For a moment, the entire museum was silent. Time froze and Luke froze with it, expecting to experience mind numbing pain but instead, feeling nothing.Dregs of sticky blood mixed with bits and pieces of human flesh slid down his face and arms. Before him, the kidnapper’s mouth hung open in shock, then he fell forward, narrowly missing Luke and Nina.Luke’s gaze snapped up in shock, and relief flooded his system when saw two more officers in the room, one pointing his gun at the exact spot where the currently lifeless kidnapper had been standing a few seconds ago.“You saved my life.” Luke whispered, his fingers still trembling slightly from shock.The officer shrugged as he watched his partner order the second kidnapper to drop his weapon.“I was just doing my job, sir:”Luke was having non of it.“No. What’s your name? You will be rewarded for this.“Name’s Micah, your lordship. Once again, it is my duty to protect you. I was merely doing my job.”After the deputy checked to ensure t
“Are you trying to tell me, deputy, that a heavily guarded criminal simply broke from his cuffs and killed a bunch of detectives? Do you realise how stupid that sounds?” Luke asked through gritted teeth.The deputy locked his jaw.“Information reaching me has it that they stopped for a restroom break and the kidnapper faked a seizure. They had to free him so he didn’t end up hurting himself with the sharp edges of the handcuffs. Before they realised it was all staged, he’d already gone for Marshall, the officer closest to him.He shot Marshall point blank in the head with his gun. Connor tried to step in but he was shot as well. He died on his way to the hospital.”Luke could not believe his ears.“And the criminal? Where is he?”After a silent beat, the deputy said.“He shot himself. He’s dead.”“Fuck!” Luke exclaimed, pacing to the other end of the room. Behind him, Nina’s mother gasped in pure horror.A few seconds later, Luke felt someone grab his shirt from behind.“Are you a cri
“Excuse me?” Mrs Washington asked the doctor, her mouth hanging open in shock. The doctor speared her with a cold, stony stare.“I said that you should please vacate that seat. His lordship cannot be left standing while you’re seated.”“Who exactly is this ‘his lordship’ you’re talking about?” She asked slowly.The doctor motioned behind her.“You just walked past him.”Nina’s mother turned to survey the area. The only two people standing there were Luke and the deputy. None of them looked like they had any royal titles to their names.“All I see is the officer and that good for nothing Luke. I think you must be mistaken.” She sneered.The doctor’s eyes flashed with annoyance.“No, Ms. I believe you’re the mistaken one here. How dare you address his lordship as good for nothing?”Just then, Mr. Washington walked in and his wife rose.“Can you imagine what the doctor just said? “ she asked, her lips curled in a sneer.“What is it, honey?” “According to him, Luke Bradford over there ha
The deputy finally convinced Luke to go home and have a shower. All the way home, Luke thought of ways in which he would break the news of Nina’s assault to her parents, but he came up with nothing. Absolutely nothing.The Washingtons were big time snobs. If they found out that their daughter had been hurt in any way, Lord or not, Luke was going to bear the heat for it…and so would his grandfather.Luke did not want anything that would link his grandfather to any sort of scandal, meaning he’d have to keep his mouth shut. At Least until he came up with a good plan on how to approach the Washingtons.Just before he left the hospital, he’d gotten news that Nina was awake. He’d rushed down to see her but her parents had already beaten him to it.The Washingtons kept the doors to Nina’s room firmly closed, saying without words that no one else was welcome…especially him.The next morning, showered, dressed and feeling slightly better after two hours of uneasy sleep, Luke finally made his w
Luke stood in Kayla Andrew’s house fiddling the bracelet, his nerves all but ready to explode with rage.She finally stepped into her living room, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw him.“Luke? What are you doing here?”Luke stared at her for a moment, his face hard and unsmiling.“Do you have a minute? I’d like us to discuss a few things.”Her eyes narrowed in confusion but she hid it really well.“Oh, please sit.” Her gaze clouded with concern. “Is this about Nina? Is she okay?”Luke paused for a bit, unsure on how to broach the subject.“Nina’s awake now. The doctor proclaimed her stable yesterday.”She brightened immediately.“Oh, that’s great. So…what did you want to talk about?”Luke fixed her with a thoughtful stare.“Kayla, when the police questioned you concerning the night you and Nina were kidnapped, are you sure you told them everything you knew?”Kayla shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Yes. I’m sure I did. Is there any problem?”“Think carefully, Kayla. Are you
Kayla’s face twisted in shock as she stared at Luke.“What exactly are you talking about? Do you even realise the depth of what you’re saying?” She screeched.Luke was not perturbed.“You are certain that the kidnappers did not drop you off at any building. However, investigations reveal that your fingerprints were all over the attic where Nina was being held hostage at the British Museum. Can you explain that?”Her eyes darted nervously around the room as she tried to come up with a reasonable excuse.“There has to be a suitable explanation for that. Perhaps the kidnappers…”“The kidnappers cut off your hands and stamped your prints all over the walls?” Luke asked sarcastically.Kayla stepped back.“Look, I am innocent in all of this. I was not taken to any museum. Someone is obviously trying to set me up. Can’t you see?”Luke curled his fingers into fists, trying to contain his anger.“Save your lies for the court, Kayla.”“I’m not lying!” She yelled desperately. “I promise, I’m not
The day of Fiona Carmichael and David Humsworth’s wedding dawns bright and clear. Even the usual cold, rainy London weather gives way to a bright and sunny day. The birds chirp their congratulations in perfect symphony, and the toll of the great church’s bells can be heard for miles.While Fiona is busy preening in her wide skirted wedding dress and David is celebrating a double win – the successful kidnapping of Nina and his intending marriage to Fiona – Luke and officers of the London Police Department are plotting to destroy a wedding that will soon be the most talked about event in the history of London weddings.The joining of the Humsworth and Carmichael families could be said to be a match made in heaven. Both families were incredibly snobbish, ridiculously proud and loved attention to a fault, which explained the numerous reporters who flashed cameras and took interviews at the venue of the wedding.To Luke and his men, the reporters would only be an added advantage. The fas
“Excuse me?” The lady asked, her brows narrowing in confusion.“Oh,” Luke said, making a show of acting shocked. “You didn’t hear the news? Nina Wahington was kidnapped a few days ago. Wanna know who kidnapped her?”The lady stared at Luke like he’d gone crazy and he looked away with a short laugh. In front of the church, David was trying to explain the horrible images on the screen to a screeching Fiona.“What the hell is going on?!” Fiona cried. “Shut that thing off right now.”“Wait.” One of her bridesmaids called. “Isn’t that Nina? Nina Washington?”Fiona was trembling with rage now.“I don’t care if it’s the Duchess of Mesopotamia. Those pictures have no business at my wedding!”David and his father were currently arguing with the projector’s operator, looking for means to stop more of the pictures from coming up.If only they knew.“I’m sorry sir,” the operator tapped at his screen, frustration already evident on his features. “It seems like I have no control over it. My sys