The Love From Vengeance

124 WINDOW PAIN

LUKE’S POV

I couldn’t believe it. The car was empty, and Ariel was nowhere to be seen. I looked around frantically, trying to find any sign of her or the men who took her. But there was nothing, just an empty street.

I called out Ariel’s name, hoping she would somehow hear me. But there was yet to be a response. And then my mother’s mocking words echoed in my head, taunting me once more. She talked nonsense the first time I heard her voice after a very long time. I clenched my fists, feeling the rage build up inside of me. I couldn’t let her win; I couldn’t let her do anything terrible to Ariel.

I quickly pulled out my phone and called Ariel, praying that she would answer. But it just went straight to voicemail. I tried calling again and again, but still need

an answer.

“Where are you, Ariel?” I whispered to myself, my heart racing with fear and frustration.

Just then, my phone rang again. It was that useless woman, someone I didn’t believe I used to call mother.

“What do you want now?” I answered the phone call, and my voice was shaking with anger.

“Oh, I just wanted to check in on you and your missing wife,” she said with so much sarcasm.

“Tell me where she is,” I demanded, my patience wearing thin.

“Oh, Pushki. Poor Pushki. Do you really think I would tell you where she is? You’re so predictable. You always try to be the hero, but you always end up failing. What a fool you are,” she taunted.

“You’re the one who sent those men after her, aren’t you?” I yelled, my fists clenched in rage.

“Maybe I did; maybe I didn’t. But it’s too late now; she’s gone,” she said, her voice filled with amusement.

“Tell me where she is!” I screamed, my voice echoing through the empty street.

said, and then

my

defeated. I didn’t know what to do next.

sit here and wait for something to

I could even think of a plan, my phone rang

number.

my voice shaking.

a familiar

Where are you?” I asked, feeling a surge of

I managed to escape. Meet me at the old, abandoned factory on the

I said, my heart racing with

car and drove towards the abandoned factory, praying that I

feel grateful for my mother’s call. If she hadn’t taunted me and

of the factory, and there she was. My beautiful wife was bruised and scared but

towards her and held her tightly, tears of joy streaming down my

should have protected you,” I whispered, kissing her forehead.

fault, Luke. I’m just glad you found me,” she said, tears in her eyes.

of my imagination. I turned around, and it was Andre. I wondered what he was doing here. Has he been following me the whole time? And I couldn’t believe I was thinking so much that I had to start imagining things. I should slam my head against

that.

are you doing here?” I asked Andre, giving him a curious look.

thinking about?” He inquired immediately.

at him for minutes, I sighed. “It’s nothing.”

that; I saw you from afar, yelling her name. And take a look at how you’re so worried.

breath. I glanced at André once again. “You know what? I’m just going to act

keep on acting like you

say now?” I quizzed him cautiously.

the truth, Luke. You can keep on lying to yourself, but I believe one day you’ll accept the truth.”