Filed To Story: Finding the Secret Daddy for My Baby Novel
It wasn’t until the cops informed Roy that all the kidnappers had been killed that he finally unlocked the car doors. Instantly, a powerful fist struck his face, causing Roy to collapse onto the ground.
Zacharias was seething with anger, and if looks could kill, Roy would have met his end. Zacharias, brimming with fury, charged into the sea of flames.
“Sir, sir!” Ignoring his pain, Roy quickly got back on his feet and led his team after Zacharias.
Zacharias was met with nothing but ruins. All the houses had been destroyed. If Shirley were really here, she’d be buried six feet under.
“Shirley? Shirley!” he shouted, his voice filled with despair. As he fell to his knees, his mind became a blank canvas.
Imogen had come down as well. She stood around, watching, her heart filled with delight. She rejoiced in her heart, muttering, Finally, the woman I hate the most is dead, and I killed all the kidnappers. There’s nothing to worry about anymore. However, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. “Zacharias.” That voice was salvation for Zacharias. He turned and spotted a slender figure emerging through the smoke-filled surroundings-it was Shirley. She had survived. Tears welled up in his eyes, and the sight of her resurrected his cold, lifeless heart. “Shir!” He hurried toward her.
Shirley, too, ran to meet him, and amidst the swirling smoke, they embraced.
Imogen watched, her eyes wide. She couldn’t believe Shirley had escaped instead of dying in the explosion.
“Where were you? I was worried sick!” Zacharias ruffled Shirley’s hair, and he kissed her dust-covered cheek. Only her warmth could affirm that everything around him was still real. She smiled. “I’m sorry for worrying you. I got out before that sh*tstorm went down.” He hugged her tightly, and this time, he would not let her go.
When Shirley directed her gaze at Imogen, panic seized Imogen. Unsure if the kidnappers had exposed her involvement, she wondered, Could she have found out I was involved too? Anxious, Imogen observed Shirley, who seemed normal, but Imogen felt the ominous ticking of a bomb in her heart.
Despite feeling suffocated by the hug, Shirley sensed Zacharias’ love.
Observing his tears, she thought, He must have believed I was gone. Look at him, crying. They say men only cry when their hearts are shattered. When she had seen him earlier, kneeling and crying, she couldn’t help but empathize with him. She made a silent vow never to cause him to worry like that again.
Roy, with a still-swollen cheek, suggested, “This isn’t the best place to linger, sir.
We should head back to the hotel quickly.” Finally releasing her from the hug, Zacharias held onto her hand tightly, unwilling to let her go just yet.
Then, she noticed Roy’s swollen cheek. Concerned, she said, “Mr. Barlowe, you’re hurt.” Roy quickly explained, “It’s nothing. I tripped.” “He didn’t. I punched him.” Zacharias harrumphed.
Shirley looked at him, surprised. “What? Why’d you do that to him?” “Because he deserved it,” Zacharias snapped. He almost wanted to kill Roy for locking him in the car. One punch seemed like a small retaliation.
A little aggrieved, Roy said, “The vice president wanted a gun. He wanted to come in and save you. I had no choice but to lock him in the car. I deserved that punch.” She looked at Zacharias seriously. “You cannot hit him the next time he does this.” Perplexed, Zacharias asked, “Why?” “Because he was doing the right thing,” Shirley said solemnly. She thought, That was what Roy should do. He couldn’t let Zacharias risk himself, especially when he was going to be reckless about it.
And then Zacharias felt aggrieved. “I was going to save you.” “In that situation? I don’t need your help. If anything happens to you, I don’t think I could deal with it.” She looked tense.
Roy was happy and touched that Shirley took his side and defended him.
Roy thought to himself, I knew she was a reasonable woman. Zacharias put an arm around Shirley’s shoulder and led her to the car. He said, “I won’t let something like this happen again.”
She hoped nothing like this ever happened again, even if the only reason was for him not to risk himself once more.
Imogen followed them. She looked at the ruins behind her and felt relieved inside, thinking, Finally got rid of the kidnappers. Now, I just have to keep an eye on her. I hope she didn’t get suspicious of me.
Shirley entered the car, and Zacharias, noticing her grimy face, gently wiped away the dust. When he saw how unkempt her hair was, he asked curiously, “How did you get out?”
“Some guy came to give me food. I killed him, took his dagger, and unfettered myself. You guys came less than ten minutes after that,” she said.
“Did they…” He hesitated, knowing the sensitivity of the question but needing to know the answer. She shook her head. “No. They were eager to split the ransom. They know who I am, and they wouldn’t dare to touch me.”
