Monday Morning - Seychelles time
"Danae!" Mael gasped, clutching her tightly in his arms--his lower body slamming into her, his limbs shaking. Danae felt his body trembling and closed her eyes. She groaned softly as the vibration of his convulses flowed through her. He gripped her hard and she surrendered to him. She moaned his name, her body responding to the way his muscles contracted and hardened around her.
She was happy to be with him. She never expected to feel this way. As she lay tired and panting in his embrace. He kissed her damp forehead and held her to him. When he relaxed his grip on her, she lifted herself slightly and kissed his brow.
"You okay?" she asked, a smile on her lips.
He chuckled and blew her a kiss, he adjusted himself over her so he could lay his head on her bosom.
"Mhm, I'm okay. Though I've been driven half out of my mind by a sexy Jamaican beauty."
Danae laughed. "Me?" She chuckled in disbelief. He moved his hands down and circled his arms around her waist.
"Danae, you're beautiful and very sexy," he said. He lifted his head and kissed the curve of each breast then relaxed on her chest again. "I'm glad we crossed paths."
He tightened his hold on her not wanting to let her go, but he knew he would have to very soon. He was however more gentle with his embrace, holding her like she was delicate porcelain.
Danae brushed her fingers through his hair. Never in a million years had she expected to be in a foreign country and to find tenderness in the arms of another. She didn't know what to think.
"Thank you," she said hoarsely. "I never expected this. I ..."
She shook her head as tears stung the back of her eyes. She turned her head away from his face. He cupped her cheek so he could see her eyes. They looked watery so he bent forward and kissed her brow.
"Talk to me bel damo. Tell me what's wrong," he said gently. He kissed her lips, then rubbed his cheek on hers.
"You wore me out," she said tiredly. Putting her arms around his neck, she kissed his lips.
He chuckled. "I'm sorry?" He touched her face, his mouth forming a tiny smirk.
"Was it too much?" He looked into her eyes.
She shook her head. "No," she said, "it's just that you were unexpected, and you're making me want things--feel things I shouldn't." A single tear escaped from her right eye and ran slowly down her cheek. Mael brushed it away with his thumb and placed a soft peck on her lips.
"You bring out the hunger in me--this crazy need." He touched her hair. "Believe me, you're doing things to me too."
"Three times! I didn't even know I could do that at my age."
Mael reached down and cupped her bottom. "I really wanted to satisfy you, Danae. I've always been the overachieving type." He chuckled.
"Was I too rough?" he asked. "I wanted to be gentler, but that thing you did when you sat on me, it blew my mind. I had to ... um, be a little more aggressive, or I wouldn't have lasted long."
Danae stared at him, eyebrows raised. "Serious?"
He reached up and kissed her neck, then slid back down to rest on her bosom. "Very serious."
"You flatter me," she said shyly, smiling from ear to ear.
"Danae, you're gorgeous. From the moment I saw you I was attracted to you." He smiled at her. She lifted her gaze to the ceiling, a tiny smile quirked up her lips.
"I didn't bruise you?" he asked, closing his eyes. His left hand moved as he adjusted his body over her so he could cup her mound. Danae arched her head back on feeling the contact of his hand on her private area.
"Is this beautiful tulip okay?" he whispered seductively.
Danae's heart fluttered. Where did this man come from? What is this?
She smiled shyly at him and nodded her head. "Yes, she is, and you were great." She sighed. She caressed his hair. It was a little wavy at the ends. "You made me feel beautiful and the way you ..." She giggled. "You were very good, Mael. Ten out of ten."
He chuckled softly. "Thank you for the rating."
She tousled his hair, and he laughed while he listened to her heart beating. He noted the slight change in its pace when she told him he satisfied her. He was happy. He just needed to convince her to stay a little longer with him.
"But now I'm hungry," Danae said, with fake exasperation.
"I can fix that," he said, smiling at her. "Let me take a quick shower, okay?"
She nodded. "Okay," she said smiling. He looked at her for a minute. His eyes taking in every detail to apportion it to his memory.
"I'm falling for you," he said in awe.
Danae looked at his face, feeling a little surprised, but as her heart fluttered at his words, she knew she was experiencing something similar. She touched his face. He bent his head and while holding her hand, kissed the palm and nipped it gently.
Danae sighed. He looked at her, smiled cheekily and rolled slowly away from her. He stood up, his naked body on full display. She stared, still mesmerized by all of him. He bent down, took up his towel off the floor and went to the bathroom. Within a minute she heard the water running.
Danae reached for her bag and called Zaniv. She wasn't sure she would convince him to stay another week, but she needed this. Mael asked for a day, but she wanted more. She would stay a week more. She owed it to herself to be truly happy for once.
***
Jamaica Time - Sunday night
Snake shut off the engine and turned to Kadian. "Thank you for dinner. It was delicious," he said. Shifting in his seat, he faced her fully. They were parked before her home.
Kadian stared at him. Her eyes widened when she realized he was very serious. She cleared her throat.
"I-I don't have a boyfriend. I applied some makeup and my skin reacted negatively to it," she said quickly.
He stared at her, eyes narrowing. "I'm going to ask you something and I want you to be very honest with me, okay?"
She looked away from his intense stare, but nodded. "The bruise on your face, did your mom hit you?" He noticed that she flinched a little. He got his answer, but he wanted her to say it from her mouth.
"Mr Snake, it's okay. You don't have to worry about that," she said, reaching for the door handle.
He covered her hand with his, stopping her. He softened his voice. "Little butterfly, it's okay. If it was your mom, I won't get angry. I won't do anything to her, I promise. I just want to know. You can trust me."
"I-I ..."
He pulled her hand away from the handle and clasped it in his. "I swear to you, I will do your mommy no harm if she was the one who hit you." He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. He could feel her trembling.
"Hey," he said gently. She looked up at him. "I promise."
She took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Yes, she slapped me," Kadian said.
Snake closed his eyes, a rushed breath left his lips. With his other hand he turned her towards him so he could see her left cheek. He looked at the darkened spot and sighed. "Why did she hit you?" he asked.
"She was angry because I accepted your job offer," she confessed. "But I told her I didn't have a choice. I ..."
"Kadian, are you afraid of me?"
"Uh ... I, Mr Snake ..." She looked at his eyes and stopped speaking.
He took a deep breath and released it slowly. I can't believe I'm doing this. "Call me Dante, okay? That's my real name. When we're alone call me Dante, but only when you're at my house."
Kadian looked at him, eyebrows raised. He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "Do I scare you?"
She nodded, closing her eyes. "A little, yes." He came closer on the car seat and brushed his thumb along the line of her right eyebrow, down to her cheek, to her soft lips. His touch on her lips made her eyes fly open. She stared at him, her heart rate spiking. He looked at her lips, then into her eyes.
"I want you to be careful around me, yes. I'm your employer, you're my employee, so there must be respect. But, I don't want you to be so afraid you jump every time I come near you."
He leaned forward and she smelled the scent of fresh lemons and acacia wood. Mingled with the undertones of his own manly scent and the warmth of his body, the fragrance made her feel strangely cathartic.
He brushed his lips on her right cheek and inhaled the smell of her skin. "Little butterfly, I like you and I also like your mom. I think it's best I terminate your job with me."
Kadian swallowed hard as she felt his warm breath on her skin while he spoke to her. With her mouth slightly open, she tried to breathe evenly but couldn't. Her heart was racing now, but not with fear.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I think I may have crossed a line with you just now. Also, it makes me sad that your mom hit you because of me. I respect Miss Bev, I don't want there to be any conflict between you two over me. She's your mother." He leaned back, settling in his seat, leaving Kadian feeling disappointed with the sudden loss of his warmth near her.
Smiling at her, he reached over and unlocked her door. "Good night pretty butterfly, sleep well," he said. He placed his head on the seat's headrest and watched her intently.
