Happy New Year my amazing readers! I know it's only the new year on the east coast but I wanted to update now after ayoo_jray requested it. This is another chapter in this story. I looked at the total reads and votes and I couldn't be happier. I'm so grateful for all of my beautiful readers. This is not the last chapter but it's close to it. I hope you guys really like this chapter. Thank you for going on this journey with me so far! Enjoy the chapter!
I stopped in my tracks, looking down the hall. It was strangely quiet and my brain was running a mile a minute. Who got shot? Was Chres okay? Is Sam still alive? I slowly started making my way back down the hall, keeping as quiet as possible. I made it to the door and I felt this cold feeling run up my body. I knew that if Chres wasn’t hurt he would have came looking for me already. I pushed down the bile in my throat and put my hand on the door, pushing it open. I peaked around the corner and saw a window sitting wide open and Chres laying on the floor. I forgot everything and ran to him, squatting next to him.
“Chres? Chres? Please wake up.” I searched his body for the bullet hole and found it in his left shoulder. I put pressure on it and continued to try waking him up.
“Chres! Chres please! Come on, you’re okay. Please don’t leave me here.” My vision blurred as tears started streaming down my face. I looked around the room and saw a phone in the corner and I tore to it. I grabbed it and dialed 9-1-1, my hands shaking uncontrollably, blood covering every inch.
“9-1-1 What’s your emergency?”
“Hello? Yes my fiance’s been shot. He isn’t responding at all. He got shot in the shoulder. He...He won’t answer me.” I said running back over to Chres
“Okay ma’am an ambulance is on the way. Is he still breathing?” I leaned down and heard a faint heartbeat.
“Yes but there is blood everywhere. I can’t stop it.” I put pressure on the spot and more blood flowed out between my hands, onto the floor.
“Okay ma’am. Just keep applying pressure. The ambulance is almost there.” I put more pressure on the spot and heard a slight groan from Chres. He scrunched up his face and, slightly opened his eyes.
“Hey baby. Are you okay?” I cried and gave him a small smile.
“I’m fine baby but don’t worry about me okay? The ambulance is on the way. You’re gonna be just fine.” He let out a yell as I put more pressure on his wound and I cringed.
“I’m sorry baby but I have to do it.” He shook his head and put his hand on mine.
“No it’s okay. Just hurts like a bitch. I’m just happy I finally found you. I’m so sorry for what I said-”
“No it’s okay Chres. I’ve completely forgotten about it. Just worry about you right now.” He nodded and closed his eyes again. I heard the sirens outside and I let out a sigh of relief. I minute later men came running into the room, both carrying bags and a gurney.
“It’s okay ma’am we’ve got him.” I nodded and slowly removed my hands from his shoulder. He quickly put an air pump over his nose and tried to cover his shoulder. The whole thing was a huge blur. All I remember is him being put on the gurney, flashing lights, and rushing. Everyone was talking to me all at once but the only person I wanted to talk to was the doctor. I was in the middle of answering questions for the police when Chres’s doctor came in the room. He removed his mask and I pushed past the officer, heading in his direction.
“Is he okay?” The doctor nodded and gave me a smile.
“He’ll be just fine. He removed the bullet from his shoulder. It didn’t hit any major arteries. He will need to go to physical therapy but other than that he will be alright.” I let out a sigh of relief and sat down in a chair.
“Thank you so much doctor.” He nodded and left the room. Thank God he was going to be okay. I didn’t know what I would have done if he wasn’t gonna make it. I couldn’t even think of it. Those months he was in a comma flashed through my mind and I cried out of joy. He wasn’t leaving me. We were going to get married, be a family, have Alannah. I was so deep in thought I didn’t even see a nurse walk up to me.
“Chres is awake. You can come see him now if you’d like.” I nodded and quickly got up, following her to his room. She opened the door for me and I thanked her, walking in the room. He was looking at the t.v. His shoulder was wrapped up in gauze making it look bigger than usual. I walked in further and he finally heard me, turning his head in my direction. He smiled at me and I couldn’t help but run over and kiss him. He let out a painful moan and I pulled back.
“I’m so sorry.”
“No, no it’s okay.” He waved it off but I couldn’t help but feel bad.
“How are you feeling?” I ran my hand through his hair and he grabbed my other hand, kissing my palm.
“A little sore but better knowing you’re okay. You have no idea how worried everyone was about you. We were constantly searching for you. I haven’t slept in weeks.” I sighed and kissed his forehead.
“I’m okay baby. I’m not worried about me. I’m more concerned with you right now. The doctor gave me a check up while you were in surgery. I’m fine, just some minor cuts and bruises and Alannah is okay too.” He nodded and closed his eyes, let out a sigh.
