AUTHORS NOTE: Wow, it took me almost FIVE HOURS to write & edit this chapter. This chapter came out a long time after the last chapter due to my focus on the other romance books I'm writing atm. Idk wether I should publish them as I'm writing this book or wait till I'm done, so I've been trying to figure that out for the last couple weeks. Thanks for waiting patiently for this chapter. I hope you enjoy!

Do we get to choose the life we live? Does someone choose for us, or is it merely fate that decides what happens in our every move?

Whatever it is, I got the worst of it.

I held my phone up to my ear and listened to the voicemail.

"Autumn, it's your mother. I-I'm sorry I haven't been a good mother lately; like leaving you when your f-father abused you. I should have stayed by your side. I wish I could make it up to you somehow but unfortunately, I can't. Please don't look for me. Luke has taken me hostage and said once you have no one left, you won't think there's anything to l-live for."

I paused the voicemail, feeling weak at the sound of her scared, fragile voice.

I was right, I should have never went to New York. If I didn't go, my mother would be okay because I have a restraining order against Luke, so he would not be able to hurt my mom as long as I'm around.

But since I left, it gave him a chance to take her.

As long as I'm alive, there will always be a chance of the police knowing what he did to me. Besides the money, he was hoping Michael would abuse me to the point where I can't take it anymore and...

...and kill myself.

He really wants me dead this badly, huh.

Shaky thumb, I resumed the voicemail.

"If Luke kills me, I just want you to know that I love you so much, Autumn. Never forget that."

Oh mom....I'm so sorry.

Her voicemail was the last memory of New York I had before I got onto the plane that would take me home.

The whole plane ride home I held Ryder's hand. I was so anxious to get off the plane and see my mother, where ever she is.

I hope she's safe. I hope she's okay.

"I need to call Luke." I told Ryder as he drove us home from the airport. I thought the traffic would lessen since it's late at night, but the roads were still crowded which made me stress even more. Even though I was freaking out about my mom, my breathing was steady at the feel of Ryder's hand in mine as we drove down the freeway.

Ryder's hand tensed up. "Autumn, you can't. Best chance is the guy will threaten you, forcing you to hand yourself over to him."

"He can't make me see him, I have a restraining order."

"Doesn't mean he won't break it," Ryder argued. But he was right – who knows how rebellious Luke has become and decides to break it. He sighed, "seems like this guy will do anything to destroy you and everything you care about."

I thought about my mom. It's working...

"Then what the hell do I do, Ryder? He's going to kill her just to get to me." My eyes teared up at all the scenarios of ways he could torture and kill her.

Ryder was silent. He watched the road carefully as he exited the freeway. His hand on the steering wheel tightened.

When we got to a stop light, he lowered his head. "I-I can't loose you. I know it's your mom but if Luke ask for you, I might loose it. God, I can't have anything bad happen to you."

Kissing the top of his hand, I smiled at him. "You're not gonna loose me, I need you to know that...ok?"

He blushed at the feel of my lips against his hand. "O-Ok. I believe you."

The rest of the car ride was silent, especially when we pulled up to our street. When my house was in sight, I felt the air around me collapse and my throat tightened.

All the lights were off except for one: the one in the kitchen.

From Ryder's driveway I could make out a silhouette standing in the kitchen. The dark figure appeared to have long hair, almost the same length as mine.

My first thought was my mom was home, everything was alright, and this whole thing with Luke was just a dream.

But it wasn't...it wasn't just a dream.

Forgetting to grab my suitcase from the trunk, I hopped out of my boyfriends car and raced to my house.

"Mom!" I cheered loudly as I happily ran across the street. "You're home!"

"Autumn, be careful!" Ryder shouted as he took our suitcases out of the trunk. I could hear him set them down and begin to chase after me.

But I didn't listen. All I could think about was my mom being safe. I didn't need to be careful because the only person in the house was my mom, right?

When I reached my front door I was alarmed and baffled to find it unlocked.