"Good night, Mr Sn ... uh, Mr Dante," she said nervously.
He chuckled softly. "Good night Kadian."
She pushed the car door before her and jumped out of the vehicle. She gently slammed the door shut. She was about to walk away when she looked back at him. "So I should not come back to work?" she asked, a confused look on her face.
"Do you want to?" he asked, smiling at her.
She nodded shyly.
"Once your mom is okay with you coming to work, okay?" He grinned at her. "You don't need to work tomorrow. I won't be in, and I won't be able to fetch you to bring you up to my house."
"I can find my way," she said eagerly.
"You sure?" he asked, an amused look on his face.
She nodded, her hands intertwined.
"Okay, take my number," he said. He gave her his number. "If you can't come call me and let me know."
She nodded, saving his contact in her phone as Mr Snake.
"When do you have your classes?"
"Four days a week. I go part-time," she said smiling brightly. She was surprised he would take an interest in what she was doing.
"Do you have class tomorrow?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"Okay," he said, "do some cleaning for me and you can cook dinner. I don't know how soon I'll be home so you can leave by four o'clock, alright?"
"Alright," she said. She hesitated as if to say something more, but pursed her lips. "Good night."
He softened his tone and lowered his voice. "Good night little butterfly."
A shiver ran up her spine. She turned and ran through the gate and knocked on the front door. The oldest sister let her in and closed the door quickly. Snake didn't like the way she looked at Kadian. He hoped he wouldn't hear about them abusing her after this.
He drove off. He was heading to the loft. He enjoyed getting close to her. She smelt of innocence and fresh possibilities. Her perfume was pleasant to his senses too. He laughed at himself. "Yeah, right," he muttered.
***
Kadian walked into the living room and found both her mother and middle sister, Shanice, sitting on the couch waiting for her. Her big sister, Lydia, walked in behind her after locking the front door.
"Did he hurt you?" Beverly asked her.
Kadian shook her head. "No," she said.
"Did he touch you?" Big sis asked.
Kadian looked behind her. "No," she said.
"What did he do?" Beverly asked.
Kadian cleared her throat. "He came back in the night, ate his dinner and took me home."
"That's all?" Shanice asked skeptically.
Kadian nodded.
"Why did you take so long to get out of the car?" Lydia asked.
"He ... um, was saying he enjoyed the food. He said it was delicious. He instructed me to come tomorrow, and clean and cook dinner. He said I can leave by 4 in the afternoon."
Beverly's eyes narrowed. "Did he touch you in any way?"
Kadian's heart rate went up. She would tell them a bit of the truth. "He saw the bruise on my face and touched it. He asked me who hit me." She stared directly at her mother.
Beverly hissed her teeth. "And what did you tell him happened?"
"I told him I was allergic to makeup."
Beverly relaxed, sagging a little on the couch's arm.
"But he didn't believe me," Kadian said quietly.
"What do you mean?" Lydia asked.
She turned to her. "He asked if mommy hit me. He scares me so I told him yes."
Beverly stood to her feet. She was about to deliver another slap when Shanice held her back. Kadian cringed away, her eyes bulging in fear.
"Mommy, you can't! What will this Snake guy do if he sees that you hit her again?" Shanice said, keeping a firm grip on her mother's arm.
Beverly staggered back and sat down. "Go to your room!" she shouted angrily.
Kadian fled to her room and locked the door. She took out her phone, pulled off her blouse and jeans, and sat on her bed. She touched her right cheek and lips where he touched her. Closing her eyes, she lay back.
She took out her phone and snapped a pic of herself then scrolled to look at it. Her eyes had a wild look to them. The bruise was darker now, but not ugly yet.
She looked at her cleavage in the lacey bra. Brushing her fingers on her neck, down to her breasts, her breathing quickened when she thought of his hands and lips touching her there.
She sat up and unhooked her bra. Standing at the mirror she looked at herself. Would he like my breasts?
They were full and soft, but one was slightly larger than the other. She cupped them gently and closed her eyes. She imagined him kneeled before her, his hands massaging them for her while he ...
There was knock on the door that yanked her out of her reverie. She quickly threw on the blouse she took off and rushed to open the door. It was Shanice. Kadian stared at her. Was that fear in her sister's eyes?
"Lydia called daddy. Him call yuh," Shanice said, her face pale.
***
He couldn't believe it, but he had a hardon. A really strong one.
"What the ...?" he said in frustration.
Snake pulled over to the soft shoulder of the road and closed his eyes. He wished he had taken her number. He would call her and tell her what she was doing to him. Maybe he would even touch himself while she was on the line. He swore violently and leaned his head back.
"Hmm ... Kadian, you should be mine," he growled softly.
His phone started to ring. He took it out of his pocket, and to his surprise it was her. His heart was beating fast when he answered, but what he heard next made his blood run cold. He turned the car around and raced back to her house.
***
Z was at the loft. True to his word, Snake had rallied the men, but he himself was no where to be found. The door opened and Karey Brown aka Brownie walked in.
"Mr Z sorry to be late, sir. It was an emergency with my son--him have asthma. Mi just drop him and mi woman a Bustamante and shot come cross," Brownie said.
"That's fine," Z said with a curt nod.
He looked at his watch. "Have you heard from Snake?"
Brownie shook his head. "Not since six o'clock when him did come check mi. But him did seh him hire a new housekeeper. Suh mi nuh know."
"New housekeeper?" Z asked, glancing at his watch again.
"Mhm, suh him seh," Brownie replied.
Z sucked his teeth. This was highly inconvenient. Though Snake was more of a gun for hire, he was usually very efficient in his dealings. With lips pursed into a thin line, Z opened the door that led to the 'stock room'.
He couldn't wait on Snake. It was 10:30. He was probably not coming. Z sighed loudly. He needed to organize the men and set up his plan now.
The men were waiting outside in the general assembly area. Which was where he also left his son to get acquainted with them. He would lead them one day. He and Zaniv, he hoped would take the helm, though Zaniv seemed to be hinting at other plans.
***
When she walked into the living room, her mother was still on the couch. Her bigger sister by four years, went to sit beside her mom while her dad stood in front of them. Lydia, the eldest, was leaning on a living room wall. Her eyes looked black glaciers.
Their father took two steps forward, closing the distance between himself and his youngest. He was an imposing figure: tall with broad shoulders and a large head. He wasn't quite a giant, but at 6'7" he seemed to be.
Ironically, none of his daughters benefited from his height. They all came in at a few inches above five feet with the tallest being Kadian, the wash belly. She was five feet seven inches tall, but looked like a mouse compared to her father.
Kadian stared at him. His countenance was dark and somber. She swallowed as she looked at her parents' eldest daughter, whose eyes were flashing with anger.
Why would she do this to me? She knows daddy has a really bad temper!
"What is this I'm hearing?" Donald asked. Kadian looked at her dad. She loved him, but he had a more favorable relationship with Lydia, not her.
"Is it true?" He moved slowly towards her.
"Is what true?" Kadian asked, her voice trembling.
"That you're becoming a little slut?!" Donald barked.
Kadian shook her head. "No daddy--"
"Nuh daddy me! Mi nuh wah hear that! How yuh end up ah work for a gunman? For scum?!"
"Snake isn't scum," Kadian answered, her head lowered.
She heard him moving and before she could take another breath, she was hit across the room with such force she slammed into the wall, and crumpled to the floor--the breath knocked out of her.
Beverly stood up. "Donald, yuh cyaa duh that! Suppose yuh kill mi pickney?!"
"Suh nuh my pickney too. Mi supposed to can discipline my child, unless yah tell mi she's not mine!"
Beverly hissed her teeth. "Of course she is your child, but yuh nah fi lick her so hard!"
