"You need help, Charlie. Just let Bree go and we'll get you all the help you need. Trenton's on his way. You don't want him to see you pointing a gun at his sister, do you?"
"He'll understand. He made a comment once, back in high school, that it would be great if Bree and I married, cause then we'd be true brothers. I knew then he'd be okay with us being together, no matter how it happened."
If Trenton heard that comment, he'd come unglued. If he had any inkling that he'd played a part in his sister's predicament, he'd be on his knees.
"Why don't we all just sit down and talk about this," Chad offered.
"Get away! I'm not telling you again," Charlie snarled. He pointed his gun toward Chad again and fired, not coming close. Chad was grateful the man had poor aim.
Charlie was moving further down the path and Chad continued to follow. He kept under cover, but didn't let them get more than twenty feet ahead of him. Charlie had to have a car nearby. He'd have to expose himself at that point and that's when Chad would take his shot. There was no way he could let Charlie drive away with her.
"Bree, you'll grow to love me, I promise. I'm a good guy. This day has just gotten kind of messed up. I'll raise your baby, then we'll make more. We could even get rid of this one if you want. Of course that's what you'll want, so we'll have to do that. You may not think so, but you won't want his baby growing inside you. If we just get rid of it, I can plant my seed in you. We'll be a family."
Bree's eyes widened in horror at his words. She started clawing at his arm around her throat. Chad tried to send her a single to calm down, but Charlie was threatening her child and her mother's instincts had kicked in, full-throttle.
"Stop struggling. You're only going to get yourself hurt. If you don't stop now, I'll shoot you, I will, then I'll make sure my shot doesn't miss Chad. He'll rush forward, try to save you, making him such an easy target," Charlie sneered.
His words did their trick. She didn't want to watch Chad get shot, and she knew Charlie was right. If he shot her, Chad would run forward, disregarding his own safety. She couldn't get away from him, so she had to trust Chad wouldn't let her out of his sight. It was the only thing she had to hold on to.
Charlie reached the other side of the pond and started down another trail. She could hear traffic nearby. Bree's heart pounded as she realized they were running out of time. If he managed to get her to his vehicle, Chad wouldn't be able to find them.
"What are you doing, Charlie?" Trenton's voice called out as he rounded a corner, not even trying to take cover.
"Trenton, I know this looks bad, but it's what we've always wanted. Bree's supposed to be mine, and then we'll be related. She just got messed up, being around Chad. It will be fine," Charlie pled with his friend to understand.
"Charlie, let my sister go. We'll sit down and talk. You're hurting her, Charlie," Trenton said as he took a few steps forward.
"You're upset right now, Trenton. Bree doesn't really know what she wants. Chad has her brainwashed," Charlie said.
"Come on, Charlie. We've been friends a long time. You don't want to do this. Let Bree go and we'll talk. We can work this out."
"No! You're brainwashed, too. This man has gotten to all of you. Bree loves me, she does! She wants us to be together," Charlie screamed. The hand that held the gun against Bree's stomach was shaking. He was starting to really lose it and with Trenton distracting him, Chad moved closer. He had to move soon or he might lose Bree.
"This has gone on long enough. Let her go!" Trenton shouted. He stopped talking as a friend and spoke with power in his voice.
Charlie's eyes widened at the tone, and Chad saw the shift in his expression. He was going to make a move.
"You can't talk to me like that," Charlie screamed as he lifted his arm and pointed the gun at Trenton.
"Get down," Chad yelled as he jumped up, his gun aimed at Charlie.
The next few seconds slowed down as several things happened at once. Bree jerked against Charlie's slackened hold and fell to the ground at his feet. Charlie's gun fired, the bullet aiming straight for Trenton. Chad pressed his finger, his deadly aim slamming into Charlie's chest.
Bree blacked out as her head slammed into a rock on the ground. She didn't even have time to know if her brother or Chad were okay.
Chapter Eighteen
Chad ran toward Bree, too late to catch her fall. His insides clenched as he saw blood spread out from her temple. He had to make sure Charlie was down before he could tend to her, though.
He quickly approached the man and kicked his dropped gun out of the way. He knelt by him and placed his fingers on his throat.
Dead.
Charlie wasn't going to hurt anyone else ever again.