Warning: waterworks
□ FOURTY- THREE □
Jennifer Harrogate looked nothing like her siblings. Sophie looked like her mother and I'm guessing Michael looked like his father but Jennifer looked different. She was a striking woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, tall and thin. Heavy lines marked her face with tiredness and stress. I glanced at Michael and he seemed to glare at his sister.
"Jennifer" Michael said in way of greeting.
His sister titled her head. "Brother dear, are you proud of me? I'm doing the job you always loved to do" she said, giving us a fake smile.
"Well, used to love, I guess things change" she added before looking at me.
Michael dropped a hand and pushed me behind him. "Leave Hope out of this, she has nothing to do with this at all" he said, his lip curling.
"Now now, no need to get all protective, I'm not going to hurt her" Jennifer said carefully.
She nodded her head and I yelped as two string hands clamped over my wrist holding me in a lock. Michael turned to look at the man holding me. "This is between you and I, brother" Jennifer said making Michael look at her again.
"I don't know what sort of sick game you are playing at, and I don't care if you hurt me.. but let Hope go!" He exclaimed, stepping forward.
Jennifer narrowed her eyes and stepped around him, before moving towards me. She lifted a hand and reached for a strand of my hair, playing with it in her fingers. "She's very beautiful, you've certainly outdone yourself" she said, looking at the very tense Michael Hayfield.
"Get your hands off her" he growled.
Panic filled me as I felt the cold steel press against my temple. Michael started forward before Jennifer's cold eyes stopped him. My eyes remained firmly on Michael's and he watched us carefully. "I don't want to hurt her but I will if you don't behave!" She snapped.
He raised his hands again in defeat. "Just let her go" he tried again.
Suddenly police sirens could be heard in the distance. I was sick and tired of this. Of her trying to disrupt my perfectly happy life. I glanced at the group, calculating.
Feeling Jennifer's gun dig into my forehead, I winced. "Hand over the business and I will" Jennifer snapped.
"Father left me the business for a reason" Michael replied, his face falling into an emotionless mask.
This was the face of a man that beat up Harry without a care in the world. He had protected me and loved me but this man was always there, ready to strike. Just laying dormant under the surface of Michael's skin. Jennifer had no idea what she was getting herself into.
"You took everything from me!" Jennifer screamed, making her slip up.
In a beat, I flicked my hand out and twisted her arm back all the while ducking under the other guys outreached hands. I spun, taking the gun out of Jennifer's hands and sliding towards Michael.
In a blink, the gun was pointed at Jennifer.
Surprise etched Harrogate's face. "You forgot one important thing Jennifer, you pissed me off" I growled.
Michael laid an hand on my shoulder but I didn't lower the gun. He walked in front of me. "There is always another way sister" he said, as the men drew a gun on him.
A wicked look crossed Jennifer's face. "Oh I know there is" she spat before she rammed her hand forward.
I barely had time to scream as Michael fell down on one knee. He pressed a hand to his stomach, a knife protruding from deep within. I moved the gun and started to fire. Two men went down and Jennifer was making a run for the front doors.
I dropped the gun and slid across to Michael as he fell back. "No no no no no, you can't go, you can't!" I cried out.
Blood seeped across his white dress shirt as his mouth opened in shock. "You'll be okay!" I exclaimed, holding a hand around the wound.
His grip relaxed. "Michael! No!" I cried out again and I cradled him to my chest.
Without words, he reached his hand up and pressed it against my cheek while leaving a bloody smear. "No, we have so much to work for" I said softly.
I heard screeching of tires and looked up quickly as Murphy barreled into the building. "Jefe!" Murphy yelled out.
Michael took a deep breath and I looked back down at him, squeezing him tighter. His eyes closed. Rage filled me and Murphy pulled Michael out of my arms, immediately trying to do some kind of medical work. I stood up slowly.
I didn't let myself feel the pain, I picked up the gun and started towards the door. That bitch was going to pay. I pushed open the front doors, I turned my head and saw her running figure in the distance.
Jumping straight into action. I ran to the nearest car and pulled the driver out. "Sorry!" I exclaimed as I slammed the door.
"Hey!" The driver called out.
I pressed my foot on the accelerator, dodging traffic and bicycles. I watched her and I zoomed past her before slamming on my brakes. Yanking the car into park and not thinking that I had just parked it on a busy street, I climbed out and ran towards her. I jumped on her, crashing her to the ground.
She swung her fist and it connected with my jaw, but my leg swept her feet from under her as she tried to get to her feet. I reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her towards me. I slammed my fist across her cheek and held her throat tightly. It was then when tears fell from my eyes. "You killed him and now you're going to die!" I exclaimed.
She tried to kick her knee up or lift her arm but I had strapped her down with my body. Her face was turning purple but I didn't care, didn't even care that I was in the mouth of an alley and no one looked in to see what was happening. "Why! He was your brother!" I yelled, squeezing tighter.
She gripped my wrist, trying to pull me off but I didn't let go. "Hope, let go" a voice told me.
I looked up to see Kyle, he looked out of breath. "She killed him! She killed Michael!" I exclaimed behind my flurry of tears.
"Let go" he whispered.
A sob rose within me and I fell back, letting go of her. Before she managed to get to her feet, Kyle connected a fist to her face and knocked her out. A police officer took her in custody. I sat on the dirty floor, crying my eyes out as my adrenaline wore out. What did I do?
Michael.
The thought came to me and started a new wave of tears. Kyle bent down and hugged me, pressing me to his chest. "We have to go" he said quickly.
I didn't fight as he lifted me. I had no fight left. Michael was gone. No future, no marriage, no children talk and I was alone again. I wasn't allowed to be happy and I hated the universe.
Michael Hayfield had been my salvation, the reason I wanted to survive. My love.
And like throwing a rock at a window, my heart shattered.
A/N
The end.
Just kidding. I'm not that evil. Hehehehe
Is Hope going to be alright?
or will the Author spread her magic and bring back Michael?
Hmmm.
Should I?
Shouldn't I?
I guess we'll see.
Don't forget to vote and comment!
Lots of love, Tavana xoxoxoxoxox