Beverly went over to Kadian, who was squirming on the floor, face down.
"Kay?" Beverly touched her daughter's shoulder. "Kay, yuh alright?"
Kadian felt like her jaw was broken. She moved her mouth to speak, but it hurt.
Great, now I look even: one bruise on the left, and now another on the right to make me the perfect poppy show, Kadian thought.
She tried to get up, but she was still winded. Her mother put her arm around her shoulders and pulled her halfway up. Kadian was about to stumble when Shanice went to her other side to help her to her feet.
They carried her to her room and helped her lay down. Shanice went into Lydia's room and brought back some painkillers.
"Take two," Shanice said. She took out two and gave it to Kadian. Kadian took them and swallowed. With a grim look on her face, Shanice went to the kitchen and brought back a glass of tap water. "Drink," she said, her expression grave.
Kadian felt weak so Shanice pulled her upright. Supporting her sister with an arm behind her shoulder blades. Shanice positioned the glass of water at Kadian's lips. Slowly, Kadian sipped the water while looking at her sister with grateful eyes. Shanice smiled and kissed her forehead.
Kadian smiled and relaxed a little. She eased her head back and Shanice placed the glass on the bedside table.
Shanice dug into a basket by her sister's bed and took out a pair of black floppy shorts. "Put this on," she said.
Kadian tried to sit but had to hold her head and lay back down. Shanice sighed and helped her pull up the piece of clothing.
As Kadian lay back, she winced in pain. She had hit her back hard on the wall. She sighed in anger, and tears began to flow. Times like these she wondered if her big sister liked her.
There was a commotion and the sound of glass crashing to the floor and breaking. She heard her mother scream and her big sister demanding that their father calm down.
"Daddy, cool nuh man!" Lydia was saying in a high shrill voice.
"Suh all this time Kadian was never mine?"
Slap!
Kadian heard her mother scream again. She reached for her phone under her pillow. She remembered what Snake had said earlier and dialed his number just as Shanice screamed after their father broke the door down.
He dragged Kadian into the living room and pushed her on the floor. She hit her knees hard on the tiles and cried out in pain. He heard the sound she made and beared his teeth.
"Weh yah bawl fah? Eeh? Why? Yuh cause this on yourself! You and yuh lying mumma. From now on me is not yuh father. Yuh mother just seh yuh is not mine!" Donald said, through gritted teeth.
He moved away from her and stood looking at the three women in the room. Lydia looked so much like him, it was as though he made a mini him. But the two other girls did not favor him at all. The only thing that saved Shanice was that she sort of looked like his mother.
Kadian however, had no resemblance to any of his family members. Now Beverly confessed that he may not be her real father after all. All these years, his suspicions were valid. He thought of all the money he wasted on a child that may not be his. He cursed an expletive.
"Bev, yuh tek mi fi eediat!" Donald said, his temper boiling over.
He rushed forward to hit her again. Miss Bev seeing his swift movement, covered her face. With her hands held up she tried to steel her body before the next blow landed.
"Daddy, no!" Shanice screamed, but remained rooted in the spot where she was standing.
Kadian threw herself in front of her mother, and received a slap across her ear that made her head spin. She lay bent forward on the floor. Beverly screamed. She was sure that blow knocked her daughter unconscious.
***
When Snake arrived there were people outside Miss Bev's house looking into the yard. He heard a man near him say that a neighbor had called the Police. He could hear shouting inside. He took a deep breath and opened the gate.
A woman called to him, "Sir, it nuh safe fi guh in deh. Trust mi. Dat man is a madman. Everyone in the community know him."
"Who is he?" Snake asked, looking back at the woman.
"The girls dem father, but him only believe the oldest one is his because she look just like him."
Snake nodded. He stepped forward.
"Sir, yuh nuh hear weh mi seh? Him nuh righted and him big and tall!"
Snake nodded. He wasn't a short guy either, but he said, "Noted," and moved to the door.
He listened carefully. He heard Miss Bev arguing with a man. Two more female voices talking loudly and another wailing. He knocked on the door. The house went suddenly quiet.
He knocked harder. The door swung open and the oldest sister stared back at him. He pushed past her and entered the house.
His hands curled into tight fists when he saw Kadian on the floor, her body shaking. Her other sister was holding her and crying. He moved towards her, but their father moved swiftly to block him.
"Who are you?" the father asked.
"Kadian's friend. Who are you?" Snake asked, his eyes narrowed.
"Good question," the man said, turning to Beverly. "Beverly, who am I?"
Beverly cleared her throat. "This is Kadian's father, Donald, Mr Snake."
Donald whipped his head around to stare at Snake. "Mr Snake?" Donald muttered. He laughed harshly, causing Lydia to jump.
"Is them peepul yah is yuh friend Kadian?!" Donald snarled. He made a move to approach her and Snake grabbed his arm and pulled it awkwardly behind his back. Snake sweeped his feet away and he fell to the floor.
"Weh the bumbo claat yah duh bwoy?!" Donald shouted, rolling away and standing to his feet.
Snake stood still and watched him. "Is Kadian okay?"
"She's dizzy, Mr Snake," Shanice said, despair in her voice. Lydia was about to walk over to take a look at her, but Shanice put her body over her. "No! Nuh come near mi sister! Is you cause this!" she said.
Lydia stopped. A pained look appeared on her face. "I was only trying to help," she said, her temper flaring.
"What kind of help?" Beverly asked, her anger boiling over. "Fi yuh father almost kill her?!"
"Mommy, she was out wid strange man!" Lydia said. She gave Snake the side eye.
"Snake is not a stranger. You and him used to guh school together! You even tell mi seh yuh did like him, until him start duh what him doing now," Beverly blurted out.
Snake took a look at his old time classmate. "Is that true?" His eyes narrowed as he stared at her. "Are you jealous of your little sister?"
Lydia took a step back. "What? No. No! Of course not! I'm just trying to protect her!"
"And this is your idea of protection?" he asked, his gaze boring into her.
He turned his head just as Donald tried to sneak up on him. Snake sidestepped him, grabbed his shoulder and slammed him into the wall behind him. He fell to the floor unconscious.
"The police come!" They heard someone outside say. Snake walked over to Kadian. He touched her arm. He felt her tremble. Tenderly, he brushed his fingers across her right cheek and saw her pull away. Cold fury burned in him. He moved closer and gently tried to lift her head. She flinched away.
"Pretty butterfly, are you feeling pain?" he asked, making his voice an almost whisper. He touched her cheek again and heard her sharp intake of breath. Moving swiftly, he pushed her back, but caught her head before it hit the floor. His eyes widened when he saw the ugly bruise on the right side of her face.
"What is it with you people?" he snarled.
He pulled her into his arms and lifted her to his chest.
"Where yuh going with my child?!" Beverly asked.
"I'm taking her to the hospital," he said.
There was a knock on the door. "Police, open the door."
Snake looked at Shanice. "Open the back door for me," he instructed. Shanice moved quickly while Snake carried Kadian in his arms.
She opened the door and touched his arm. "Don't bring her back for now," she said, her voice shaky. Snake looked at her, observing her body language. He nodded, and said, "I'll bring her back when she's ready to come back."
She nodded. He nodded, a faint smile on his lips. He hoisted Kadian to his chest and walked around the side of the house. As soon as the policeman and woman stepped into the house, he brought her out to the gate. He pulled it and kicked it open.
The woman who spoke to him earlier came up to him. "Weh yah duh wid Kadian?" she asked.
"Taking her to the hospital," he answered. The woman nodded her head. She touched Kadian. "Kadian, is yuh neighbour, Gem, mi will pray for yuh, yuh hear?"
Kadian tried a weak smile. Gem squeezed her arm, but Kadian winced, a tiny whimper escaping her lips. The woman looked at her in alarm. "What happen to yuh, baby?"
