The Billionaire's Nanny

Death trap

You know that feeling when you wake up to a day that just feels off right from the moment you open your eyes?

It could be the harsh rays of the sun nearly blinding and forcing you to wake up early on a Saturday morning or the annoying sound of your alarm reminding you that it's a Monday Morning again after you spent Sunday evening drinking your guts out.

That small, seemingly unimportant detail in your morning that makes sure you have a bad rest of your day.

I was having one of those mornings, but unlike most, I knew exactly why it was going to be a bad day.

After laying motionless in the same spot for what felt like an eternity, body unwilling to move and mind refusing to come alive, I finally found a reason to get up, thanks to my pressing bladder.

I walked back into the room after finishing my business and realized for the first time this morning, that Lucas was not here and the kids had not come to barge down my door in search of me.

I knew Lucas would leave early for what he had to do today—find Sarah—but the house should not be so quiet.

I was halfway through panic when the white piece of paper sitting next to a tray of pancakes, maple syrup, and some orange juice caught my eye.

Grabbing the note first, I read the first line and a smile cracked my lips.

I'm still a terrible fucking cook, mom made the pancakes. She has the kids for the weekend. I know you're still upset about last night and I wish I were there instead, but I need to do this. For our family.

And that opened a sea of tears. Only this time it came from the best part of my heart. That part filled with only love for Lucas and what we shared. He was on a death mission—as I would call it— to find Sarah but still had the time to leave a gesture just enough to rejuvenate my soul.

Suddenly my plan for the day now included doing something other than staying in bed all day, indulging in self-pity, and waiting for some news.

Celine had offered to join me for some Christmas shopping today.

Christmas was still more than a month away, so I knew she was just doing what she did best. Protecting me, only this time from my own emotions.

I had turned it down before not feeling up for it, but now all I wanted to do was spend the whole day trying to find the perfect gift for Lucas.

After taking a bite of the heavenly pancakes, I reached for my phone and called her.

I sighed, feeling a twinge of disappointment when the call went through the third time without an answer.

It was quite unusual for Celine to miss all three calls, usually on the second or third ring, she would pick up the phone and scream "I saw your call the first time.

I love you but I'm busy so I'll call you back! "

I checked the time on my phone. It was a late Saturday morning, she and Alexander were probably too occupied frolicking in their bliss. I was torn between cringing and smiling at the thought. Not wanting to be alone today, I left Celine a voicemail and shot Mia a text instead.

That's when I saw it. An address, a time, and "Don't be late."

It was a simple message, yet it made me freeze for what felt like minutes. What did that even mean? I looked up at the sender ID, It was not a number I recognized. I sucked in a sharp breath, willing myself to give it some thought before spinning out of control.

There could be three different reasons why an unknown number sent me an address to meet.

It could be one of those crazy scam messages and seeing as that was becoming more popular these days, it was not a far-off thought.

But why on earth would a person who wanted to scam me send a location to meet?

It could be that my fiancee planned a surprise dinner for me to celebrate the events of today—God, I hoped it was.

But I knew that was not the case even before the thought left my mind.

If Lucas had any such plans, he would have revealed them in the note he left me, so no, definitely not a romantic dinner invite.

That left me with only one option—"No!" No no no no fucking way. I was calling Lucas before I could talk myself out of it.

"Muffin?" the raspy and breathy tone of his voice sent chills down my spine. And I prayed and hoped in my heart it was everything except what I thought it was.

"What's going on?" I asked simply.

There was a slight pause, long enough for me to hear the screeching sounds of tires and the sound of another male yelling in the background.

Fuck. "Did you enjoy your breakfast?" Lucas asked casually, he was making an effort to sound composed, most likely to keep me from worrying, but I could already tell from the moment he picked up the phone that something was wrong.

Remember that heavenly bite of pancake from five minutes ago? Yeah, I could see myself retching it out in a matter of seconds. "Lucas, what's going on?" I asked the question I already knew the answer to.

He gave a small chuckle, humorless and bitter. "Nothing new. Baron turned out to be a lying dick, fucked us over and now we're in a wild chase trying to make sure we don't lose our only fucking way to get Sarah. Just a normal day."

"So you don't have Sarah?" I asked the stupid question in a shaky whisper.

No answer. Another pause. Another screech of tires. Another bile crawling up my throat. And then he spoke. "The kids are safe with mom and dad. Robin is on his way to pick you up. Do not go with anyone except Robin and stay with him until I tell you to leave."

"I thought it was all going to be over today," I whispered, more to myself than him.

The life of always looking over my shoulder, always needing to be protected every time I stepped out, always having to worry if Abby and Aiden were safe.

