have."

"What are you talking about?" 

"You should have read the small print, stupid girl. But since you didn't, let me." She sneered, pulling a piece of paper to her face, her peroxide blonde hair flowing in the gentle breeze. "In the event of your death, all earnings, possessions, etcetera, will go to me, Elizabeth March." She began. "But my darling sister couldn't finish the job. She's always been too theatrical."

Your mouth hung open at her words. Unable to believe what you were hearing.

"No amount of drugs I supplied, no amount of self hatred. If it weren't for your precious Charlie finding you, you would have died underneath the Hollywood sign like a true, troubled starlet. But here we are..." She said, chuckling psychotically.

"Why? Why would you want me dead? What have I ever done to you?" You said through clenched teeth, stepping backwards away from her anxiously.

"Oh love, because you hurt my sister. Lead her into the arms of that fucking animal, Vicrul is it? He's changed her, she's weaker, less cunning. All because you couldn't keep your hands away from Mr. Barber, a married man...twice your age, so pathetic." She scorned, lurching towards you, her long sharp nails digging into your jaw, something hard digging into your back. Your blood ran cold, as you heard the click, a gun. "Not to mention how rich you'd make me, if you were to die." 

"Fuck you." You snapped again. "Charlie didn't want Mary, he wanted me. And Vic suits her, their both fucking insane. I can see it runs in the family!" You spat, spinning from her grip and smacking her across the face with the empty, yet heavy briefcase. 

You ran through the darkness, not looking back, praying she had hit the floor for long enough to not aim the gun at your back. You made it to the car where Charlie was, his eyes were wide and puffy. His expression shocked and confused. You pulled the car door open and leaped inside, slamming the door behind you, slumping down into the chair to hide.

"It's Elizabeth, she's...please, just go, go now!" You said, screaming at the officer who was as confused as Charlie was. 

He grabbed his weapon and blabbered into the radio on his chest. He leapt out of the car, a team of officers going with him. 

"This is all my fault." Charlie muttered, his head falling into his hands.

"No, no Charlie. You saved my life, remember?" You said, running your hands through his hair. "Please just hold me."

Charlie took you into his arms and held you against his chest, both of you breathing rapidly. You held onto him as if he would disappear at any minute, as you heard shouts and clatters from outside. You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to ignore the raucous happening around you but before long the car door was swung open.

"We got her." The officer said, breathing heavily, wiping sweat from his brow. "She's cuffed in the back of the van."

"So what now? The others are still out there." Charlie said firmly.

"Maybe we could lure them here." You said boldly.

"Angel..." Charlie looked at you and worry set on his brow. You touched his thigh and smiled slightly. 

"Did Elizabeth have a phone on her?" The officer nodded and pulled a clear bag from his side, her phone inside. He handed it to you and you took it from the evidence bag.

"There's a message on it." You muttered. "From Mary...Is it done?"

You sent a response to Mary on Elizabeth's phone in a ploy to get them to the underpass.

'Not yet, I thought we'd have some fun with her first. Get here as soon as you can.'

A few minutes flew by.

'On our way.'