My eyebrows furrowed in suspicion. That's weird...mom never leaves the door unlocked.

Creaking the door open, I cautiously walked into the dark, quiet house.

As I made my way down the hallway and towards the faint light in the kitchen, I shivered vigorously. The air in the house was way colder than the air outside, or it could just be fear creeping up on me that made me feel so cold.

When I walked into the kitchen, the sight of my mom made me sigh in relief.

"Mom, I'm so glad it's you."

I waited for her to turn around and hug me, but she stood still with her back still facing me.

"Mom...?" I asked warningly. Why won't she turn around?

"Y-You shouldn't have come back to this house." She faintly whispered. I could barely hear her. The tone in her voice sounded so dead...so scared.

"What do you mean?"

No answer.

"Mom? What do you mean?" I repeated. I started to grow anxious at her silence.

But then I realized her silence was an answer. Her silence told me something was wrong.

Something bad was going to happen.

When she turned to face me, I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Oh my god!" I cupped a hand over my mouth and gasped in horror. Both her eyes were bruised to the point that I could tell it hurt for her to even blink. Her fingers were bent inhumanly – probably from the hit of a heavy weapon or tool. Her clothes were tattered and dirty. Through the holes in her shirt I could see scratches on her stomach, some went deeper than others.

A tear trickled down my cheek as I shook my head slowly in sorrow. "Mom, I'm so sorry. This is all my f-fault." The defeat in my voice made my mom bite her bottom lip in order to prevent her own tears from falling.

The expression she had was a reflection of mine they day my life fell apart: broken, used, alone and destroyed. The pain on my mothers swollen face made me want to hug and heal her until the happy mom I know and love came back to life.

Instead of answering me, she leaned to the side to peer behind me then flashed a look into my eyes that held a tsunami of fear so great, it poured into me.

Out of no where a devilish laugh echoed from behind me.

The hairs on my arms and the back of my neck shot up when I felt someone standing behind me. My eyes widened in fear when I took in to realization as to who's laugh that was.

"Well well well, we meet again, my precious Autumn."

I cringed at the word 'precious'. He sounded like a fifty-year old man.

My hands clenched into fist as I turned around to face him.

There was no longer fear within me. When I took in his presence, anger rattled my bones to the point where I wanted to kill him.

He is the God of pain who hunts alone, the lord of death, roamer of the shadows and the bringer of nightmares. The worst of the worst has come back into my life. I never thought I would have to see him again.

"Luke." My teeth grinded against eachother when his name came out of my mouth.

You know some names when you say it, it sounds terrible and bitter? The name Luke Warmington will always sound terrible and bitter to my tongue.

The smirk he had on his lips was what girls died for, maybe even literally.

"Why are you doing this to my mother, god damnit!" I snapped in fury. Just the sight of him caused an anger in me that wanted to start wars and burn cities.

"Isn't it obvious? I want you dead." He answered me with no sympathy to me or my mother.

Standing tall, I glared at him. "I will never give you that satisfaction. You do not get to have that power over me."

His eyebrows lifted in suprise but he quickly masked it over with a cocky smirk. "Ah...I see you've gotten stronger emotionally and mentally since that party I took you to. It's kind of cute, really.

My face heated up. "Stop that now."

Luke tilted his head. "Stop what?" he teased, walking closer to me.

I took cautious steps backwards until my back hit the wall. The way he stalked towards me reminded me of the night he took advantage of me; how he reminded me of the way he looked like a lion and I was the prey he would kill.

Deja vù...how about that.

As he walked towards me he never took his eyes off of me. Not expecting his next move, I had no time to stop him as he held his gun up to my mom and...

BANG!

"Mom!" I screamed from the top of my lungs.

I watched her fall to the floor. My eyes looked for the place the bullet entered her body and I saw the wound on the lower part of her leg – almost at her ankle.

He didn't hit her in the chest or head or anywhere that would cause automatic death, so she can still be alive.