“That’s good. I worried that Sam would hurt both of you. I don’t know what I would have done if that happened.” He put his hand on my stomach and as if she knew it was her daddy’s she kicked. We both let out a laugh and I gave him a kiss. A knock on the door pulled us apart and a police officer walked in.
“I’m sorry for bothering you but we think we found the man who took you. We found his I.D. on him. Is this him?” He held up Sam’s drivers license. In this picture he actually looked normal. Nothing like that crazy guy we dealt with for almost a year.
“Yes sir that’s him.” He nodded and put the I.D. back in his pocket.
“Well we have him. He’ll be going away a long time. His house is full of incriminating evidence on more than just your kidnapping. He will at least get 50 years to life.” I was jumping for joy on the inside. He was finally gonna be gone.
“Thank you sir.” The man nodded and left the room. I let out a sigh of relief and turned back to Chres. He had huge smile on his face and he grabbed my hand kissing it.
“Lay with me.” I laughed and shook my head.
“I’m almost eight months pregnant babe. I’m not gonna fit in there with you.” He shook his head and pulled back the blanket.
“We’ll make it work. I just want to hold you tonight. I haven’t been able to for almost a month.” I smiled and slowly crawled into the bed, careful not to hit his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me protectively, giving me a kiss on my head.
“Oh, I have something that belongs to you.” He reached over to the table next to his bed and grabbed something.
“I believe this is yours.” He smiled and held up my ring that Sam had taken. I smiled, as small tears ran down my face and Chres slipped the ring back on my finger. I hugged him, careful not to touch his shoulder and cried into his chest.
“I love you so much Chres.”
“I love you too Destiny.” He wrapped his arm tighter around me and my body finally relaxed. I slowly drifted to sleep feeling loved and protected, a feeling I hadn’t had in weeks.
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“That’s it Mr. August. Just two more push ups. Come on.” Chres’s face twisted in pain as he pushed his weight off the floor, a groan leaving his mouth. I winced as I watched him force his body to do as he was told. I knew he was in serious pain but knowing how stubborn he was, he wouldn’t admit it. He finally pushed himself completely off the floor and jumped up trying to hide the pain from his face.
“Good job today. Pretty soon you’ll be done here.” I rolled my eyes at the trainers obvious lie. We had only been here for two weeks but Chres was making great progress. He insisted on coming every day instead of just twice a week like the doctor suggested so he could recover faster. He said he wanted to be able to hold Alannah without trouble, who was due any day now. He nodded at the trainer and walked over to me, grabbing the towel I had stretched out to him. He wiped the sweat from his face and leaned down, giving me a kiss.
“You did good today baby but please don’t push yourself too hard. You could really hurt yourself.” He feigned like he was confused and helped me out of the chair.
“What are you talking about? I’m fine” I pursed my lips and lifted a brow. I knew Chres all too well and I knew he was lying. He laughed and and pulled me into his side, kissing my head.
“I promise I won’t push myself too far okay?” I nodded and kissed him on the cheek. He laughed and lead me outside, heading to the car. Sadly Chres still had to drive, seeing I couldn’t fit behind the wheel, even though I begged him not too. His shoulder was completely messed up but he insisted on still driving everywhere. He helped me inside the car and walked around to his side, driving us home. We pulled into the driveway and I let out a yawn, opening my car door.
“You need a nap. Maybe you shouldn’t go today. You aren’t prepared for this.” I looked over at Chres, grabbing a hold of his hand.
“You’re not gonna talk me out of this. I have to go baby. I’m the only one who will speak out against Sam. Without me he could be let go. Do you want him out there? Free to hurt me... Hurt us.” Today was the start of the trial for Sam. Sadly Chres and I were the only people who would speak against Sam. Everyone else was too afraid or dropped off the face of the planet, thanks to Sam’s allies. Chres was very cautious about this whole thing and I understood why but I had to do this in order for our lives to be safe again.
“I know but.....”
“Chres, I know you want to protect me but I’ll be okay. I need to do this. So go take a shower and get dressed so we can get there on time. Okay?” He sighed and turned off the car, heading to my side. He helped me out and kiss my forehead before helping me into the house. He headed straight for the bathroom and I went to the closet, picking out a dress to wear. Dresses were pretty much the only thing I could wear and actually be comfortable in. I quickly changed and sat on the bed, waiting for Chres to come out. He came out of the bathroom halfway ready, his shirt open and tie undone. I couldn’t help but stare at this amazing man before me. We had been together for months now and I still couldn’t believe he was completely mine. I couldn’t wait until we got married. If I had it my way, I would go to the city hall today and marry him but he wouldn’t let me. He wanted to give me my dream wedding. See me in a huge wedding dress so I patiently waited.
“Enjoying the view?” I snapped out of my head and meet Chres’s big smile and bright eyes. I laughed and got up, heading over to him.
