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No

No She’s wrong She has to be wrong

I propel myself forward and an officer stopsHe places his palo in there right now"

"My girlfriend works here," I practically shout "What happened?" I grip his wrist, ready to toss hiirlfriend working tonight?"

"Yes," I say urgently "Lucy Braden She’s a waitress" I look past his shoulder in an attelass doors as I use o see her? Please?"

"Sir, I need you to calm down and listen to me" I shake my head and shove him back I just want to see Lucy I just need to see her

The officer grabs my arm and I jerk away I make it two quick steps before he wraps his ar it overmy neck into a choke hold Between the two of them, I can’t move

"Sir," the first cop pants "If you calet you some information, but you have to cooperate with us"

What the fuck is wrong withwith the police and I have no idea where Lucy is I stop fighting as realization hits, piercing through my panicked brain "I’m calm," I rasp "I’m calm Just tell me she’s okay" My voice drops as I plead with hih my head aren’t true

They release ers are shaking so fucking bad as the first officer says so into his radio

"What’s your na for Lucy Braden"

The first one turns back to me and I can tell it’s bad I can see it on his face I take a step back as if that will e

God no

Please no

"Both feo"

Tenover here, Lucy was in the back of an aht now," he continues "I suggest you go up to the hospital" He pauses, placing his hand on my arm "They only let faister through hts as I run toward my car Just a few feet away, I’ init Lucy’s name on the screen blurs my vision as moisture fills s give out I hit the ground, knees first, and catch myself with my free hand as the tears spill over

"Lucy, baby," I et a handle on it, but the relief is so overwhelht? Tell ht"

She sniffles and my stomach twists I squeeze the phone as my head spins "I’m okay," she says, her voice s to do an ultrasound to be sure, but the heartbeat…the heartbeat was go-good" She’s silent for aGod over and over as I kneel in the road "Kimmie," Lucy cries as she releases a sob "He killed Kiins to cry audibly

"I’ to me"

I shove one" She begins to cry harder andfor her

"Baby, I’m so sorry I’m so sorry I’m almost there"

"Please…hurry I need you"

Fuck Fuck "I’ I love you, Lucy I love you soquietly into the phone I don’t say anything else, just letting her get it out

"I’ht now Where are you?"

"I’oes dead and I hate the way it makes me feel I need to see her I need to touch her

I tuck my phone into my pants and run The doors slide open and she sla her tofor any injuries beneath her blood stained clothes She presses her face against roet fro I can say will make this better And as horrible as I feel, I can’t stop being grateful it wasn’t her

Lucy hasn’t let go of the sonogram since the doctor placed it in her hand She even holds it nohile she sleeps, wrapped securely in Bree’s arether

I close the door lightly after checking on her for the tenth tiot her ho," I say as I lower myself into the ar to hit me We spent several hours at the hospital, then a couple more at the police station before ere able to come home Lucy showered and passed out almost immediately

"What the hell happened?" Chase asks

I’ve heard the story several tih Lucy’s recounts to the cops, but I still can’t believe it

"The guy ca to the bedrooun" I have to stop again, this tih I know she wasn’t hurt, what could have been fills et on the ground He was getting ready to leave, I guess, but the cook ca was about Lucy said it startled the guy and the gun just went off" I shudder as I say the words It could have been her A few inches to the left and it would have been Lucy’s head struck by a bullet

I shove et back," I tell Guy "I don’t want her waking up and wondering where I a?" he asks