Loveless♣

Chapter 23

Joshua felt awkward.He had entered the house,but was unsure of what he was supposed to do.He stuffed his hands in his pockets and ran his gaze over the place.It looked like it had been vacated in a haste.There were still pieces of torn wallpaper on the floor.One of the window latches was unlocked.The floorboards, though coated with a sprinkling of dust,were new.He sighed and ran a hand over his face.He was about to call Bella out when he heard the sound.It was a whimper,and whoever had made the sound must have noticed that Joshua had heard it because the whimpering seized the instant Joshua cocked his head to the side.
Joshua frowned.Bella was inside one of the rooms so the sound couldn't have come from her.He scanned the room with a careful eye.The whimper came again,this time it was suppressed,as if there was a hand over the person's mouth.
Joshua walked up to the kitchen counter and bent down.He opened the cabinets below and froze.Staring at him with tear filled eyes was a little boy,and he was bleeding.
"Holy shit,"Joshua muttered softly."Isabella!"he called.
The little boy whimpered again.His palm had been sliced open and there was blood trickling out.He bunched his hands into fists when he saw Joshua staring at his palm,and scooted deeper into the cabinet.
"Go away,"he said,scowling despite the pain he was obviously going through.Joshua smiled a little.The boy reminded him of a younger version of himself. He couldn't be more than ten.
"Come on out,I don't bite,"he said softly,stretching a hand towards him.
The boy's scowl deepened.He shook his head vigorously and drew his knees to his chest.Joshua moved closer to him and he screamed.
"Go away!I won't let you take me!No!"
Joshua was taken aback.He hadn't expected a little boy to have such a loud piercing voice.
Bella rushed into the kitchen and gasped loudly when she saw them.
She bent on her knees and quickly crawled towards the boy.
"Henry?Henry,are you alright?"she asked,her face filled with concern."Oh my God,you're bleeding."
The boy frowned at her."Who are you?How do you know my name?"
"There's no time for that,honey,give me your hand."She reached for him,but he scooted deeper into the closet.
"Leave me alone!"
Bella looked at Joshua frantically,her eyes begging him for help.Joshua stared at her for a moment,then turned to the boy.
"If you don't want to come out,Henry,that's fine," he said."We'll leave you and you'll probably bleed to death."Joshua shrugged."That's none of our business,anyway,is it,Bella?"
He looked at Bella.She looked back at him in shock and mouthed,"What are you doing?"
He cocked his head to the door and gave her a little wink subtly,so the little boy wouldn't see and catch on.Bella nodded in understanding.
"Well,Joshua," she said loudly."I guess you're right.Let's leave him,he can take care of himself,I guess...until he dies."
They rose at the same time,and turned to leave when,on cue,Henry cried,"No,don't go,please.Don't leave me."
Bella turned to Joshua.There was a satisfied look on his face,like he'd accomplished what he wanted.
The little boy came out of the cabinet wincing in pain.He rose to face them.
Joshua could see that he was light skinned with small brown eyes and brown hair.He looked familiar.
Bella's face was full of relief.She lifted Henry off the floor and hugged him with her eyes closed.
"I thought something had happened to you,Hen."Her voice was filled with emotion.
Joshua watched them,the boy did not seem to know Bella at all but he laid his head up on her shoulder.Her touch must have been comforting to him.
"Come on,let's get you out of here,"she said,opening her eyes.
Henry looked hesitant. He frowned at Joshua.
"Is he a cop?" he asked Bella.
Bella looked from Joshua to Henry.She smiled.
"No,honey,he just likes to act tough.He's nice...sometimes."
Joshua smirked.
"We need to leave now," Bella said.Her voice was soft,but firm.Henry nodded.
All three of them stepped out of the house,into the sunlight.
Joshua could see that Bella tensed up immediately.Something was wrong,he could feel it too.There was something different about their surroundings.The air in the environment had changed,and that was the least of it.
They weren't alone.
Bella sighted the person before he did.
"Duck!"she yelled.She didn't need to finish her statement.Joshua grabbed her shoulders and dove back into the house as bullets whizzed past their heads.
They all fell to the floor.Joshua stood up quickly and shut the door.Bella was breathing fast,her eyes wide.Henry began to cry.Bella held him close,and rocked him back and forth.
"Shh,"she said quietly." You have to be quiet,Hen,or they'll get us."She looked at Joshua,and grimaced at the look on his face.
He looked angry.Very angry.
"Everything will be fine,Henry," she said,still looking at Joshua."You just have to trust me."
She gave a small smile when Joshua scoffed.He clearly distrusted her.
"Just close your eyes.Uncle Joshua'll hold you for a minute,okay?"she said.Joshua was shaking his head no."Please?"she asked.
He looked at her,and saw her hand move to her waistband. She was reaching for the gun.He glared at her,he knew what she was about to do.
"No,Bella."
"Please," she pleaded,standing up."Let me handle it.Just take care of Henry."
"Handle what?Are you nuts!Do you think I'm gonna let you go out there and get hurt?Well,not on my watch!"
"Joshua,I can handle it!"
"Fuck that,"he retorted.
"Joshua!"She snapped her gaze to Henry.His eyes were closed and his hands over his ears.She glared at Joshua."Mind your language. "
"You're out of your mind.You are not going out there."
"Don't tell me what to do."
"Well,someone needs to!"
"Do you wanna die here?"she asked angrily.
"Forget about me.Do you wanna die here?"
"He's come for Henry!I won't let anything happen to him again."
Joshua paused.His glance shifted from Bella to Henry and back.
"Who's Henry to you?"
Her face went blank for a moment.Then her frown returned.
"None of your concern,now excuse me!"
"No,not until I get a full explanation as to why there's a gunman outside for a little boy!"
Suddenly,the windows beside them shattered to pieces as bullets passed through them.
"Christ!" Joshua yelled,bending instinctively.
Bella used the opportunity to fling the door open.
"Bella!"he shouted angrily.
She shut the door in his face.She did not need him messing this up.The gun was in her hand,aimed forward.
"Drop your gun!"she yelled."Or I swear to God,I'll empty mine in your skull."
Opposite her,a man stood pointing a gun at her.He lowered the gun when he saw her.His face lit up in recognition.
"Isabel?"
Bella was startled.The gun fell from her hand.Her face turned pale and ashen.She looked at the man like she'd seen a ghost.
"E-E-Esteban?"she stuttered.Her hand flew to her mouth."No,you're dead."
He laughed heartily.Then his smile disappeared as he pointed the gun at her again.His eyes were cold.
"No,muy belle,I'm alive and breathing.You don't know how long I've been waiting for this moment."
He aimed at her chest.

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