Snake looked down at Kadian, his eyes turning darker. He promised himself he would get Donald back for hurting her. "Her father," he said, his voice tight. He walked away, moving to his car. The woman walked beside him while the other neighbours watched.
He unlocked the car door and the woman opened the passenger side. He placed Kadian inside and closed the door. "Take care of her," Gem said.
Snake nodded. "I will," he replied. He started his car's engine and drove off.
He was supposed to be at the loft with Z and his men, but this time he would choose to do this. He watched as Kadian moved to curl into herself. He swore quietly. He would think of a thousand ways he would make her father suffer for what he did to her.
He knew someone who could help. He dialed his best friend's cousin's number. "Jhonie," he said exhaling slowly. "I have a friend I'm bringing to you. She's beat up very bad. Oh ... you're off duty? Understood. Jhonez, I need someone who will make sure my friend gets prompt care. Her father, beat her up bad. Yeah, I am heading to the hospital. Okay, thank you." He ended the call.
"Kadian, hunny, I'm taking you to the hospital, okay?" He touched her thigh. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He smiled at her. She closed her eyes.
***
N's phone rang. "Hello?"
"Z just hired me to kill Midnight," King said.
N felt his heart drop. "What did you say?" he asked.
"Z wants me to kill Midnight," King said, his tone impatient.
"That son of a---"
"How do you want to play this?" King asked, his voice holding a hint of humour.
"How much is he offering you?" N asked.
"Not sure, my brother says maybe 1 million."
"Your brother?"
"Snake."
N grunted. He started to think of a scheme to save his old friend's life. "Still go, but do not fulfill the contract. Tell your brother you will take the job, but you will not, I repeat, you will not harm one grey hair on Midnight's head. I will pay you $1.2 million."
King's eyebrows shot up. "Deal," he said smiling.
"When you get to the house you're gonna help him stage a fake murder. Meaning your bullets all over the house. Bullet holes. Tear the place up. Blood. Get blood wherever you can get it and plaster the place."
"What about dead bodies? Z will want proof."
N nodded. "He will. Well, we'll give him some. Do what I say, I'll handle the rest. I'll call you back. When is this attack supposed to happen?"
"Ironically at midnight," King said, chuckling.
N snorted. Z has some weird sense of humour, he thought.
He shook his head. "Okay, everything will be ready by then," said N, looking at his watch. "I'll make sure Midnight will be expecting you. Keep me posted."
"Will do," King said, then hung up, a wide grin on his face. He texted his brother.
N dialed his favorite undertaker to make arrangements. He also called in a few favors to make sure Midnight and his family could leave the island without hassle. He hoped Kyle would take his offer.
Finally, after taking a deep breath, he called his frenemy.
***
Snake sat in the waiting area of the University Hospital. His mind replayed the last half hour. She was crying when they took her away from his arms. She tried to grab onto him and he felt his heart stop with the look of despair she gave him.
“I’m right here, Kadian. I won’t go anywhere. I can’t go inside with you, but I’ll be here, okay?”
She nodded her eyes welling up with tears. It was then that he reached out, and placed a soft kiss on her brow.
“I’ll be here, pretty butterfly. I’m not going anywhere.”
They took her away in a wheelchair. She was complaining of feeling dizzy. Z was calling him, but he texted back, “Family emergency, I can’t come.”
He noticed the message from King and replied via text with, "Noted."
Snake pressed his fingers into his eyelids. He figured Mr Z would be very angry, but he didn’t care. He just wanted to know that his butterfly was okay. Nothing else mattered right now. He sent a message to Z informing him that King agreed to fulfill the contract.
He closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. She seemed so fragile, so fearful. She had looked at him like that--those beautiful eyes staring wide at him, her body shaking.
He had evoked the same reaction out of her as her dad. He didn’t want her to compare him to that piece of filth. He made a decision right then that he would do all he could to make her feel safe with him. He never wanted to see her looking at him like that again.
He sighed and bit down on the left corner of his bottom lip. His phone rang again. Z was calling.
He may as well get on with it.
“Hello,” he answered.
“Where are you?” A furious sounding Z replied.
“I’m at the hospital,” Snake said simply.
“I see. Will you be able to make it?” Z softened his tone.
“No,” Snake replied, keeping his tone neutral.
“Okay,” Z said then hung up.
A muscle ticked at Snake’s jaw. He had never told Z no before. He wasn't terrified of him, but he was no fool. He was well aware of what Mr Z was capable of.
“Mr Myers?”
He looked up. The doctor Jhonie recommended stepped closer.
“The young woman you brought in has a mild concussion. She mentioned that her dad hit her. Hence the bruises on her face.”
Snake nodded.
“You can see her briefly, but I need to know your relation to her?” Dr Mimi Gough asked.
Snake cleared his throat. “I’m a family friend,” he said. “She called me that’s how I was able to bring her here. The police are on location at her mother’s house.” He volunteered the information before the doctor could ask questions that could lead to something risky for him.
Dr Gough nodded. “That’s good to hear,” she said. “Come with me. You can spend about ten minutes with her.”
Snake stood to his feet. The doctor looked up at him, a wry smile on her lips. “This way please,” she said.
He followed her. She pushed the door open and allowed Snake to step in before her. He walked quietly to Kadian's bedside and looked at her. He reached out and clasped her hand in his and squeezed just a little.
Kadian opened her eyes and turned to look at him. A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Mr ...?"
Snake touched her hair. "Call me Dante. From now on just call me Dante or Mr Myers," he said softly.
She nodded her head. "Mr Myers, thank you for helping me." He reached behind him for the visitor's chair and sat down.
"You're most welcome," he said gently.
He looked behind him at the doctor who was texting on her phone. Sensing the change in mood, she looked up.
"Ah, uh ... work stuff. My apologies. Give me a minute. I'll be right back," she said, and stepped outside. He watched as she walked away.
"Pretty butterfly, how do you feel?" Snake asked, turning back to her. He touched her shoulder.
"They gave me some medicine. My body feels heavy, but at least I'm not feeling any pain now," Kadian replied.
Snake leaned forward. "There's something I need to ask you." He cleared his throat.
Kadian noted that he looked nervous, but that was impossible. Snake never showed any sign of fear or jitters during the few encounters she had with him.
"Your sister--before I brought you here--she said I should keep you away from the house for a little while. Why would she say that?"
Kadian closed her eyes and pulled her lips inwards. "My dad can be very vengeful," she said, "but he can also be charming. He can have a knife in his hand to kill someone and he would be able to convince you that he's just peeling an orange."
She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. "If he has his way he'll convince the police that he didn't hurt me. He'll come back to the house every day until he gets to do what he wants."
"What does he want?" Snake asked, a chill running up his spine.
"To beat someone up. Anyone he gets his hands on will suffer," she said. Well, except Lyds, she mused. He wouldn't hurt her.
"Your older sister, Shanice, that means her too?" Snake asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Yes," she said, "but knowing Shan she'll go somewhere to stay until things cool down."
"And Lydia?"
"She's his baby," Kadian replied, bitterness in her tone. "He won't trouble her." She paused. "But he might hurt my mother." She turned her head to him, her bulging eyes filled with fear.
He bent forward and kissed her brow before she could say another word.
"I promise you, I will make sure your mom is safe."
She reached up and touched his face. He eased back a little and looked into her eyes.
"Pretty butterfly," he said, his voice raspy. "You're seducing me with those eyes."
Kadian's lips twitched into an almost smile.
He smiled at her, kissed her forehead and sat upright in the chair.
"Would you be comfortable staying with me? Going back to your mom's house isn't an option right now."
"I ..."
"If you're not sure, that's okay. If Shanice does manage to stay at a friend's house, maybe you can stay there too, but I don't want you going back to your house right now."