“Yes I am” I looked up at him and gave him a small kiss. He smiled down at me and I looked at his chest, my smile fading as soon as I saw it. I hadn’t really looked at him in a while. I had been so distracted with everything, I hadn’t even thought of Chres. His chest still had his tattoo across it but it was decorated with scars. His whole chest and stomach full of them. I slowly pushed his shirt off of his shoulders and looked at him, his shirt falling to the floor. He had a worried look on his face and I looked back down at his body. His shoulder had a huge circle shaped scar from the bullet and I slowly reached out, running my hand over it. I slowly circled around him, noticing all the scars on his back as well. The accident, the robbery, the shooting...... It all happened so close together and somehow this man was still standing here with me. I went and stood back in front of him and pulled him into a hug, to his surprise. He wrapped his arms securely around me, holding me to him
“I’m okay baby. I promise I’m not in any pain.” I tightened my arms around his neck, burying my head in his neck.
“I know but it was all my fault. The reason you’re so scarred up. I cause all of it.” Chres pulled away from me and grabbed my hands, making me look at him.
“Destiny all I do.....All I did I would do all over again because all of it brought me back to you. Nothing that happened was your fault. None of it. I would do anything for you. I would take another bullet for you if I need to.” He kissed me on the nose and pulled me into another hug.
“Never think any of this was your fault.” All I could do was nod. I had no words to describe all the feelings I had going through my body. I slowly pulled away from him and he gave me a small smiled, grabbing his shirt off the floor. He slipped it back on and I walked closer, buttoning it up and tying his tie.
“All ready. Let’s go.” He grabbed my hand and lead back to the car
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I heard my name being called and, with Chres’s help, I got up and headed to the front of the room, sitting in the chair next to the judge.
“So Ms..”
“Please call me Destiny.” The lawyer, Mr. Reed, for the plaintiff, or plaintiff’s considering he was representing everyone against Sam, nodded and continued in his questioning.
“So when did you first meet Sam Corneth?”
“I met him almost a year ago when I dropped his sister off at home from dance class.”
“Did he seem off when you first met him?” I shook my head
“Not at all. He just seemed like a normal person you’d meet on the street.”
“And how did your paths cross later on after that first encounter?”
“Well I ran into him at the local gym and he offered me a job at Langston Corporation because he knew that I was under that for my major. Then we saw each other again on new years eve at Club 9 and we talked a little but I ended up leaving soon after. Then I saw him again and almost everyday when I was working at Langston Corporation.”
“Do you still work at Langston Corporation?”
“No sir I do not. I quit after some disagreements between a co worker.”
“Mhmm and who was this co worker?”
“It was Sam.”
“And what had Sam done that caused you to quit?”
“Well he had interfered with my personal life by taking inappropriate pictures of me while I was sleeping and saying untrue statements to my fiance. I confronted him and he admitted he had done so and made a pass as me but I ended up punching him and then went and quit. I wasn’t willing to work with someone I couldn’t believe or trust.”
“Objection! Do we have any proof of said information?” Sam’s lawyer jumped up, slamming his hand on the table. I looked to Mr. Reed ad he pulled out a sheet of paper with what I knew had the picture on it.
“Here is a copy of the photo, from whom and to the picture was sent along with the date and message included.” He handed the paper over to the judge who looked it over and set it aside. He looked at me and I blushed because of the photo. He eventually looked away and Mr. Reed continued.
“After you quit, Did you speak or see Sam again?”
“I saw him a couple months later at the grocery store.”
“And what happened then?”
“He confronted me and said that he had been fired and it was my fault because I had informed Mr. Langston of his actions. He then went on to threaten my fiance, Chres. I also felt threatened because he wouldn’t let me leave at first and followed me around the store.”
“Do you have any proof of this?” The judge spoke up to Mr. Reed.
“We have the security camera tape from the store and it in fact shows Sam following her around for quite some time in the store.” He handed the judge the tape and the judge nodded adding it to the other evidence.
“So fast forward a month or two. What happened then?”
“Well Chres and I had an argument one night and he had left but later on when he returned, he was drunk and ended up passing out. I heard the doorbell ring and when I answered it I was knocked out by someone.”
“You don’t know who it was?”
“No I didn’t get a chance to look.”
“So what do you remember after that?”
“I woke up a couple of weeks later. While I was out I remember hearing conversations but other than that nothing. I had been kidnapped and taken to a place I didn’t know.”
“And who kidnapped you?”
“Sam did.”
“Okay. Continue.”
“I was held there for about a month until I was able to secretly contact someone but he caught me. He was outraged and attempted to harm me but Chres interfered and got shot by Sam in the process.” I felt tears leaving my eyes and I wiped them away, looking over in Chres’s direction. He nodded at me and sent me an encouraging smile.
“How was Sam’s behavior during that time?”