My legs gave out on me first, and I sank into the sheets, clutching my phone in a death grip.

Lucas's voice broke through my thoughts, confident and reassuring. "It's just noon Muffin. The day is not over yet and it will be over today."

It had only been a few months since I first heard the name Sarah; it had been whispered in the shadows like an evil spell not meant to be spoken.

And that was exactly what she had turned out to be.

My life had never been a bed of roses. I had lived in the toughest of neighborhoods growing up, had faced the craziest obstacles, and met the most people with a screw in their brains.

Yet this woman was the most terrifying to me.

She scared me in ways I could not explain.

But she was my sister. A fact I did not enjoy recalling very often.

My crazy, fucked up in the head, evil sister who would go to any lengths just to hurt me.

I was in a trance, pulled back into the few minutes after I had found out I was pregnant to the pure horror coursing through me when I opened my eyes to meet Baron's eyes at the hospital, to how he had attacked me, basically thrown me around like a rag doll, and to what I had lost after that single incident.

It felt like someone put a lid over my throat, stopping the airflow, and suddenly, I could not breathe.

A sharp gasp escaped, followed by a streak of tear rolling down my chin.

"Tell me you will do as I say," Lucas said, breaking my chain of thoughts.

I looked down at my phone, realizing my hands were now shaking. That was what she did to me. That was what knowing that Sarah would be walking free, ready to hurt me at any convenient time did to me. "I will."

"Good girl," he said, and I did not miss the relief in his voice.

I remained in my spot on the bed long after we hung up.

Not crying, not thinking, just numb. Was this how my life would always be?

For a moment, I considered walking away.

Just packing all of my stuff and leaving.

That was what she wanted after all, in her psychotic mind, I had taken what was here's, I had taken her spot in her husband and children's lives and that was enough reason to kill me.

But then an image of the hurt in Lucas's eyes that day in the garden flashed in my mind.

No, I could not do that. I would not be running away.

Sarah abandoned them when they needed her the most. I may not have birthed the twins, but I knew it would kill me to leave either them or Lucas or even his family which I had come to love too.

This was my family now and I had decided long ago that I was the sister who would not be leaving.

I picked up my phone, ready to call my only lifeline, I had to talk to someone right now or these thoughts would drive me crazy. And then it hit me. Celine never missed my calls this much and if both I and the twins were safe, why was Sarah so sure I would be coming to the dress she sent.

"No." I breathed, scrolling through my phone at a quicker pace, "Fuck, fuck, fuck, and No."

As if on cue, my phone rang. It was Alexander. And of course, he was calling to know if Celine had gotten here since she left to come meet me two hours ago and would not pick up her phone.

I was silent, unable to believe Sarah would drag my best friend into this, "She's here with me. We're shopping for Christmas and I had her turn her phone off."

With the way the lie rolled off my tongue, even I almost believed it. Well, at least it would not remain a lie for too long, because I had had enough, and I knew just what I had to do.

Her eyes remind me of deep, dark, unending circles.

Dark and void of emotions. At least void of pleasant emotions.

I can practically feel the hate radiating off her.

Or maybe it is my own hate for her. Maybe the animosity we both feel for each other is thick enough to fill this room.

Thick enough to slice through with a knife.

Without waiting for her to tell me why she made come all the way here to this old farmhouse outside the city, I speak. "Where is she?"

Her smile is even more sinister. She lifts her hand and my brows furrow in confusion as she begins a countdown. "Five...Four...Three...Tw..."

My phone rings on the two and my eyes widen when I see who is calling.

Hours after confirming that Sarah had really kidnapped my best friend, she had given me an ultimatum, a chance to make a trade.

Without so much as a second thought, I had obliged to her demand.

I could not take any chances. Celine was the strongest and most independent woman I knew.

She was also crazy in her own rights and would not think twice about fighting Sarah for taking her hostage.

A choice that may very well cost her life.

There was no way I would let that happen, so when I had received instructions to come here alone without doing so much as giving Lucas or anyone a hint, second thought was out of the question.

So then how the hell was the number flashing on my screen really calling me?

"Well, that was easier than I expected." Sarah giggled like a child just handed a lollipop.

My words reflected my confusion, "B-but you had her. You have her here."

She cocked a brow as she tilted her head to the side, "I do?"

"You kidnapped her!" I protested, looking back and forth between my still ringing cellphone and a preening Sarah.

She gasped, feigning shock, "My God, how little do you exactly think of me?"

I stuttered again, "But your text. You said to come here, for Celine."