He brushed his fingers on her hair. The bruises on her face were now an angry bluish-purple.
"Kadian?"
She focused her eyes on him.
He touched her lips. "I like you," he told her. "I want to get to know you. I want us to be friends. To be honest, I want to be more than friends."
She blushed, her lips curling into a genuine smile. "I like you too Mr Sn-Myers ..."
Snake chuckled softly. "Call me Dante. Kay, I really want to kiss you," he said, his voice dipping low and intimate. "But I won't rush you, okay?" He gently caressed her hair. She nodded. She felt like her heart would float out of her chest.
"I-I ... I don't mind. You can kiss me," she said shyly.
He smiled at her. Bending forward, he gently brushed his lips on hers, and closed his eyes on contact. He could feel her body trembling, but knew it wasn't because she was afraid of him. He pressed his lips on hers just a little more, pulling on them in a teasing way.
She opened her mouth and panted. A rushed breath escaped her lips into his mouth, and he groaned. He felt her body shiver. Circling his arms around her, he whispered her name.
"Kay," he said.
His loins tightened--that familiar ache building. He grunted her name softly and started to moan while he kissed her. His fingers pulled off her scrunchie and began combing through her hair.
"Pretty butterfly," he whispered. He captured her lips again with a desperation that surprised even him.
He hungrily suckled on her soft, full, bottom lip. His hand moved down to cup a firm breast. Kadian's arms reached up and around his neck, pulling him into her embrace.
"Hmmph ..." Was the only sound he could utter as he cupped her left breast. He swallowed a groan when he became aware that she wasn't wearing a bra. He felt her nipple harden in his hand and sighed.
Kadian released a sharp breath. With her mouth open, her body strained upwards eager to feel more of his touch. He kissed her while his hand rested on her bosom. He wanted to caress and tease her, but for now just touching her there was enough.
Kadian whimpered softly. She wished his lips would go lower: lower to her neck; lower to her aching breasts; lower to the moist valley between her thighs. She wished his hand would massage her breasts and not just rest on them. She sighed and closed her eyes. Her body arched up to him.
Feeling her movement, he circled both arms around her torso and squeezed her closer. He deepened the kiss, his body feeling like it was set on fire. He wanted to slip his tongue inside to taste her, but held himself back. He suckled tenderly on her bottom lip then used his tongue to lick both swollen lips. She moaned and opened her mouth to invite him in, but he moved back.
"Not yet. I won't taste you yet, not until we're alone," he said. He stuck out his tongue and wiggled it, teasing her.
Kadian felt her heart leap. She had never seen this side of him. Well, I don't know him very well, she thought. She heard stories about him that he was very good with his tongue, but those were rumours. Could they be true? She felt her loins pulse and a hot flush of desire raced through her. She swallowed quickly, her throat suddenly feeling dry.
She's so cute, he thought. He touched her hair. He wanted to touch her face, but he could see there was some sort of ointment on the skin. He didn't want to rub it off.
"Hmm ... Kay, yuh have mi thinking a bag of things," he whispered. He wondered what her little cupcake would taste like. Her lips were tasty. He had no doubt he would enjoy putting his tongue in her mouth. But that thing below, that was the mystery.
If I taste it, will I like it? "I bet you taste good all over," he said seductively. Especially down there, he finished the thought in his head.
She whimpered and briefly closed her eyes, then opened them again. She was biting her lips. Snake felt his body respond to her.
"Yuh want more, baby?" he asked.
She nodded, her eyes drawing him in.
Snake leaned forward and tenderly kissed her lips, but made it brief.
"Mmh, mi want yuh," he said, staring into her eyes. "Long time mi nuh feel like this. Your lips taste sweet like sugar."
Reluctantly, he pulled away from her. Licking his lips as he looked at her, he shook his head, a wry smile on his face. He shifted uncomfortably on the chair.
"You made me rise," he said quietly. He took her hand and pulled it down. He wanted her to feel what she was doing to him.
She leaned over the edge of the bed as he pressed her hand on his crotch so she could feel the evidence of his desire. He cupped her hand over him and squeezed. Closing his eyes, he groaned softly. He covered her hand and held it in place.
Kadian's lips parted and she gasped. Her loins clenched as she felt him grow thicker in her hand. He feels so big. Tentatively, she held him, her eyes widening in shock while she bit her bottom lip.
"You like that?" he asked, his voice deep and raspy.
She nodded, averting her eyes. "Yes," she said breathlessly. It was more than she could dare imagine. But what did she expect? He was a man, not a boy.
He opened his eyes and she noted that they looked darker. She wasn't sure. He smiled at her. He took the hand he was holding and blew on it. Kadian watched him, her body trembling. Turning the palm of her hand up to his lips he kissed it. His eyes burned with a passion he could not conceal.
With a sigh, he released her. She placed her hand under the pillow and stared at him, her heart beating fast. She couldn't believe they had just kissed, and she made him get hard. For her! She turned on her left side to face him. He bent forward, his gaze softening towards her.
"You're very tempting: Has anyone ever told you that?" he asked. He traced the outside of her right ear. He playfully pulled on the soft shell as he looked into her eyes.
She giggled softly and shook her head. "No," she answered, a demure smile on her lips.
"You are," he said, his eyes brightening from their usual brown to a shade of hazel. Kadian was fascinated as she looked at them.
They heard the door open and Dr Gough stepped into the room. Snake straightened up in the chair.
Dr Gough walked towards them. "Time to say goodbye," she said smiling.
Snake looked at her then back at his butterfly. "Not goodbye. More like see you later." He stood to his feet. "How soon will she get to go home?" He observed the doctor's polite demeanor.
Kadian's eyes went immediately to his crotch as he stood, but was surprised to see that she could barely make out the outline of his erection in his black jeans. She looked up at his face. He glanced at her and winked. She chortled softly. He was definitely a mystery.
Dr Gough looked at him, eyebrows raised. "Do you think home is safe at this time?" she queried. Snake turned his gaze to her, his face sobering up.
"She can stay at another relative or friend's house," he replied. She can stay with me, he thought. I would love to have her with me.
"The police just arrived," Dr Gough said.
He nodded and walked to the door.
"You're not staying?" she asked.
"He has to get some rest. He has work tomorrow," Kadian interjected.
Snake looked at his pretty butterfly. He wished he could sweep her up in his arms and kiss her. Yeah, I will prepare the guest room for her, he thought. He needed her near him.
His eyes told her how much he wanted her. "I'll check on you tomorrow," he said.
She nodded. Her heart leaped to her throat, and her body hummed with longing. He could tell she wanted him. Soon, he promised himself. Soon I will give her what she wants.
He opened the door and stepped out. He ducked into another room as he saw two police officers: male and female approaching.
He looked in the dark room, his eyes adjusting to the light. He closed the door. He willed the irises of his eyes to expand so he could see better. He heard the rustling of fabric. He looked to his right. There was a woman laying on the bed. Her eyes fluttered open and she turned to look at him.
"Who are you?" she asked. Her voice was filled with annoyance not fear. This intrigued him.
"The grim reaper, maybe," he said grinning.
Lissa scoffed. "You certainly fit the part." She eyed his clothing. In the dim lamp light she could barely see him with all that black.
He chuckled softly. He looked out the glass section of the door and saw when the two officers entered Kadian's room. He smiled. Time for him to go. He put his hand on the door knob.
"Are you here to kill me?"
He turned his head to look at her.
"Why would I want to kill you?" he asked, surprised.
"It wouldn't be the first time people have tried to kill me," Lissa said.
Snake took out his phone, turned on the flashlight feature and aimed at her face.
From what he could see she was stunning.
"Why would I want to kill a beauty like you?"
The woman sighed out of frustration. "Are you one of Mr Z's men?"
