44. Liam
Chapter 44
Liam
W e had set up a meeting in Adrianna’s house for everyone to come so that we could get to the bottom of everything.
“Okay, how are you so sure that she’s just not mad at you.” I asked.
Adrianna threw me a stupid glare, “I haven’t done anything for her to be mad at me.”
Adrianna crossed her arms and leaned back against the kitchen counter. “Liam, something must have happened. Margo wouldn’t just ignore me out of nowhere.”
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Maybe she’s going through something and doesn’t know how to talk about it?”
Adrianna shook her head. “No, that’s not like her. She’s always been open with me with anything.”
“Anything?” I asked with a little laugh as she gave me a deadliest glare.
“Yes, anything. And trust me, I knew all about your Greece vacation and how you left her there.”
My lips thinned, “That was a mistake.”
“It’s always a mistake when it comes to your group.”
I sighed out, ignoring her comment before a thought struck me. “Did you guys have any disagreement recently? Even something minor?”
She frowned, thinking back. “Not that I can recall. We were fine the last time we talked.”
I pulled out my phone, scrolling through the messages. “What if someone said something to her about you? You know how rumors can spread.”
Adrianna’s eyes widened. “Why would someone do that?”
“Well, you guys might be the most popular and known girls here in Hawthorne but that doesn’t mean you guys aren’t also the most hated.” I muttered as Grayson, Chris and Neil swept behind Adrianna.
I shrugged. “It could be anyone. Maybe someone is jealous of your friendship.”
Adrianna bit her lip, her mind racing. “I need to talk to her, find out what’s going on.”
“What’s going on?” Grayson asked before he landed a kiss on top of his girlfriend’s forehead.
“Margo ignored me today, I waved, and she didn’t say anything. I think something might be wrong.”
“Let’s go to her place,” Grayson suggested. “If you're right, she'll tell you what's bothering her.”
Adrianna nodded, determination in her eyes. “You’re right. Let’s go.”
“Only I don’t think her home is prone to any visitors right now.” Verina mumbled as we all turned to look at her and Juliette who finally arrived.
“Why?”
“I tried to go there last weekend and one of the maids said that we weren’t allowed to visit anymore.” Verina answered.
“Who said?” Adrianna stood up.
“Orders from Ben.” Verina finished as Adrianna looked like anger had struck her again.
“It’s got to be Ben. It had to be him, that’s why she’s acting like this. I think he might be hurting her some way or blackmailing her.” Adrianna voiced as we all looked at her with crazy faces.
“I’m not crazy guys. I know my best friend, I also noticed that she hasn’t worn any short sleeves in a while.” Adrianna paced around.
“It’s a bit crazy, I don’t think Ben would hit a fly.” Juliette muttered nervously as I looked at Neil.
“No, I’m pretty sure it was Ben who tried drowning me at the Archibald’s Wedding.” He forced out as Adrianna’s face grew more scared.
“How are you so sure she’s being black mailed?” Grayson asked his girlfriend, who threw an ugly look at him.
“Gee, I don’t know, maybe because you were blackmailed to stay away from me.” She mocked as Grayson threw his hands up in the air and shut up.
It was getting late, and I grew more concerned.
Adrianna’s phone beeped; relief had crawled on her face.
“Oh, thank god, it’s from her. She isn’t mad at me.” She muttered as everyone let out their breaths.
Only for a second we had peace, Adrianna’s face dropped like she had seen something she wished she hadn’t.
“Margo texted me an SOS. ” She frantically said.
“What’s wrong? What did she say?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.
“She just sent me the letters SOS. That means she’s in serious trouble,” Adrianna replied, her voice shook.
We all rushed out of the house and piled into Grayson’s car. The atmosphere was charged with worry and urgency as we sped towards Margo’s last known location.
The usually busy streets seemed to stretch endlessly, adding to our anxiety. Adrianna kept checking her phone, hoping for another message from Margo, while the rest of us remained silent, each lost in our own thoughts.
Adrianna ran out, looking everywhere but only found Margo’s phone, broken on the ground.
“Anna, we can’t do anything we have to call the police.” Verina yelled as she fell to her knees.
I got out, and walked towards Adrianna, “We’ll find her Adrianna. Trust me I will find her.”
MARGO
I was thrown into a cell, Ben yawned as I shivered on the cold ground.
“Why would you do this? To get revenge on Liam? He and I are broken up, you can’t hurt him anymore if that’s what you want.” I yelled as he rolled his eyes.
Ben smirked; he leaned against the wall with an air of disdain. “You think this is just about you two? About my jealousy? You’re more na?ve than I thought,” He sneered.
“Then what is it about?” I asked as a flash of despair hit his face.
“Liam killed the love of my life.” He grumbled.
“I don’t understand, he didn’t kill anyone. Nor does he know who the love of your life was.” I defended Liam as Ben grew more impatient.
“We were dating when she met him. Her name was Ally Stevens. She used to work for Liam’s family back in Philadelphia, served him every day.” Ben walked around as his eyes stayed on the ground.
“She fell in love with him, and he didn’t care. Instead, he brought countless of women back home in front of her. Liam didn’t reciprocate her love, so she killed herself.” Ben finished.
I struggled with the ropes that tied my wrists together, “It sounds like your lover was clinically insane and obsessed like you are.” I gripped as he laughed.
“So, I devised this beautiful plan to find the one girl that Liam Brookshire loved and would do anything for. And hurt her like he hurt my sister.” He ranted.
I stared at him, trying to process everything he had just said. The room felt colder, and the gravity of Ben’s twisted plan weighed heavily on me. “You think hurting me will bring her back?” I asked softly, hoping to reach some shred of humanity within him.
Ben’s eyes darkened. “No, but it will make Liam suffer. He will feel the pain of losing someone he loves, just as I did.”
“If you wanted to kill me, then why didn’t you just cut to the chase. Instead of abusing me and torturing me for fucking months.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, not out of fear for myself, but for Liam.
Ben walked closer to me, his face was in between the cold bars, “I know you saw the dozens of women down in the basement, Margo. I am a powerful man, that is capable of powerful things.”
“I don’t even have to kill you; I can just send you off with all of them as they get sold to some pretty nasty guys that I do business with… ones that own brothels… ones that love blonde beauties.” He whispered as his fingers caressed my cheek.
“You don't understand, Ben. This cycle of pain and revenge won’t bring you peace. It will only destroy you further.” I begged, not knowing how on earth I would be able to get out of this.
He looked away, the flicker of doubt crossing his face for a brief moment before his resolve hardened again. “You’re wrong. This is the only way.”
“What are you going to tell my family?” I asked with a shaky breath.
“That a very tragic accident had happened.” He muttered.
I swallowed, “You aren’t going to get away with this. Liam will come find me.”
Ben smiled; his eyes held a sense of mischief.
“For your sake, I hope Liam doesn’t come find you.” He expressed with content, his hand had reached behind his pocket and pulled out a gun.
My heart raced as Ben’s hand hovered next to my face, I could smell the gun and his confidence. Ben pulled the trigger, making me close my eyes and let out a cry.
I turned to see the bullet pierced through the wall.
“Or it’s his life instead.” He finished off.