Chapter 04: Save My Lover. (Flashback)

𝙊𝙉𝙀 𝙈𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙃 𝙀𝘼𝙍𝙇𝙄𝙀𝙍. (𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨).

It was late at night.

Bree should have been asleep hours ago, but her mind wouldn’t let her rest. She stared at the ceiling, trying to calm her racing thoughts when a loud, rough knock came at her door.

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Who’s there?” she whispered, her voice shaking.

No answer.

Just another loud knock, stronger this time, rattling the doorframe. Bree’s stomach tightened.

She didn’t know who it could be. What if it was someone dangerous?

She stayed frozen, clutching her blanket, listening to the sound that made her entire body tense.

Her phone buzzed suddenly. She grabbed it with trembling hands. A message lit up the screen:

#Hey Bree, it’s Marcus. Open up.#

Her heart lurched. Relief and panic collided. She swung her legs off the bed, legs weak, and rushed to the door.

She unlocked it and opened it quickly. Marcus pushed inside before she could react. His eyes were wide and desperate. His jacket was damp, his hair messy, as though he’d run through the rain.

“Marcus!” she gasped. “What… what are you doing here? At this hour?”

“I had to see you,” he said urgently. “I don’t have much time.”

Bree pulled him into the room, heart pounding. “What happened? Why are you… why do you look like that?”

He ran his hands through his hair, panic written all over his face. “Bree… the police… they’re looking for me. I think someone ratted me out. I… I didn’t think it would go this far.”

Bree’s hands shook as she grabbed his shoulders. “Marcus! I thought I told you not to sell drugs anymore! You promised me! You said you’d stop!”

“I know, Bree! I know! I thought I was careful, I really did!” he said, his voice dropping. “But someone must have told them. I don’t have time to explain everything, but they’re coming, Bree. They could be here any second.”

Her heart leapt into her throat. She looked around the small apartment, panic rising like a tide. “Oh God… what do we do? Marcus, they could come in at any minute!”

He leaned close, lowering his voice. “Bree… hide me. Please. Now.”

Bree’s hands flew to her face, her mind racing. Her chest felt tight. “Hide… hide you? Where?”

He sighed in frustration. “Your bedroom… the wardrobe. Quick!”

Without hesitation, she shoved him toward her bedroom. He ducked into the wardrobe, closing the doors behind him.

Then, the knock.

Bree pressed her hands to her cheeks, trying to steady her breathing.

She could still hear the knocking, now louder, more aggressive, shaking the apartment.

Her stomach lurched. She had to stay calm. She swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and walked toward the door. Every step felt heavy, each creak of the floor making her jump.

When she opened the door, two police officers stood there. Their faces were serious, eyes sharp, flashlights in hand.

“Good evening, ma’am,” one said politely. “We’re here asking some questions.”

Bree forced herself to smile, though her heart was hammering. “Oh...uh...okay...sure...what could that be?”

The officer pulled out a photo. “Do you know this man?”

Bree shook her head, trying to keep her voice steady. “No… I’ve never seen him before.”

They studied her closely. “Are you sure? He’s been linked to some illegal activities. He was seen here recently. You’re sure you don’t know him?”

“I’m sure,” Bree said, forcing her voice steady, though panic bubbled in her chest.

The officers didn’t give up. “We also have this photo from his apartment,” the first officer said, producing a picture of Bree and Marcus on their anniversary. Bree’s chest sank. Her hands shook. Her words froze in her throat.

“You recognize this man?” the officer asked.

Bree’s mind went blank. Fear took over. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t speak.

The officers started moving into the apartment, searching around. Bree’s body trembled as they walked past her, checking every corner, opening cabinets, peering behind furniture.

“No! He’s not here!” Bree finally screamed, her voice cracking. “I swear! You won’t find him!”

The officer’s hand gripped her arm. “Miss… if you don’t tell us where he is, you’re going to jail. You will be handcuffed and taken to the station.”

“I… I don’t know! I swear!” she shouted, shaking her head violently. Her chest heaved with fear and desperation.

The cuffs clicked around her wrists. She was pulled from the apartment, struggling, screaming, but it was no use. The officers muttered about taking her to the station and interrogating her until she gave them an answer.

Then a voice rang out, loud and commanding, “Let her go!”

Bree froze. Her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened. “No! Marcus… run!” she yelled, tears streaming down her face.

Marcus stepped forward, standing between her and the officers. “No one touches her. I’ll go with you. She stays.”

Bree’s knees buckled. She grabbed his arm, crying. “No! No, Marcus! You’re not leaving me!”

He wrapped her in his arms, holding her like the world could fall apart around them and he would still protect her. “Bree… listen. You have to stay safe. You have to move on if I’m gone. You can’t wait for me.”

“I can’t!” she sobbed. “I can’t leave you! You’ve always been there for me..i don't have anyone except my dead family! please don't leave!" She turned to the officers in tears. "Please don't take him! I have no one! My family..they are all dead and gone. He paid for my school… the house… everything! I love him so much...How could I just move on?”

He kissed her forehead gently. “I know… and I’ll always love you. Always. But you need to live. You need to be safe, Bree. Remember our love. Always.”

She held him tighter, crying into his chest, not wanting to let go. But the officers pulled him away, dragging him toward a car waiting outside. Bree’s wails followed them as she sank to the floor, sobbing. She buried her face in her hands, shaking. Her mind was a whirlwind of panic and heartbreak.

A female officer approached quietly. Kneeling beside Bree, she whispered, “There’s a way… you can save him. You can save him from life imprisonment. From a lifetime of trouble.”

Bree looked up, eyes wide. “Tell me. Please… tell me how.”

The officer leaned closer, voice low. “Your… baby. Marcus’ baby?”

Bree’s eyes widened. She placed her hands on her stomach, trembling. “We… we were supposed to move to New York… start a new life… with our baby…”

The officer leaned closer, whispering instructions into her ear. Bree listened carefully, absorbing every word, even as another officer shouted in the distance.

“Officer Shayne, we’re leaving!”

Bree clutched the paper the female officer gave her, staring at it with shaking fingers.

Her life was about to change.

She hid the paper close to her chest, pressing it against herself. Her heart raced with fear, hope, and determination all at once.

Alone, she sank to the floor again, breathing heavily. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she felt a flicker of hope.

Marcus… her baby… their life… it wasn’t over yet. She took a deep, heavy breath, knowing that nothing would ever be the same again.

Her life, her future, everything… had just shifted.

Her hand rested on her stomach, heart aching with love, fear, and a fierce need to protect the life growing inside her.

She whispered quietly, “I’ll do this… I’ll save you, Marcus… for our baby, for us.”

She took another deep breath, trying to calm herself. Her mind raced with the plan the female officer had whispered to her.

Every second mattered. She needed to act quickly before anyone noticed anything. Bree knew she was about to make decisions that could change her life forever.

One deep sigh escaped her lips.

Heavy, tense, full of everything she felt...love, fear, desperation, hope. Her hand rested on her stomach again, and for the first time that night, she felt a tiny flicker of courage.

Bree closed her eyes, tears still rolling, knowing the road ahead would be dangerous.

But for Marcus, for their baby, she would find a way. She would survive. She would fight. And she would never forget the love that had changed her life.