He paused and looked at her. Who is she? How does she know about Mr Z? I need to know more.
He came closer to her bed. "And if I were: what am I supposed to kill you for?"
"I don't know. Because I fell in love with the wrong guy." Her voice cracked. He felt the block of ice he called his heart stir. He moved closer and stood beside her bed.
"What's your name?" he asked, his tone gentle.
She looked at him perplexed. "You?"
He shook his head. "Yes, I work for Z, but he didn't send me here for you. I'm here for something else."
"To take a life?"
"No, I saved it," he said smiling. He turned the phone light around in the room and found a chair. He pulled it closer and sat on it.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Not important, but knowing your name is," he said.
"Melissa," she answered.
"Nice to meet you, Melissa," Snake said, amusement in his voice.
"You were hiding from someone?" Lissa asked.
He chuckled. "And if I was?" he asked.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"You're not afraid I will kill you?" he asked.
"I've had to make peace with it--with that reality. I can die at anytime especially considering Z wants me dead."
He was intrigued. "Tell me your last name?"
"Dixon," she answered.
"What did you do to piss off Z?"
"I dated and got pregnant for a cop he wants dead too," she said.
He stared in her direction. He closed his eyes then opened them, adjusting them to absorb as much light as possible. He could see her face a little better though the lighting was poor.
"The cop who killed his sister," Snake said, his voice cold.
Lissa stared back into the dark. Her fingers gripped the edges of the bedsheets.
"His sister? Shane killed Mr Z's sister?!"
He got up and sat on the bed. He reached out his right hand and grabbed her throat. She did not resist him. He tightened his grip and felt her throat moving as she tried to breathe. "What if tonight was your last night on earth? What would you do?"
She tried to breathe.
"Well? What would you do?" Snake asked, his voice low and surly.
Her breathing sounded like wheezing as she laboured to fill her lungs. "The person you saved ... you said you saved someone. Would he or she be proud of what you're doing right now?" she rasped unsteadily.
He thought about what she was asking. He remembered the softness of his little butterfly's body. He thought of Kadian's sweet lips, and other places he hoped to experience soon. The feeling of a ton of bricks landing on his chest caused him to take a hurried breath.
Was what he was feeling for Kay lust or the growing embers of love?
"Fuck!" He released Melissa's throat. It dawned on him that something had shifted inside him, and he would never be the same again. Kadian would despise him if she knew he hurt an innocent person.
Lissa lay back coughing. She held her throat and tried to take in as much air as possible. She coughed a little as the cool air entered her lungs.
Snake looked at her. "You're a very smart woman. No, she would hate me if she knew what I was doing right now."
There was a knock on the door. He looked up. "Shit!" he hissed. There was a police officer at the door.
Lissa looked at him. He got up. "Go into the bathroom," she said, still having trouble breathing. She pointed to the white door before her. He looked at her, his expression unclear in the dim lamp light. He did as she told him.
The door pushed open. The two police officers walked into the room. Male first then the female officer afterwards.
Lissa looked up. Her eyes immediately sparkled with recognition and relief. Standing before her was her friend Constable Sudanie Walker, and Corporal Barracks smiling at her.
"We came to visit our favorite shrink," Constable Walker said teasing.
Lissa cleared her throat. "Come here I need a hug," she whispered softly. Sudanie looked at Corporal Barracks who nodded. She sat on the chair in front of her friend and hugged her.
"Hmm, I missed you!" Sudanie exclaimed.
Lissa squeezed her friend tightly. She felt her eyes watering and closed them. Corporal Barracks came closer. Lissa slipped out of her friend's embrace.
"Claude, what's going on?" Lissa asked, smiling up at him.
Corporal Barracks smiled. "I'm doing okay. How are you?"
Lissa shrugged her shoulders. "All things considered I'm still alive."
"In here dark sah!" Sudanie exclaimed. She moved to turn on the light before Lissa could object. The LED bulb illuminated the room, shattering the previous darkness in the space.
Sudanie turned around and looked at her friend. "Mama! Lissa, yuh lose weight, man!" She stared at her, her face filled with shock. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Lissa nodded though the smile on her face wasn't convincing. She looked at Corporal Barracks who was watching her keenly. At that moment Claude noticed she looked very tired. He sat down and reached out his hand to squeeze hers.
"I heard about you and Corporal Stewart. I hope everything will work out for you."
Lissa stared at him. His eyes were kind. Her throat felt pained and tight. She dipped her head slightly when she looked away. Sudanie came forward and squeezed his arm. "I thought we discussed that we wouldn't say anything about that!" she exclaimed.
Claude shifted in the chair. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," he said softly. He let her hand go.
Lissa smiled at him. "No man," she said, shaking her head, "it's fine. Everybody would have known by now, so it's no secret."
He nodded, but still looked remorseful.
Lissa decided to divert the conversation. "So why are you guys here at the hospital, especially at this time of night?" she asked, gazing directly at Sudanie.
Barracks spoke up. "We got a call about a domestic violence incident: a father had severely beaten his daughter. Apparently, he heard she had gone to work for a criminal--some gun man and he was punishing her for that. Honestly, I can't blame him for being angry, but he was wrong to abuse her.
"I understand how he feels. If I had a daughter and she got tangled up in that kind of stuff I would be very angry." His hands balled into fists.
"There's one issue though," Sudanie interjected.
"What do you mean?" Lissa asked, sitting up straight in the bed.
"Several persons from the neighborhood report seeing a man carrying the injured girl. A woman told us that he said he was taking her to the hospital. When we got here the doctor on the girl's case told us he had stayed to get a chance to speak with her. She told us he was just here a minute ago, but now he's just disappeared."
"Disappeared? Huh! Wonder where he could be?" Lissa said, projecting her voice. Her eyes glanced briefly at the closed bathroom door before looking back at Barracks. She could. She probably should give up the stranger who invaded her room, but she was curious about him, and this girl he helped.
"Did they say what he looked like?" she asked
"Tall. Slim frame, but very broad shoulders," Sudanie said. "They said he was brown skinned with tattoos. They also said his voice sounded like sandpaper but it was deep."
"Hmm, interesting," Lissa said loudly.
Barracks frowned at her. "Everything alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm just bored. You guys coming is the most excitement I've had in a while."
Sudanie scoffed. "You want more excitement than people trying to kidnap you, shoot up your house then try to kill you and your bodyguard?" she retorted.
"Yeah, if you put it like that. That is a lot," Lissa mused. She sighed. She looked at her hands. Her body started to shake.
"No, no, don't do that!" Sudanie said alarmed. She bent down and put her arms around her. "I didn't mean it! Please, don't cry. I'm sorry. Shhh ..."
"I heard your bodyguard was hurt really bad. Have you heard from him?" Sudanie asked, brushing a hand gently on her friend's face while trying to wipe her tears.
Lissa shook her head. She wiped the tears flowing down her eyes. "He's not just my bodyguard. He's the love of my life," Lissa said, her voice trembling. Sudanie sat on the bed and hugged her. She turned her head to Corporal Barracks who had a grim look on his face.
"It's okay, mama. It's okay girlie," Sudanie crooned, while rocking her friend back and forth.
They stayed for another ten minutes then both of them hugged her and wished her a good night.
Snake emerged from the bathroom. He stood at the doorway and looked at her. The light was still on.
He could get at good look at her. She was very beautiful. He heard the young police woman say she had lost weight. She did look tired and pale. But her current condition couldn't hide the fact that she was gorgeous.
She looked up at him. Her eyes were red and a little puffy. "You've been crying," he said.
"Are you gonna kill me now?" she asked, her eyes devoid of emotion.
He took a long look at her then shook his head. "No," he said. He came forward and sat on the chair before the bed.
"You had a chance to rat me out. Why didn't you?" he asked. His eyes searched her face.
