Chapter 80

We stood frozen by the foot of the stairs, and my father-in-law was aiming the gun at the door. An FBI agent came in with a gunshot wound on his shoulder. He closed the door and locked it. He hid behind the wall opposite my father-in-law and aimed his gun at the door as well.

" Mam, please go and hide. We are under attack. I've called for back-up, but it will take a few minutes for them to arrive. Some of my men are dead. There are at least five armed men outside. One of them is Dylan Wilson. There's a woman inside the car, whom I presume is his sister Jenny." The Agent told us. I clung to Collette tightly and prayed to God that the police come soon.

Then the door blew off. It was shot with a shotgun. Pieces of the wood flew to the living room, I didn't realize Collette, and I are screaming. My father-in-law fired at whoever is at the door so was the FBI agent.

He motioned us to move and hide in the library, but then a voice can be heard outside that sent chills to my bones, especially when I heard what he said next.

" I wouldn't do that if I were you. You wouldn't want to shoot Dr. Jones accidentally, do you?" It was Tom. And he has Liam as a hostage. He probably arrived the moment they attacked.

" Drop your weapons, and throw them out, or I will shoot him right here." He shouted again. My father-in-law and the FBI agent looked at each other, conflicted.

I was covering my mouth and shook violently. I am so scared of what might happen to Liam. Collette and I were clutching at each other's hand and was breathing erratically.

The two men threw their guns outside and backed up from the door. My father-in-law came to us and tried to drag us inside his study, but I refused to move. They have Liam!  Then there are footsteps coming in.

Tom came into view, with was Liam held at gunpoint. Our eyes automatically seek each other. Mine is full of fear, while his eyes are full of concern and anger. He tried to wiggle out of Tom's grip but failed.

Then Dr. Paige followed with an evil smirk on her face. She also had a gun in her hand and pointed it at the FBI agent.

" Finally, we are all in one room. What a reunion, huh? " Jenny said and laughed like a lunatic. Tom pushed Liam towards us, and I caught him in time. We held on to each other, and then he placed me behind him.

" Aww, how sweet. You have always been protecting her ever since, Liam. It was always her! Do you really think you can protect her now?" Dr. Paige or Jenny said, grinning like a fool.

" Hey brother, these three are the reason why our dear daddy and mommy put me in the asylum. They ruined my reputation and got to live a happy life while I was rotting away in that hellhole!"

" Do you want to end it now, little sis? We can put a hole in their heads and be on our way. Just give the signal." Tom or Dylan asked his sister.

" You lunatics! What have we done to you?! Why are you doing this to us? Why did you kill Todd?!" Collette shouted and tried to attack them, but her father held on to her.

" Ah, ah, ah. Easy there, tiger. You want to know why? I'll tell you why! Back in high school, you two have been on my nerves. You are always telling Liam to break up with me! You told him I was sleeping around and was cheating on him!"

" I tried so hard to make him love me! Look at me and not that midget!" She pointed to me.

" Liam never looked at me the way he's looking at you all those years! Every time we're together, he's always talking about you! Bella this! Bella that! I am so f*****g fed up listening to him bragging about you! That's why I sleep around to get his attention!" She shouted and glared at us.

" Why do you think nobody courted you during high school, huh? It's because he scared them all off! He was too coward to admit his feelings for you and used me! Then you two best friends acted like you're so special and looked down on me!"

" Well, who's laughing now bitches?! And Collette, do you know why I killed your Todd? It's because he fell in love with where he wasn't supposed to! He was my boy toy before he met you! He wanted to marry you, that bastard! So I put a hole in his head and blew off his heart." She laughed hysterically, and we all stared at her in horror. She really is crazy.

Tom laughed with her. They are both crazy, and we are in deep shit. She pointed the gun at me, but Liam placed himself in front of me.

" Jenny, I am so sorry for what I have done. Please, stop this. Spare my family, I'm begging you. We were just kids back then, Jen. We don't know what we were doing." Liam begged her and covered me from the gun.

" Sorry? Sorry?! You put me to hell and then rejected me twice because of her! I will kill her first, then your sister. Then your precious daughter and everyone else. I will make you watch while they die in front of your eyes." Jenny answered and aimed the gun at me.

" Sis, let's get over with. I'm getting bored." Tom turned to her sister and glared at her. Then we can hear the siren outside. The police are here. Thank God we are saved.

" Shit! The police! I told you to wrap it up quickly, Jenny, now we are in trouble!" Tom shouted at her in irritation.

" Move, Liam, or I will shoot you first!" Jenny ordered Liam. I was clutching at his shirt. He didn't move. And glared at Jenny. Daring her to do what she said. Then Jenny pointed the gun at him and fired! At the same time, the police came in with Detective Drew.

They fired at Tom and Jenny, killing them instantly. I held my breath and waited for Liam to fall, but it was not him who fell to the ground. It was Collette!

She laid there with blood oozing out of her stomach. She ran to Liam on time when Jenny fired her gun. Liam is cradling her head in his legs, and I kneeled in front of her.

" Cols, why did you do that? Why did you take the bullet that was supposed for me?" Liam cried and cradled her to his chest, rocking her back and forth.

" Cols, please, please hang in there. Don't close your eyes, babe. Why did you do that, Cols?" I am clutching at her hand, crying.

" You both have been through a lot to find each other. You have a beautiful little girl that needs her parents. I can't let you go through what I went through when I lost Todd, Bels. I know how much you love my brother. I don't want to see you suffer like me." She said in a soft and breathy voice. I cried so hard and kissed her hand.

" At least now... I..could be...with Todd. We can be a happy family in heaven. Liam, take good care of your family. Take care of mom and dad." She whispered. Just then, my mother-in-law went out of the study and saw us.

She screamed and ran towards her daughter. My father-in-law also knelt in front of Collette in tears. They are holding her hands and kissing them.

" Oh, God! My baby, my baby, please hang tight, sweetheart, where the hell is the ambulance! We have to get her to the hospital now!" My mother-in-law shouted through her tears.

" Mom. Dad. I love you both so much. I am sorry, but I cannot live without Todd. I want to be with Todd. Please let me go." Collette is crying and is having a hard time breathing now. She was slowly closing her eyes and was choking in her own blood.

" No! No! No! Collette! Please, baby, don't leave us! Please open your eyes, sweetheart!" My mother-in-law screamed hysterically. I am now crying so hard in Liam's chest, and I felt his chest moved, indicating that he is also crying.

At that moment, we knew that she's gone. She sacrificed herself for us. She got what she wanted. She can be with Todd in heaven together with their little angel. Her selfless sacrifice gave us a chance to be with each other and be with our children.

My best friend. My sister. She has always protected me ever since we were kids. She has been my shield, my protector, my angel. Until the very end, she still thinks of me and gives up her life for me to have mine.