The Boot - Next Steps (Book 2)

Chapter Eighteen

A/N: When you see this, I'll be on vacation (I set it up to release while I'm gone so that you don't have to wait two weeks for an update) so I may not be able to respond to comments right away

Also, remember a few chapters back when I said that I had BIG plans in store? You're in for something big this chapter... and onward hehe

I also tried to make this chapter a little longer for you guys

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: NEAR THE END OF THE CHAPTER THERE WILL BE A SCENE WHICH MAY BE TRIGGERING TO SOME READERS, PLEASE BE ADVISED ⚠️

LUCY'S POV

Emiliana has been talking to me, trying to keep me calm when suddenly she just stops... she is frozen. Almost as if she is petrified with what can only be described as utter pure fear.

"What's wrong?" I almost don't want to turn around, but I know that I have to. And when I do, I'm sure my face contorted to what I saw on Emiliana.

Alejandro. He's there. Pointing a gun at me. And right next to him is Tim's mom, pointing a gun at Emiliana. They were working together. Of course. It's all adding up. It all makes sense now.

We both put our hands up slowly. "What do you want?"

He ignores me and looks at Emiliana. "I thought you were smarter than to go to the cops."

"I already told the people you sent that I didn't! They came to me!"

"Unfortunately for you, I can't just take your word on this."

"What are you going to do, huh? Kill me?"

He makes a show of mockingly acting as though he were actually considering it whilst making it clear that he wasn't.

"What do you want from us?" Emiliana asks.

"From you? Nothing. At least, not directly," he glances at Tim's mom. "However, despite us not having a specific use for you, we can't in good conscience just leave you here. You know far too much already."

Emiliana gulps. I can tell that what she is about to say will be hard for her to say and almost just as hard for me to hear. We've grown close lately and formed a bond which I would have never even remotely expected. "So, if you're not going to kill me, and you're not going to leave me be," she speaks with slow, calculated words. "Then what are you going to do?" 

He looks at Cate. "What do you think that we should do?"

"Hmm..." Cate says, her gaze wandering up and down Emiliana's body.  "She could be the solution to your little... inheritance problem."

"Excuse me?" Emiliana retorts.

"You only need to meet one last requirement before you can claim your father's inheritance," she glances at Alejandro for a brief moment before returning her gaze to Emiliana. "You need an heir."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Emiliana shouts, her body and her voice trembling. She and I both know exactly what Cate is insinuating, and I can only imagine how Emiliana must be feeling due to her past trauma.

"That's a perfect idea," Alejandro says, completely ignoring Emiliana at this point.

"No, please, no," Emiliana begs, but her pleading only falls on deaf ears.

He grabs the lapel of his jacket which I'm only just now noticing has some sort of communication device clipped onto it. He speaks in hushed tones, but still just loud enough so that I am able to make out what is being said.

"Tony, can you come in here?"

Seconds later, a tall, bulky man who I assume to be Tony practically crashes into the room. But then, ironically enough, turns to gently and softly close the door behind him. It would be a rather amusing scene under entirely different circumstances.