"I'm not sure. You protected someone. This girl you helped, who is she to you?" Lissa asked, her eyes narrowing.
Snake leaned back in the chair. She was definitely fascinating. "The daughter of a lady I respect."
"Her father abused her?"
He nodded. His eyes glinted coldly. "Yeah, because of me. I wanted her to do a few things for me, but he had a problem with that."
"You blame him?" Lissa turned her body to face him. "I don't agree he should hit her, but your lifestyle is dangerous, wouldn't you say?"
"What are you a journalist or something?" he asked, amused.
"A head doctor," she said, a smile curling up her lips.
"Head doctor?"
"A counselling psychologist," she said.
"Oh, a shrink?" He chuckled softly. He leaned forward, looking into her eyes.
She nodded her head and shrugged, her smile brightening.
"So why are you in this place?" he asked, intrigued by her.
"Your boss sent men to kill me and my bodyguard." The smile on her face weakened.
"A bodyguard who happens to be the love of your life?" he asked, left eyebrow raised.
An emotion flickered across her face. She turned her head to look straight ahead of her. "It happens," she said quietly. The smile was gone now.
Snake watched her carefully. His pupils dilated as he stared at her. Interesting, he thought. "So I've heard," he said softly. He stood up, but she didn't look at him.
"I guess I owe you one," he said, feeling amused.
She laughed, a tinge of bitterness in her voice. "You don't owe me anything," she said. "The only thing I would say is this: if you truly care for this girl you helped, make up your mind to quit your profession as a criminal, or let her go, otherwise you'll hurt her."
Snake stared at her, curiousity turning into respect. "You are an interesting woman Ms Dixon." The grit in his voice deepened.
She looked at him: At his tattoos and the way his eyes looked like deep, dark pools. She observed his all black attire, and shook her head. "Just telling it like I see it," she said simply.
He nodded. A smile edged up his lips. "Take care of yourself," he said softly. He approached the door, looked back at her once more, then he was gone.
Lissa sighed and closed her eyes. "Jordie, I miss you," she said, her voice cracking. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she held back the sobs.
***
He had just stepped out of the bathroom and was walking towards the bed when his phone rang. He decided to get an Android brand this time. He went into Mandeville to buy the phone the day after he spoke to the Investment rep of the JCB.
Luckily, he was able to regain the majority of his contacts via his Whatsapp account. He simply reclaimed his account using his email, but changed the cell number. He used the Professor's laptop to make contact with clients from his company and made sure to inform his bosses about his current situation when he realized it was taking longer than he expected to get out of this mess.
They were alarmed at first and wanted to know if he and his family were okay. He assured them that the police were investigating the case, but for now he had to work remotely. He had to tell them about his missing briefcase with certain client details, and his suspicion that Grace Silver, the client he met the day he was kidnapped, was a fraud. His bosses informed him that the police were also aware of the missing files and what they contained.
"Hello?"
"Old friend, something's come up. I need you to come get Brandon."
"Kyle?"
"Mhm, yes it's me," Kyle said, "Something's come up." He sighed. "I need you to come get your son. It's not safe for him here anymore."
"Kyle gimme a minute," Marcus said.
He pulled off his towel with his left hand. Placing the phone on the bed, he picked up his clothes and got dressed quickly. He had laid out underwear, blue jeans, a grey hoodie and a black t-shirt on the bed. A duffle bag with one day change of clothes was on the floor. It was 11:30 p.m., but he was planning to travel into town to see his daughter.
He had a friend in Mandeville who was expecting him. He would sleepover till morning, then drive into Kingston to fetch Lissa and Brandon. It was time they were with him. He didn't know at what corner Mr Z's men would be lurking. He felt better having them with him.
"Kyle?" he said, putting the putting to his right ear.
"Yes, I'm here Mark," Kyle answered.
"I was actually planning on coming into Kingston, but I won't be able to make it until early the next day," Marcus said. "What's happening? Is it about the thing I did for you where Mr Z is concerned?"
Kyle smiled. It was good that Marcus made this easier. "Yes," he said, clearing his throat. "About that, Mr Z is back in the country. He knows about the plot to get him arrested. He wants revenge." Kyle looked behind him to see Brandon throwing his arm around Zuzu's shoulders.
"We're leaving the country. Heading to The Bahamas. We would take Branno with us, but I don't know how you would feel about that. Unless you don't mind him coming with us?"
Marcus sat on the bed. "Let me talk to my son," he said.
There was silence then, movement in the background. "Dad?" Brandon said.
Marus closed his eyes. "I take it Mr Wellington has already asked if you want to go with him and his family?"
"Yeah," Brandon said.
"Do you want to go with them?" he asked.
"I-I kind of do, it's just that I don't want to leave you, mom and Lissa.
"Dad, there's something you should know about Lissa," Brandon said, his voice sounding urgent.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. She begged me not to."
"What is it?" Marcus asked, closing his eyes. He was getting a headache.
"Dad, Lissa, she ..." Brandon sighed, "she's in the hospital, and so is Jordan. He got shot. He took a bullet to save her life."
"Is she okay?" Marcus's heart flipped over in his chest.
"Yeah dad, she's fine. She just fainted from shock, but it's Jordan, he's hurt really bad. He's at this private hospital, but the police are keeping a tight lid on his location. She doesn't know where he is. She's at the University Hospital."
"He's not at the University?" Marcus asked gripping the phone.
"No," Brandon said.
"Do the police know where?" Marcus asked.
"Yeah, but they're not saying."
Marcus took deep, steadying breaths. "I know who will tell me." He sighed. "Go with them, okay? Go with Kyle and his family."
Brandon nodded, though his dad couldn't see him. "Okay, I will."
"Let me speak to Kyle," Marcus said.
There was shuffling on the line then Kyle came on. "I promise to keep him safe." Kyle said solemnly.
Marcus sighed. "Thank you," he said. "I'm depending on you to do so."
"I will," Kyle said.
"You heard what he said about my daughter?" Marcus asked. It was Kyle's time to release a soft breath. "Yes, I heard. I'm really sorry about this." he answered.
"No, I'm sorry. I dragged you into this," Marcus said, rubbing his temples. "How did you find out he's here?"
"A cop friend of mine," Kyle lied.
"I'm gonna have to go for Lissa," Marcus said. "I was planning to anyway. This just makes it more urgent now."
"I understand. Be careful my friend," Kyle said.
"You too," Marcus responded. "Tell my son I love him."
"You can do that yourself, " Kyle said quietly. He turned on the handsfree feature.
"You're on loud speaker," Kyle said.
"Branno, I love you. And while I'm disappointed you and your sister kept things from me, I understand why. But as your father it is my job to protect you both. I'm gonna go get her. I love you."
Brandon swallowed hard, trying to keep back the tears that were threatening to fall. "I love you too daddy," he managed to say.
"Thank you Kyle," Marcus said. His chest felt tight.
"You're welcome," Kyle replied.
Marcus hung up and immediately called Shane.
***
They were seated for an hour when his phone rang. Shane answered. It was Marcus.
"Shane, good evening. Have you spoken to Lissa recently?" Marcus asked.
Shane cleared his throat. "Good evening. Actually, yes. I was going to call you. It's just Lissa and I are on sour terms at this time. I--"
"So you knew she was in the hospital?" Marcus cut him off.
Shane felt a hand touch his wrist. He looked at his beautiful fiance and blew a silent kiss to her. He had gotten down on one knee during dessert and presented the engagement ring to her. She knelt down before him, her eyes watering with tears of joy. She hugged him and said yes.
He was planning on taking her home and maybe indulging in a little naughty time with her. They wouldn't go all the way, but he wanted to taste her again. Shane leaned forward and kissed her cheek, moving the phone away from his face, he said, "It's Lissa's dad. He knows that she's in the hospital. He sounds upset."