I must have looked crazy because that was exactly how she looked at me, "No I didn't"

My eyes widened as I realized she never really mentioned Celine in any of her texts, I had been the one to connect that dot. But if she did not have C, who had her and why had she never replied to any of my messages all day?

"You might want to pick up," she nodded to my phone, "we do not want to worry your poor little bestie now do we?"

"C?" I whispered as I answered.

"Oh my God, thank God you picked up." her words were almost filtered away by the sound of wind rushing.

"What happened, where have you been?" I was torn between relief and worry.

"Long story. Some fucking assholes posing as detectives picked me up on the way to you. They said they needed to ask some questions. I stupidly followed them and I think the bastards fucking drugged me."

Panic sliced through me, and I almost forgot I was standing right in front of the woman who had made several attempts on my life. "Jesus, Celine. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I woke up on the side of the fucking highway and I don't even know where I am right now. But I called as soon as I could because I am worried about you, Bess. I feel like this has something to do with Sarah."

It had everything to do with Sarah. "I might sound a little paranoid, but I have a feeling this is part of some plan of hers to hurt you."

"You're not paranoid," I whispered, wondering how the hell I had fallen for this stupid trick. I am about to tell Celine to send help quickly when Sarah launches at me. It's a quick and smooth move that sends both me and my phone tumbling to the ground.

I turn around swiftly, ready to reach for my phone but I realize how late I am as the red sole of Sarah's Louboutin's crush into it. She looks down at me, all cold eyes and evil smile, there is no way I'm related to this woman "Now that we have that settled, let's get to the reason you're here."

I scream in pain as she grabs my hair in a tight fist and pulls me up. With my hand on hers, I struggle to free myself, but it's no use. She's pulling my hair tight enough to leave a mark on my scalp. "Let go of me, you're hurting me." But I know it's no use.

"You know I never thought you would be this big a problem when I first saw you," she says as she walks to the middle of the room, my hair in her clutches.

"I mean let's face it, you are literally a nobody and I still don't understand what makes you think you can just waltz in and take what's fucking mine. "

"They're not yours," I cry, still trying to free myself, "You left them!"

She shakes her head, giving me a look that mirrors my hate for her, "We took a break. Lucas and I needed a break, we never stopped loving each other," she releases me, flinging me to the ground again "until you fucking came into the equation."

My screams bounce off the wall as my body comes in contact with the concrete floor, sending jabs of pain through me. Seeing as the last proof of civilization I saw was more than ten minutes away, I knew it was just a waste of time. No one would hear.

Fear spikes up my chest when the shiny heels come into view again, "You should have stayed away the first time you left," Sarah said as she leaned down, "hell you should never have come into his life."

"You have no control over who comes in and goes out of Lucas's life." I bit back and as soon as the words are out of my mouth the sting of a slap zings over my face.

Her lips curl into a sneer, "You better be nice to me Christine, my temper is not very pliable tonight."

I stare at her in shock. "Why are you doing this Sarah? Do you really think this is something you can get away with? Lucas will find you, the cops will find you..."

She gives a wry smile, full of confidence, "They will try, but they will only keep following the crumbs I give them and ending up at dead ends, just like today.

" I stare at her in shock, and she holds my chin, almost bringing me face to face with her, "Don't give me that look.

Someone had to get Lucas out of the house so I could make you come here?

I made him go right where I needed him."

My mouth falls open, "Are you going to kill him?"

For the first time, I actually see a flash of something pleasant in her eyes, some warmth that I had thought impossible to see in those dark irises. "I am incapable of hurting Lucas." and then it's gone, "you should more worry about yourself."

"Even if you kill him, that's not going to make him love you."

"I know," there's an air of nonchalance in her voice when she straightens like she has this all figured out.

"What are you going to do to me, why am I here?" I watch as she walks back and forth inspecting her nails.

I hate the triumphant look in her eyes when she looks at me, "Simple, you stole my life, now I'll just steal it back."

I give her a confused look and she sighs like it's such a chore explaining it to me. When she leans down again, she has her phone in my face. A picture pops up and then she asks, "who is this?"

It's not hard to tell, "you?"

Then she tilts her head again and gives that evil smile, "My point exactly. That is one of the many pictures I have of you, Chris. Not me. If even you cannot tell the difference, how would anyone else?"

The realization makes me shudder. Too many times people had mistaken me for her, hell looking at her was like seeing myself in a mirror, a hotter more sophisticated version. Even so, the fact that she was going to use our resemblance in such a disgusting way was terrifying.

"'You're delusional if you call this love because it's not. Lucas does not love you and hurting the people he loves will never change that."

