Save Her, Abigail Osborne [ebook reader for surface pro txt] 📗

You just haven’t fully understood everything I’ve said. How could you with all this drama going on? You’ll soon see why I’ve done what I’ve done and be grateful.’

‘YOUR MOTHER KILLED MY PARENTS!’ roared Flora.

Sophie flinched at the ferocity in Flora’s voice. ‘Well, I can explain all that too. Please. Let’s just go and we can sit down and talk all of this through. I love you, Flora.’ Tears sprang into her eyes but it just infuriated Flora further.

‘I’m not going with you. I don’t want to see you ever again. I love Sam. I am going to be with him. Let me go, I want to see Sam.’ She fought against Sophie’s weight, but it was futile.

‘You don’t love Sam.’ Sophie smiled down at her, talking to her in a voice normally used with children. Patient and understanding. ‘You think you do but that’s just because I pushed you into a relationship with him. I am so sorry, Flora. I shouldn’t have done that. That part is my fault and I’m trying to put it right.’ Sophie was panting now with the exertion of holding Flora down and resisting her escape attempts. ‘Will you stop fighting me! I don’t want to hurt you, Flora, but you are giving me no choice.’

‘I love Sam. I HATE YOU!’ Flora shrieked. Unable to wound Sophie with her body she tried with her words. ‘You disgust me. You will never keep me away from Sam.’

‘Oh, Flora.’ Sophie gave her a pitying look. ‘You’ll thank me eventually. I know you will.’ She forcibly moved Flora’s hands together above her head, holding them tightly in place with one hand. Satisfied that Flora could not move, she reached around her back and pulled out her gun. She held it by the barrel this time. Flora realised what she was going to do with growing dread. Sophie raised the gun high above her head.

‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you.’ A clicking noise came from behind Sophie’s head and Cecelia stepped into view, behind Sophie.

Sophie twisted around and aimed her gun at Cecelia. Her other hand still holding Flora’s arms captive. ‘Stay back!’ ordered Sophie, her voice uncertain.

‘But why would we do that, Sophie?’ Greg appeared on her other side. Flora felt Sophie’s panic. Sophie twisted the gun between Greg and Cecelia, unsure who was more dangerous. She lessened the weight holding down Flora’s hands and Flora took the advantage. Twisting her body quickly, she pushed up on the ground to buffet Sophie to the floor. The gun fell from Sophie’s hand and arced towards the undergrowth.

Standing, she raced towards Greg’s outstretched arm. He grabbed her and pushed her behind him as Cecelia strode towards Sophie, kicking her gun further into the weeds and out of reach as she stalked towards her prey like a lion about to make the killing blow. Raising the gun, she held it a hair’s breadth away from Sophie’s forehead. She pressed something on the gun, and it clicked.

Sophie flinched at the sound.

Realising what Cecelia was about to do, Flora cried out, ‘No!’

Cecelia looked up, surprised but still as polished as ever. ‘This girl’s mother killed your parents. She has lied to you most of your life. She tried to kill Sam. Why on earth are you saying no?’

Flora stepped forward from behind Greg, though he kept a precautionary hand on her arm. ‘Killing her is too easy. I don’t want her to get the easy way out.’

‘You just want to let her go?’ Cecelia looked gobsmacked.

‘No. She would be too dangerous. We all know what she is capable of. Can’t we… you know, pay to have her committed somewhere?’ She felt uncomfortable insinuating that not only were they all in this together but that she had any say in what happened next. But she hoped that if they could pay someone to take care of Alistair’s body – which she presumed they would – then they could accomplish this. ‘If we have her committed, she’ll have to spend the rest of her days knowing I’m out there with Sam and she is never going to see me again. She told me that the whole reason she did all of this was for me. She’s got some crazy obsession with me.’

Cecelia looked at Sophie. An evil smile breaking out on her face. ‘That would kill you, wouldn’t it? Take away your precious Flora.’

Sophie looked at Flora, open-mouthed, agony in her eyes. She was looking at Flora as if to say, how could you betray me like this?

Flora stared back, unwavering.

Sophie let out a cry of pain. She pulled Cecelia’s gun to her forehead, clutching at it. ‘Shoot me. Just shoot me. Sam could still die. It would all be my fault. Just shoot!’

But Cecelia lowered her gun, forcing Sophie to let go. Sophie fell to her knees howling, her sobs wracking her whole body. She looked up at Flora. ‘How could you do this to me? I love you. Everything I’ve ever done was to keep you happy. Your mother wanted me to be with you.’

Flora had no words left. All she wanted was to go and be with Sam. She turned and looked up at Greg, who was holding her arm with such tenderness that belied his muscled strength. He was every bit the gentle giant that Sam was. ‘Can we go to Sam? I can’t stand the sight of her.’

Something pulled at her legs and she turned to see Sophie clutching her. ‘Please, Flora. Please. I can’t be away from you. You need me.’ She looked so pathetic, scrabbling on her hands and knees.

Greg reached down and ripped Sophie’s arms off Flora’s legs, he threw her backwards so that Cecelia had to dodge out of the way as Sophie landed hard, sprawled out on the grass.

‘It’s over, Sophie,’ said Flora quietly.

‘It will never be over. Not as long as I’m alive. You’ll never be free of me. We belong together.’ She smiled manically up at Flora.

Greg pulled her gently