The Boot (Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-One

LUCY

Tim just got into the room, leaving the suitcase and bag by the door. "What the hell?" He stepped forward and Liam looked up. The two made eye contact, and I could see fear flash in Tim's eyes. I watch his hand move to hover over his gun. Why does he even have it on him? He's off duty.

Liam, who previously had been sitting in the corner, stands up abruptly, and Tim pulls out his gun, aiming at Liam. "Stay where you are."

Liam freezes, and I gawk at him. "What are you doing?!"

"Why is he here?" Tim asks, keeping his eyes on Liam.

"Who? Liam? He's Sebastian's husband."

"What? Who is Sebastian?" Tim looks very confused.

"He's my brother."

"Your brother? You know what, we'll talk about that later. What the hell is he doing here?" Tim nods to Liam.

"I told you, he's my brother's husband."

"This man? This man is a monster."

"Excuse me, but I don't appreciate you talking about my husband that way, and I sure as hell don't appreciate you pointing a gun at him. All while our children are in the room, too!" Sebastian says angrily. "Who the hell even are you?"

"That's Tim. My fiance. The father," I nod to my belly.

"This is him? Your sergeant fiance? I suppose it would make a little more sense as to why he even has a gun in the first place. But that doesn't explain why he's pointing it at my husband and calling him a monster."

"Tim, I don't know what's going on, but maybe we can have the nurse take the kids to the hospital daycare or something first?"

Tim sighs. "Fine. Your brother can bring them to a nurse, but I'm not letting this one out of my sight."

Sebastian glances at me and I nod. "It's okay."

He grabs Isaac's hand and picks Bianca up, leaving the room and returning a few minutes later, empty-handed.

"Can you please stop pointing that thing at him?" Sebastian asks.

"No can do. This man is a felon, a murderer, he's killed before, caused terror, and tried to kill more people."

Sebastian laughs. "Liam? You have got to be joking."

"Yeah, you're kind of talking nonsense, babe," I say, and Tim spares me a glance. There's a hint of raw honesty in his eyes, his expression almost screaming 'please trust me.'

He returns his gaze to Liam, keeping his weapon steady. "Liam, huh? Let me guess, you've created the perfect cover. Several years in the making, I bet. Loving husband, father of two. What other lies have you told them, hm? What do they think you do for work? I bet you even lied about your favourite colour, you son of a b!tch.

"Hey! Stop speaking to him like that! That is my husband and your future brother-in-law. He deserves to be treated with respect."

Tim scoffs in response. "The last thing that this monster deserves is respect."

"What has gotten into you, Tim?" I ask.

"Do you want to tell them the truth about who you really are or should I, Alejandro?"

I feel as though my blood has suddenly run cold. That name triggers something within me. Without thinking, I reach into my bag beside my bed, one which Tim had brought in a few days ago, pull out my gun, and aim it at Liam- I mean, Alejandro. Is it really him? Admittedly, I've never seen him, but I know what that monster has done, and what he has tried to do to me and my friends.