“He was very bipolar in a sense. He would be very nice and then fly off the handle at other times. Just crazy.”
“No further questions your honor.” Mr. Reed smiled at me and went to sit down, completely at ease. I let out a breath and watched as Sam’s lawyer stood up. I had avoided looking at Sam the whole time but when I did he had a smug look on his face that sent chills up my spine. He winked at me and I turned away, giving his lawyer my attention.
“You said you weren’t afraid of Sam when you first met him, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Would say you were friends at some point?
“Yes I guess I could say that.”
“What changed that?”
“He interfered with my personal life.”
“And that angered you because?”
“It was none of his business.”
“Do you know why he did it?”
“He had feelings for me.”
“And you didn’t share them?”
“No I did-”
“Were you not the one to say and I quote, ‘I love you Sam and I want you in my life forever.’?” His lawyer said cutting me off.
“Yes but-”
“So you admit you said it?”
“But I didn’t mean it in....You’re taking it out of-”
“What happened between you two in Paris during your business trip?” He cut me off again and I could feel myself getting flustered and frustrated.
“We had meetings for the company and some formal events. That’s all.”
“Did he buy you anything? Pay for something of yours?”
“Well my dress was misplaced so he payed for me to rent one that night.”
“That’s very interesting. Why was he so comfortable to do that for you? Usually that would be something a person would do for their partner.”
“I don’t know I guess he felt comfortable around me.”
“Why? Did you express affection towards him? Did he owe you a favor? Did you know of his intentions and play with them?”
“What? No. I-”
“So you wore that dress and what happened that night?”
“We went to the event and after I left and was in the shower, Sam got into my room. I kicked him out immediately.”
“Nothing happened? No kind of physical acts?”
“Absolutely not.” I looked at Chres then and I could tell he was riled up. His mouth smashed into a hard line and his eyes shooting daggers at Sam’s lawyer.
“How were you living while at Sam’s house? Where you kept in a cold damp place? Starved? Tortured?”
“No....I stayed in a room next to his.”
“Anything he did for you while there? Food? Clothes? Medical care?”
“He fed me and provided clothes and hired a doctor to check on me when needed.”
“So you were well taken care of?”
“Yes but on occasion-” Before I could finish, he turned towards the jury, completely ignoring my next statement.
“Does this sound like a mad man to you all? This man, Destiny has called a friend at some time, has done nothing but good deeds for her. Paying for lunches, clothes, health care. If anything this woman is the culprit. Taking advantage of my client.”
“What! I never-” I spoke up but was again cut off by him.
“She is the one at blame for all of this!” He turned on me, pointed his finger in my direction.
“Objection! He is belittling my client and yelling false accusation.” All of a sudden everyone started yelling at once. The lawyer’s at each other, the jury, the audience. I looked around at the chaos and met Sam’s evil stare. I heard the judge’s loud gavel slam down and I freaked out. All I heard was the gunshot from that night and felt myself getting sick. I covered my mouth and struggled to get up, but eventually did, running for the door. I didn’t even make it halfway before getting sick in the nearest trashcan I could find. I felt hands rubbing my back and looked up seeing Chres next to me.
“Are you okay?” I slowly nodded and stood up. Everyone had stopped and was looking in my direction, the room completely quiet.
“I’m calling a ten minutes recess.” The judge yelled, pounding his gavel. Everyone jumped up, some leaving the room and others starting up conversations with others. I saw Mr. Reed heading in our direction and I sat down, trying to calm myself down.
“Are you okay?” Mr. Reed came and sat next to me, looking me over.
“Does she look okay to you? Why did you just sit there and let her go through that?” Chres yelled out. I put my hand on his arm, silencing him.
“I’m fine.”
“Fine? You just threw up. That’s it. She can’t go back up there. I don’t care if she is the main witness. We’ll just have to figure it out.” Chres spat out at Reed.
“Chres I’m fine.”
“No. I’m putting my foot down. No more!” He was blazing and I knew there was no way to talk him out of it. A woman handed me a water and I thanked her, drowning half the bottle in one gulp.
“Okay, we’ll figure it out.” Mr. Reed said running his hand threw his grayed hair. He walked away to our table, sorting through papers. Chres sat down next to me and held my hand.
“I’m sorry for yelling but you can only take so much Destiny. I saw your face when that gavel went down. I know he still scares you even if you don’t admit it and I know you have nightmares. No more. I can’t let you go out there and do that again.” I nodded and he smiled, giving me a kiss on the lips. People started to pile back into the room and the judge came and sat back into his chair.
“We are now back in session.” Chres kissed my cheek and walked to the front, sitting next to Reed.
“We will start with the next witness.” The judge said looking at Reed. Reed stood up and walked to the front of the room.
“Plaintiff calls Chresanto August to the stand.”