Honestly, I had no idea what I was thinking. But having the smallest glimpse of hope was all I was holding on to.

Her eyes were closed. My mom laid on the kitchen floor, unconscious.

Worry filled my mind.

Luke aggressively grabbed my chin and pulled my head so I had to look him in the eyes.

The look in his eyes, the pleasure he had in affecting me by shooting my mom. He enjoyed causing mental and physical pain on me for one cause: to scare me in to not telling anyone about the night he raped me.

Luke's fear of getting caught turned him into an emotionless monster...a vicious killer.

"Oh come on, Autumn. Why can't I call you cute?" His lips gently grazed my ear, causing a shiver up my spine. Then he whispered, "we both know you used to love it when I called you names like that."

"Go to hell, bastard." I hissed and flinched at how tight Luke held my chin in his hand. It felt like he was going to crush my jaw.

Anger twisted his demonic smirk into a tight frown. He huffed loudly, hot air fanned my face and neck. Let's be honest if he was a cartoon character, I swear there would be steam coming out of his nose and ears.

His eyebrows furrowed. "What the fuck did you just say to me, bitch?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but someone from behind Luke cut me to it.

"I think she told you to go to hell, if I heard her correctly."

The confidence and familiarity of the male voice made me feel safe and less scared.

Luke's head whipped around to see who was there. Even though his attention was away from me, he still held onto my face so I wouldn't move.

"You're the boyfriend I presume." Luke assumed as he glared daggers at Ryder.

"And you're the ex boyfriend I presume?" Ryder smirked arrogantly at Luke as he leaned on the kitchen doorway with his arms crossed.

Luke turned to face me with an 'are you serious' expression. "Seriously, Autumn? This guy?"

"Yeah seriously. I treat this beautiful girl like a queen, so I guess she really did step up a whole lot from you." Ryder eyed Luke up and down like he was a piece of trash, which Luke is.

I watched as Ryder's attention fell to my mothers body. His arrogant expression dropped to a sad one. But when Luke took his eyes off of Ryder, Ryder looked at me and nodded slightly.

My eyebrows lifted in confusion. Why did he nod? Does that mean everything is going to be okay?

My heart beated faster than it ever has and sweat started to run down my forehead when the gun in Luke's hand pointed at Ryder's chest.

Oh dear god please don't shoot him. If my mom really is dead, then Ryder is all I have. Please don't shoot him.

"He doesn't deserve you." Luke told me.

"Actually," I fumed, "you never deserved me."

Before Luke could retaliate, I kneed him in the crotch with all the strength I could conjure up.

The pain forced Luke to let go of my chin and he twisted one leg in front of the other while groping his nether regions. "What the fuck!" he cried out in pain. When he held onto the area that hurt, the gun fell from his hand.

I kicked it towards Ryder so Luke wouldn't have a chance to grab it.

Since Luke was caught off guard from my attack, I formed my hand into a fist and punched him square in the jaw.

The room erupted with another pained cry. The sounded of his jaw cracking from the blow made me cringe; I've always hated the sound of bones cracking. Blood flew from his mouth and onto the kitchen island.

Watching Luke, the boy that has caused me so much pain, finally suffer made me smirk in triumph.

I've never felt this strong in my life. I've never felt so...powerful.

And feeling power is a dangerous thing to feel.

Adrenalin electrified my veins as I prepared for one finally attack.

Grabbing a fistful of Luke's blonde hair, I pulled his face up to meet mine. As I glared knives at him, hell in my eyes burned of all the horrible memories this one boy gave me.

I will show no mercy.

"This pain you feel now is not even close to the pain you caused me. You deserve fate worse than death." I taunted Luke.

The sound of the police and ambulance sirens filled the neighborhood. Out the window from the corner of my eye I saw three police cars and one ambulance truck pull up in front of my house.

"I hope you realize that all your hard work to hide yourself from getting caught was a waste of time. Because there are some things that you will never escape from, especially in prison."

