Don't look back

Chapter 23

Lucille- "Shit. Oliver was at my wedding. Him and mum acted like they only knew each other because of the wedding. Fuck.

Cameron's question has thrown me for a six. Knowing now that they both knew each other then pushes me to the edge of a mental breakdown.

Cameron- "Luce, I know we have always said that we wouldn't run away from them but I actually think you should go into hiding"

My jaw hits the ground. I go to speak but nothing comes out of my mouth

Cameron- "Please hear me out before you go on a rampage"

I nod my head at him to continue

Cameron- "I have a feeling that the bashing of the door was Oliver. I have a feeling he will be coming after you as you are the common denominator"

Lucille- "So you are saying this is all my fault. I brought this on myself?"

Cameron- "No, I didn't say that. I said you are the common denominator in this. You were involved long before you started writing anything. Mary used you to get into the family. This would have been her goal all along. Get you involved anyway she could. She just didn't factor in you writing that article"

I stew on his words. It sounds like he is blaming me for everything that has happened. How could I have known this was going to be my life. All I wanted for my life was a stable job, a healthy relationship, and a family of my own. I thought I had it once. But quite obviously it was all a lie.

This is a hard decision. Do I run away from the problems? Do I stay and run the risk of being caught by Oliver? My brain is running wild. Thoughts are flying round and round. I feel dizzy from the circles I am internally running.

Lucille- "Cameron, if I don't hide, will you be able to protect me?"

Cameron- "I'll protect you with my life, Lucille. But I know how Oliver works. His main focus will be shutting you up permanently"

I stand up from my seat at the table. I walk away from the boys, knowing I needed 5 minutes to myself. I enter the bedroom and shut the door behind me. I walk to the bed and throw myself down onto it. Screaming into the pillow.

Lucille- (screaming) "FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK"

I am hurting. I am angry. I am sad. I am numb. I am broken. I just am. I feel everything and nothing at all.

Lucille- (crying in pillow) "How did I manage to fuck my own life up?"

**

I must have fallen asleep as the next thing I know is I am being awake by soft kisses on my face.

Cameron- "Babe, you need to get up and eat ok. You didn't eat at breakfast. Let us fill up your belly with some goodness"

Cameron leaves one more kiss on my head and walks out the room. I slowly pull myself from the bed and head into the bathroom to wash my face. I look into the mirror and study my puffy red eyes, the tear streaks down my cheeks and the dull and lifeless looking lips.

Lucille- "Alright Lucille. It's time to pick up your big girl knickers and face this head on. Screw what Oliver wants. You are too strong to let this affect you. It is time to bring them all down"

I leave the bathroom after my little pep talk. I am feeling a little bit better after my sleep and I actually do think my pep talk helped to. I need to continue on with fighting this bullshit. Eventually it will end.

I make it to the kitchen and sit down at the bench, watching Cameron and Ainsley cook.

Lucille- "What ya making?"

Both boys turn around, looking a bit pale in their faces.

Lucille- "Cat got your tongues boys?"

Ainsley smirks while Cameron grimaces.

Ainsley- "Geez Luce, a bit of a warning next time would be nice"

He laughs and goes back to what he was doing. Cameron is still staring at me. Watching and waiting on what I am going to do next

Lucille- "So I thought about what you said before Cameron. It is time for me to stand up and face them head on. Oliver doesn't scare me. He can go fuck himself for all I care. Maybe you guys can use me to help get him. Lock him away with Brandon, where they can both spend 23 hours in a small fucking box"

*Cameron POV*

Fuck this woman is going to be the death of me. She wants to stay and fight the scum of the world. I will have to wife her very soon!

But back to the issues at hand. She mentioned using herself as a weapon to capture Oliver. I don't know if I like that idea.

Cameron- "Babe, I don't know if I like this idea. Oliver is nothing like Mary or Brandon. He won't be easily persuaded. He won't just threaten to kill you. He will pull the fucking trigger"

Ainsley- "Luce, he is telling you the truth. He will shoot first, ask questions later. It is not safe for you to put yourself out there to lure him in"

Lucille sits at the countertop. I can see her brain going a million miles a minute. I get she wants to help put him away like the others but I just don't know if I can protect her the way she needs if she goes up against Oliver. The man has no care in the world for others.

Lucille- "If I can't help, where would I go? I have no where I can hide. Plus if Oliver is as bad as you say he is, what is stopping him from finding me?"

FUCK. I actually never thought about that. She isn't just a pretty face after all.

Ainsley- "I have an idea. I don't know how you both will react but I think it would work"

Lucille and I both look at Ainsley.

Lucille- "What?"

Cameron- "What"

We say at the same time.

Ainsley- "Ok so it is going to sound a little far fetched and most likely you will both say no but my idea is...."

**

Lucille- "No fucking way am I allowing that to happen. You can go fuck yourself if you think I will agree to that"

Cameron- "Are you serious right now Lucille? It is the best fucking idea out there. Or are you just happy for Oliver to find you and kill you?"

I am so fucking pissed at Lucille right now. Ainsley's idea will work and she is shooting it down because she doesn't want to do it.

Lucille- "You know what Cameron. This is fucking ridiculous. I am not being put in jail so you can lure Oliver to the prison to 'see me'. He wouldn't even fucking turn up. He'd send one of his lackies to do his job"

Ainsley- "But Lucille. If he does send someone else, we will be able to follow him to wherever Oliver is hiding. As soon as he is caught and locked away, you will come out and home to us"

Lucille- "No. I don't want to be put behind bars"

Cameron- "How about at the station instead. Not in the prison itself. More like the watch house. We will have it all sorted that as soon as we are on our way to go after Oliver, you will be released"

I sit on the stool next to Lucille and hold her hands in mine

Cameron- "Babe, please. It is the only way I know how to keep you safe. You will never be alone while you are in there. This station is full of good people. Not the shit ones like Hiddlebrook. Please Luce, please?"

I can feel the tears already falling from my eyes. I am crying because I love this woman with everything I have. I never want to see her hurt again, like she has been in the past. I just know if Oliver got his hands on her, I would never see her alive again. This is the only way to keep her safe and away from harm. We just need her to agree.

Lucille looks into my eyes and I can see the tears already falling in hers too. She removes her hands from mine and grabs my cheeks. Rubbing the tears away from my face with the pads of her thumbs. I lean forward and place a soft and gentle kiss on her lips. A plea for her to listen to us for once. She pulls back stares me in the eyes

Lucille- "Lock me up boys"