Until The End

Chapter Ten

"Dad?" I whisper when I see him.

"Willow?" He whispers back with tears pooling in his eyes. "Wow, you look so much like your mother." He walks slowly toward me and starts to bring me in for a hug.

"I can't believe I didn't know. I'm sorry." I cry.

He lets me go and looks to Stephen. "Now who is this?" He asks with a small smile.

"Stephen sir. It's a pleasure to meet you." Stephen answers.

"How did you two meet?"

"He was my doctor when Jake put me in the hospital. Again." I answer for him.

"Your daughter is amazing Mr. Matthews."

"Oh please. Call me Steve. Now have you seen Jerome?" My father asks.

"Wait Jerome was with you?" I whisper.

"Yes. He told me about you. There's something you need to know Willow." He says softly as he gestures to the couch in the room we're in. "Jerome was there the day of the accident."

"Wait he was? Why?" I question grabbing Stephen's hand.

"He used to live down the street from us. He was playing in his moms car. Put it in neutral. Rolled down the street and then hit our car, killing your mother and your sister." My father explains. "I found out that he's been in and out of the psychiatric hospital up town for years. Even prior to the accident he was in and out of there."

"So he's the reason. He tried worming his way into my life knowing who I was all along?" I ask.

"Yes. He tried telling me that he loved you. I believed him until I found out his background. Have you seen him? He hasn't had his meds since he was kidnapped by Jake. So he's running around out of his mind. If you see him please be cautious honey." He says, he looks at Stephen. "Do you love my daughter?"

Stephen looks at me. "Without a doubt sir. Your daughter is my everything. I would do anything for her."

"Stay with her. Protect her. They won't let me leave until they find Jake."

"I promise Mr. Matthews, I mean Steve. I won't leave her." Stephen promises as his hand tights around mine.

"Sir, your twenty minutes is up." A guard calls from the doorway.

"I love you Willow." My father says as he gets up and kisses my head. " Nice to meet you Stephen." He shakes Stephens hand.

"I love you Dad. I'll come see you tomorrow." I say before watching him leave.

Stephen and I walk out of the building, hand in hand. I'm happy because it wasn't my father hurting me for all those years. It's hard but I'm glad it wasn't him. Stephen opens the car door for me.

"Thank you babe. Can we go get some Chinese? I'm hungry." I ask.

"Anything for you." He says before leaning down and kissing me.

He shuts the door and starts to walk around the car. But he doesn't get in.

Where did he go?

I look around and get out of the car. He's lying on the ground behind the car. I rush to him and kneel down beside him before I hear something behind me.

"Don't move." A male voice says.

I turn my head, disregarding what he told me. "Who are you?"

"I'm hurt I thought you'd remember. Now get up!" He says as the barrel of a gun in shoved into the back of my head.

Jerome.