Even in pain, Luke laughed. Blood stained his teeth a dark, menacing red. The blood on his teeth looked like it didn't belong to himself, it looked like blood from victims he has killed. "And what might that be?" he questioned my statement, smiling like everything in the world was a big joke.

I grinned, "time."

Just that one word made his face shrivel up in fear as he realized his soon-to-be fate.

With that said, holding his hair tighter in my fist, I slammed his head against the kitchen island counter.

Knocking him out, he fell to the floor next to my moms pale body.

Seconds after he fell, ten policemen charged into the kitchen.

"I called." Ryder told the officers as their eyes scanned the room. "The man I reported on the phone is him," Ryder pointed to Luke's fragile body. "Luke Warmington is the teenager that raped Autumn Cross," Ryder then pointed at me to show the officers who the victim was, "and abused her mother and paid her father to abuse her when she had a restraining order against him."

One of the policemen looked at the gun on the floor and asked us, "is that weapon his?"

Ryder and I both nodded.

The paramedics rushed into the kitchen and went straight away to caring for my mother.

"She's lost a lot of blood just from that one bullet wound." One of the paramedics noted as they strapped her body on to a stretcher.

Before carrying her out one of the men said to me, "your mother is very lucky. Although she has lost a tremendous amount of blood, her heart is still beating...very slowly. The closest hospital is closed so we will take her to an overnight one farther away. You can come visit her in the morning."

I nodded weakly. "Ok. Thank you so much."

I smiled to myself. She's going to be okay. I've never felt so relieved.

When the paramedics left the house with my mother, I turned to face Luke. To my suprise, he was awake but the police had him pinned down to the floor as they handcuffed him.

When he stood up, he didn't even look at me. Instead he kept his head down all the way to the police car.

Caution tape ran around my entire house. Detectives and a News lady and cameraman approached the house, walking passed the tape and inside the house.

As I stood on my driveway and watched Luke get in the car, I felt an arm snake around my waist and pull me close.

"You were pretty badass today. Not gonna lie, it was super hot." Ryder said as we watched the car drive down the street, away from sight.

I smirked, "I was, wasn't I?"

He kissed the top of my head, "yup. Oh please teach me your skills, master!" he pleaded like a little kid which made me I laugh.

"How did you know to call the police?" I asked curiously.

"When you walked into the house and I was chasing after you, I stopped in my tracks when I noticed something. From my window in my room, I've always noticed you leave mutiple lights on at this time of night. Not once has the whole house been pitch black expect for one room. So the fact that Taylor told you when we were in New York that your mom was never at the house, I got kind of suspicious."

"Feeling a weird vibe, I called the police because I'd rather you be safe than be sorry that I didn't do anything. But I called the ambulance when I heard a gunshot and that's when I knew something really bad was going on."

His grasp on my waist tightened as he protectively pulled me even closer to his side. "When I heard that gunshot, I had a bad feeling you were the one that got shot. I've never been more scared than at the moment, so after calling 911 I ran into the house. When I saw Luke and you, I knew fighting him wasn't smart because there would be a chance of me getting shot, which would prevent me from being able to protect you. So I internally thanked myself for calling the professionals before I entered the house."

"What about my dad? What's happening to him?" I wasn't worried or fearful of Michael going to jail. He deserved worse than that.

"He's also going to jail. I told them on the phone about your dad and other police officers found and arrested him moments before everyone showed up to your house."

I hugged him. "Thank you so much, Ryder. I'm so thankful to have someone like you in my life, especially at a time like this."

Ryder picked me up. I gasped with suprise when he did this but wrapped my legs around his body anyways.

The moon shined upon us and the stars twinkled in the black sky. He rested his head against mine and promised, "I will always protect you no matter what."

I cupped Ryder's cheeks, pulling his face closer to mine so I could kiss him with the passion and adoration I had for him.

With our lips centimeters away, he smiled and whispered, "always and forever."