Chapter 52
The first thing I noticed when I regain consciousness was the smell.
A shiver ran down my spine.
The smell was so familiar it had my whole body tense. There was no outside sound, just the sound of my heavy breathing, I had no scars or bruises on my body there wasn’t any pain either.
I tried to piece together who might have taken me. But the smell of smoke was distracting. I couldn’t think. The unbearable heat was making me sweat.
My lungs were beginning to burn. I was coughing. I knew it was bad.
I spotted Stella laying a few feet from me, I had almost no feeling in my legs, but I fought it. I couldn’t break down now. I couldn’t let my daughter die here.
I dragged my body toward my daughter and ripped my shirt off. I noticed a small bottle of water on the floor.
dragging both me and Stella over there. I wet my shirt and place it over Stella nose and mouth. I looked around the room, it seemed we were in some kind of basement, there were no windows. Brick walls and my head was killing me, I saw a set of stairs but it was broken. We had no way out.
Panic set in...
I looked at Stella tears in my eyes. I didn’t care about myself I cared about my daughter. She didn’t deserve to die.
The stairs were compromised, even if I had all feeling in my legs. I wasn’t sure I would be able to make the jump. I knew I could fight. I wasn’t sure I could do this. My body worked on instinct yes but this was getting my daughter up there safely.
The stabbing pain became worse and worse. I was fighting to keep my eyes open. I held Stella in my arms. Protecting her body under mine.
I prayed Chase found us and at least saved Stella.
Everything went dark again...
I stared at the flames in front of me it was darkening the walls. A ceiling beam crashed behind me but I didn’t move. I was ready to give up my life to make sure Stella would never get dragged into this.
He could question me all day and I wouldn’t move. I’d stay right here until he killed me.
"Lisa snap out of it!" Yetta screams pushing me away.
Another beam comes down and hits her right on her.
My eyes widen. Blood ran down her face, her blonde hair red with her blood.
She’s saved me more than once this last two years. I had to save her. After everything she did for me two years ago. I couldn’t let her die here protecting me.
"Yetta!" I yelled trying to free her.
She pushes my hand away. She places something in my arms and I pause.
No... I shake my head "No!" I shout.
Tears ran down my face the last three years showed me who was really on my side and who wasn’t. Who wanted what was best for me and who was using me for their own benefit. I learnt to not blindly trust the organisation and the people in it anymore. I was stronger, but at what cost? I’ve lost Trina and now I’m losing Yetta as well.
"Leave me Lisa. Listen to me, go leave this place. Go to your daughter. Protect her from Keaton. He wants her to control you." Yetta warns me.
It wasn’t a secret everyone knew Keaton wanted me. He has been obsessed with me since we were kids. It didn’t help that Mathew chose him as the next head. He wanted me to be his wife to support him. I wasn’t stupid. I knew what being his wife meant. I never wanted to a wife to anyone.
I wasn’t meant to be anyone’s wife, I wasn’t anyone but a soldier fighting her superiors battles for them. I didn’t do politics everyone knew that. It was why I turned down the chance to be the next head after my father died.
"Go to Quinn she’s waiting for you with a new identity and a new life. You’ll forget about all of this. He can’t find you we both know what happens when he finds you..."
I screamed at her but it was too late she had already lost consciousness.
I cried as I ran out of the warehouse with my new ID. Flames engulfed the warehouse and explosion went off sending me flying.
I just got back up and started running again, I was barefoot but I didn’t care.
I needed to get across town to Quinn. Once I was in Chicago I’ll be safe.
Stella was safer without me. I’d long given up on seeing her again. I remember the night I gave birth in a storage room in my childhood home while Keaton searched the compound for me. The way she didn’t cry, like she knew he was on the other side of the door looking for me.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment. It would stay in my memory bank of how amazing my daughter was.
Though I’d probably not have any memory of Stella after today.
I knew shouldn’t go and see her. I wondered what she looked like now, but I knew going to her was a bad idea. I needed to make sure she was safe. Even if it meant I never get to see my little girl grow up. Trina told me that’s what it meant to be a parent. Not that she knew either since she’s barely left the box and never dated anyone seriously. Trina was an orphan.
My father was a good man and a good father. We were close, he would do anything for me. He told me he’d destroy the organization if it meant I’d be safe.
I’m reminded of the Russian nursery rhyme my dad used to sing when I was younger. It was playing over and over in my head...
I wanted to sing it to my daughter the same way my dad did after I got home from training. How he’d sing it when he’d bandaged up my wounds from training with a pained look on his face.
I remember the night I gave birth I whispered it to her so we were caught. My father Vsevolod raised me to be strong, but in that moment as I whispered that rhyme to Stella. I wished for my father...
I understand my father now, I understand why he looked that way I was his precious daughter, he didn’t like seeing those wounds on my body.
My daughter was safer with her father, my parents chose this life for me. They grew up in it and I didn’t want my daughter growing up like I did. I didn’t want her hurting the way I did. The last thing I wanted was for her to get revenge for my death if I died.
A car stops in front of me, I see Quinn with a grim look on her face.
"Thank you" I say getting into the back.
Quinn takes off before Keaton gets here.
My body is killing me, I’ve endured two whole years of torture from Keaton. He wanted to know where my daughter was buried, I knew he wanted to know because he wanted to do a DNA test to make sure I wasn’t lying. The only reason I wasn’t dead was because he wanted to marry me. Which was impossible.
There was no way in hell I would marry him that was even before I met Chase. I knew the instant I met Chase I was never going to be anyone but a passer by in his life and I was okay with that, things changed after I found out that I was pregnant. I was connected to Chase forever now.
When Keaton found out I was pregnant he insisted we get married and he would take care of the child the way we were raised that’s when I realized I didn’t want that for my child. I didn’t care if I was destroying my life or getting myself killed in the end I wasn’t going to let my child grow up in the organization.
Stella deserved more than I could give her. I knew that.
"Lisa it’s time to take the pills..." Quinn says.
I nod.
I look out the window thoughtfully.
"Please make sure, I never find out about Stella. I don’t know if I’ll ever get my memories back or if I’ll get bits and pieces. But I’m not good for that little girl..." I tell her.
Quinn doesn’t say anything but tears run down her face. She nods looking at the road.
I take the pills and drink the entire bottle of water with it.
I could feel the drowsiness kicking in.
"Thank you Quinn. I know this is hard for you. I promise your brother is safe. I have a safety deposit box with everything you need to know. It’s saved under Mona Maeve. I tell her."
Quinn nods. "Thank you... Lisa I’m sorry everything turned out this way. But with Trina dead and James missing there’s nothing I can do..."
I give her a small smile. "Don’t worry James is safe..."