Another slap strikes across my face and this time, it brings the metallic taste of blood on my tongue. Before I can recover from the pain, Sarah has her hands around my neck, squeezing tight enough to snap it in two. I grab her hands, fighting desperately for air.

"I don't think you understand me quite well, Lucas and I will be getting back together. I expected you to leave after Mia's engagement, but since you chose to be a thorn in my flesh instead, I'll have to take you out of my way even if it means killing you."

I had thought it was impossible to feel any more fear, but I was wrong.

The thought of dying was scary not only because who ever embraced that thought but also because it would mean leaving Lucas and the twins.

Just this morning, I had sworn never to do that, so there was no way I was letting Sarah kill me tonight.

Without thinking, I punch a fist in the air and it lands perfectly on the aim. Sarah screams in agony as blood spills down her nose. Taking the chance, I push her off me and I'm on my feet, lunging for the exit. But Sarah is faster and in a matter of seconds, I trip over those damn shoes.

She's taking my hair again and I know if I do make it out of here alive, I would still die of a migraine anyway.

I know I've successfully pissed her off because when she does hurl me away this time, it's not on a concrete floor where I could escape with a few bruises.

Stars dance in my vision as the world around me spins around in circles and for a full on minute all I can hear is the ringing in my ear after Sarah slams me against the wall.

"I told you not to piss me off," she says stepping up to me again. The stains on her peach pantsuit match the color of her hair. "We're all alone out here, killing you will not be a very difficult job."

It was my turn to raise a brow. "Are we?"

As if on cue, the first sound of the siren blasts through the quiet air of the night. Both Sarah and I look in the direction of the sound and relief floods through me as I see blue and red lights flashing in the distance.

She looks down at me, clearly, unexpecting this move and I offer her a smile that I hope spells out Surprise Bitch.

"You led them here," she staggers back a step, and maybe it makes me a bitch but I like how trapped she suddenly looks.

"You didn't think I would play right into your hand again and give you yet another golden opportunity to kill me." While I had made some really irrational choices in the last few weeks, how stupid did Sarah really think I was?

After promising Lucas that I would do what he said, I made my first good decision in months.

Every time I had tried to handle the situation on my own in the past, it had only escalated.

It did take some time, but I realized trusting Lucas not only meant knowing he was never going back to his ex-wife but also believing in him to make the situation right when I felt threatened.

And he had made the perfect plan. One that ensured, we caught Sarah in her own web and she received the punishment she deserved. With all of Lucas's many qualities, it was almost easy to forget how quickly his brain worked, the man was a goddamn genius.

A kick in my belly forced thoughts of Lucas and my rescuers fleeing from my mind.

For a second I questioned if those were actual Louboutins or fucking steeltoes.

I tried to scream but could only push out air from my lungs.

The pain was searing, cutting through my insides and I knew she had touched a stitch.

A warm liquid trickled down my nose to my hand clutching my injured belly and I gasped at the sight of my own blood.

The same cold, cruel eyes looked down at me, only this time there was a hint of fear too. "You will regret this," Sarah said as she turned swiftly, heading for another exit in the back I had not seen before.

It took a moment to realize what was happening. She was getting away. The sirens approaching us were close but not close enough to get here before Sarah escaped. The darkness of the night and the large tall grasses going on for miles around us would provide a good cover.

But I could not allow that, I had not come this far only to let her slip away one more time. In a swift move, I grabbed her feet and pulled with what little strength I could muster. Thankfully, it was enough to send her toppling to the ground next to me.

But not enough to put up a fight with Sarah as she tried to escape. I'm no match for her seeing as my body is mostly filled with pills and what little food Lucas could shove down my throat in the last few days, but I do give it my best shot.

Fresh jabs of pain course through me as we struggle on the floor, my hand pulling her hair and hers wrapped around my neck. The sounds of the siren grow louder and out of the corner of my eye, I see the first car as it approaches us.

Sarah follows my gaze and I can see it in her eyes that when she knows she's totally fucked.

I feel dizzy as the hands around my neck tighten even more and I know I should let go of her now.

Even if she does manage to escape she won't get very far.

But I am not about to take any chance, so I countdown the seconds in my head, fighting both for my air and to keep Sarah from fleeing.

"Let go of me you bitch!" she screams as the surrounding space is swarmed by an endless flow of blue and red flashing lights.

It's almost over.

And then it happens so fast. One moment I'm in a deadly struggle with Sarah, and the next I'm coming face to face with the barrel of a gun. I don't get the chance to ask where she got a gun from, before the sound blasts through my ear.

Loud.

Thunderous.

And the last thing I hear before darkness takes over