Zacharias heaved a sigh of relief. He trusted Shirley unconditionally.
Roy, nursing his swollen cheek, took the co- driver’s seat. “We could’ve kept some of them alive and grilled them for answers, but they were all killed. We might have to put this case away now. Flor might not even be able to give us an explanation.”
“All of them died?” She frowned, hoping to keep a few alive for questioning.
“Yeah, all dead. Well, three escaped, but Imogen sniped them off. She did well in this operation,” Roy commended Imogen for her contribution to the smooth rescue and total obliteration of the kidnappers.
Shirley fell into a brief silence, then nodded. “Yeah, Imogen’s quick thinking in making that escape is the reason you guys reached me so fast.”
Zacharias noticed she was looking exhausted. Fighting the kidnappers must’ve taken a lot out of her, and he put an arm around her shoulder. “Just set everything aside for now. Close your eyes and rest.”
Resting in his embrace, she closed her eyes, though sleep eluded her. Her mind buzzed with questions about the entire incident. Why was I the one kidnapped? The coffee shop was swarming with kidnappers, yet only Imogen and I entered.
Shirley recalled that Imogen had stopped at another coffee shop earlier. They should have returned to the hotel after buying the gifts. They shouldn’t have entered that coffee shop. Suddenly, a chilling thought crossed her mind, but she dismissed it immediately. She couldn’t believe Imogen would intentionally involve her in this mess.
Shirley reasoned, She probably just wanted another cup of coffee because the other shop’s brew didn’t suit her. Reflecting on the ordeal, she remembered how the kidnappers had taken Imogen away after entering the coffee shop, leaving Shirley to fight the rest in the lobby. Shirley’s back bore bruises, and her arm throbbed from the sprain.
And then Shirley remembered something else. Why didn’t the kidnappers cuff Imogen after they took her away? They cuffed me the moment they got me. Another detail struck her. Why didn’t the kidnappers handcuff Imogen after taking her away? They cuffed me as soon as they got me. Shirley couldn’t find an explanation, and then she remembered the duration of the struggle. It lasted at least ten minutes, and Imogen was never handcuffed. In fact, she fought the kidnappers and escaped afterward. Could they have been after me the whole time? That might explain why they were lenient with Imogen. Perhaps that’s the reason.
Shirley didn’t suspect that Imogen was behind this. They’d been friends for five years. Unless Imogen displayed clear signs of betrayal, Shirley wouldn’t doubt her. No one would.
Shirley felt Zacharias’ lips brushing her forehead. His scent smelled nice, and it filled her with a sense of security. She even felt sleepy.
Meanwhile, in the other car, Imogen replayed the entire failed plan in her mind, convinced she hadn’t shown any vulnerabilities. The only uncertainty was whether the kidnappers betrayed her. She believed they wouldn’t, as it served no purpose and would expose her as part of their group.
Once back at the hotel, Zacharias took Shirley back to the room. In the consistently warm space, Shirley removed her jacket. Then, a hushed voice broke the silence, saying, “Take them all off.”
She froze for a few moments, and she turned around. “Why?”
“I want to check your wounds,” he said seriously. His eyes were clear of any desire. Uncomfortable with the idea of undressing in front of him, Shirley shook her head. “It’s okay. I’ll check them myself in my room.”
Insistent, Zacharias declared, “I want to do it. What, are you still embarrassed?”
She paused briefly. Growing up surrounded by boys, she occasionally trained in just a sports bra. Fine, I’ll do it. She took off her shirt, and only a black bra remained. Her voluptuous chest was revealed to his eyes. He was stunned. He knew she developed well, but they were bigger than he thought.
“Check the wounds closely, Mr. Flintstone,” she said graciously.
Zacharias gulped, thinking, It’d be unbecoming of me if I get lewd thoughts right now. He narrowed his eyes and checked all the way from Shirley’s chest to her back. He saw four bruises, and he pushed down on one gently.
“Ow,” she gasped in pain. She could’ve held on if it were anyone else. Since it was him, she would show her weakness for some reason. She thought to herself, Am I trying to get his pity?
“Is your leg hurt too?” He frowned.
She insisted, “I can deal with the wounds on my leg myself.”
“Take a hot bath. I’ll rub some oil over the injuries,” he said.
She nodded and went for a bath. She was caked in dust all over and looked grimy. After she went for a bath, he made a call. “I want the cops to give me the investigation report. With all the details.”