Dana nodded. She turned to Shaun and Kerry. Kerry reached out and beckoned for her to show her the ring. She stretched her hand out and Kerry grabbed it to admire the ring. Shane smiled as he watched them.
"Shane?" Marcus queried.
Shane put the phone to his ear. "Yeah, I'm here. I'm sorry about that."
"So you saw my daughter recently?" Marcus asked, rubbing his brow.
"Yeah, I went to see her as soon as I could," Shane answered. Dana leaned her body on him. Shaun picked up his glass of red wine and sipped it slowly. Meanwhile, Kerry nibbled on a chocolate truffle. Shane circled his arm around his woman.
"Where are you now?"
"I'm actually at dinner with my family," Shane said. 'Should I tell him? Okay I'll tell him. Lissa will tell him, I'm sure,' he mused.
"You're at dinner?"
He cleared his throat. "I got engaged today," he said quietly. "Constable Campbell is now my fiance."
"Oh ..." Marcus wasn't expecting to hear that. He coughed a little. "Wow, well congrats." He cleared his throat. "Sincerely, I'm happy for you." He paused.
Shane heard the stiffness in the other man's voice. He glanced down at his beautiful lady. She was fashionably dressed in a form fitting red dress. Her hair had been freshly done a week ago. She washed it and had it styled. He told her they were having a fancy dinner for the purpose of couples bonding.
When he told her it would be a double date with Shaun and Kerry she was ecstatic. Though the relationship with Kerry had started off rocky, Dana and his sister-in-law realized they had a lot in common. One thing being their desire to see Shane happy. They often called each other and chatted on their lunch breaks. They were also planning to go to lunch together.
He playfully ran his fingers through her long, lustrous tresses. The ends had been trimmed, but he could see that her hair had grown by two inches. He inhaled the intoxicating scent of shea butter and smiled.
Dana tucked her face in his jacket and ran her painted nails across his chest. She looked up and gently tugged at his beard. It was shorter now to meet the standards of the JCF, but Dana still thought he looked sexy.
Shane's eyes darkened as he stared at her. She looked delectable. He sighed as he refocused on the phone conversation: "I'm sorry how things turned out. How can I help with Lissa?"
Marcus made a soft guttural sound. "It's fine. Is your fiance beside you now?"
"Yes, she is," Shane said, smiling down at her.
"I'd like to say something to her," Marcus said smiling.
"Okay. I'll put you on speaker. That okay?"
"Yeh man. That's fine."
Shane turned on the loud speaker. "Okay, we can hear you loud and clear," Shane said.
"My dear?"
Shane squeezed Dana's arm.
"Yes, I'm here," Dana said. She looked at Shane.
Shaun sipped some water.
"Congrats to you and my friend Shane--Sergeant Crosby. Some time ago he mentioned he was seeing someone after he and my daughter broke up." Marcus voice dipped a little.
Shane rubbed his girl's arm.
"I wish you both well, and I pray that the union will be a fruitful one," Marcus said, chuckling softly.
Shane was touched. He was a little nervous about what Marcus would say. Now he realized he truly had a friend in him.
"Thank you Mr Dixon. I appreciate it," Dana said beaming.
Kerry noticed her husband's body language and touched his arm. He smiled at her. He leaned back in his chair, his shoulders dropping slightly. Lifting her hand to his lips, Shaun kissed it and winked at her. She chuckled softly and winked back.
Shane kissed his lover's brow and whispered. "I'll be back. Gimme a minute."
She nodded. "Okay," she said.
Shane turned off the loud speaker feature on his phone and stood up. He walked into the men's bathroom and put the phone to his ear.
"Thank you for that, Marcus. You are a real friend," he said quietly. His words were sincere. "I was going to tell you I got engaged to Dana maybe a few days after. I didn't know how you would take it, considering ..."
Marcus chuckled. "I may be disappointed that you aren't going to be Lissa's fiance, and my future son-in-law, but I want you to be happy. If this young woman is good for you I am happy for you.
"I need to know something," he said.
"Sure. Go ahead," Shane answered.
"I need to know where Jordan is."
"I can tell you, but it would have to be face to face. You can never tell in this era of sophisticated technology. Phones can be hacked, etc."
Marcus grimaced. "You're afraid whoever attacked him will try again?"
"Yup," Shane said softly, looking at the bathroom stalls. He saw a pair of black shoes occupying a stall to the far end. "How did you find out?"
"A friend of mine who was helping me said a contact in the police force told him."
Interesting, Shane thought. He wondered who it could be. "Listen, I got to go," he said, "but tell you what, I will take you to see him myself. But not tonight, tomorrow. I'll text you a location so you can meet me part way, okay?"
Marcus was happy about that. "Yeah, that sounds good," he said. "I also need to tell you something when I see you."
"Okay, see you then," Shane said.
"Congrats again."
"Thank you."
Marcus ended the call. Shane looked at the phone and smiled. He stepped out of the restroom and was walking towards his fiance when he heard a voice behind him.
"Congrats, Sergeant Crosby."
He turned around to see Derrick coming out of the bathroom, and walking towards him. He was wearing a classic tuxedo. Shane looked him up and down. Derrick returned the favor: assessing Shane's dark grey jacket, black turtle neck shirt, and dark grey trousers. His eyes lowered to look at the expensive loafers on Shane's feet.
Derrick smirked as he lifted his gaze to look at Sergeant Crosby's face. "You're looking dapper. Seems you have some taste outside of your usual garb," he said in a soft, but mocking tone.
Shane lifted his left eyebrow as Derrick's comment landed on his ego. "And you look spiffy dressed up like a penguin. What's the occasion?" He gestured towards Derrick's suit.
Derrick gave a lopsided smile. "Our team did very well this quarter and I felt like treating them to something fancy. I decided to make it a black and white affair, just to give them an experience." He pointed lazily to a table over to the left of Shane's. Four tables away sat five young people all dressed in black or white suits, and gowns: two ladies and three men.
Shane nodded. "That's good," he commented.
Derrick chuckled. "And congrats I heard are in order?"
"You were eavesdropping?" Shane asked lightheartedly, though his eyes were razor sharp.
"I couldn't help it," Derrick replied, his eyes narrowing.
Shane took a step forward. Derrick stepped to him also.
"What's your problem?" Shane muttered.
"My problem? What's my problem?" Derrick narrowed the space between them.
"My problem is the man my ex-girlfriend left me for seems to have dumped her and gotten involved with another woman, while she's pregnant for him!" he hissed.
Shane's right hand curled into a fist. "Did your ex-girlfriend also tell you that she left me while she was pregnant and slept with a work colleague of mine?"
An expression flickered across Derrick's face, but he hid it quickly. "What are you saying?" he asked.
"Lissa moved on to a colleague while she was still pregnant for me." Shane shook her head. A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. Then he sobered up completely. "Did she tell you she lost the babies?"
That floored Derrick. He shoved his hands in his trousers' pockets. He shook his head. "No," he said. "No, she didn't say anything to me. To be honest, I haven't heard from her in a while."
"How long?" Shane asked.
"Maybe close to three months now," he said, his face solemn.
Shane sighed. "Look, Lissa broke up with me. She dated another cop for a little while, not very long, then she moved on to her bodyguard."
"Bodyguard?" Derrick was shocked.
"Mhm," Shane responded. "She lost the babies after she broke up with me. My fiance held me together in that period of time. I thought I would lose my mind. Dana is a good girl, and I love her. She deserves my ring."
Derrick stared at him. Shane pointed at his table, to the gorgeous woman in the red dress. Derrick's eyebrows lifted. He looked back at Shane and nodded. He cleared his throat. "I see," he said. He shifted on his feet. "And what about the man who wanted to hurt you and her?"
Shane took a deep breath. "Still at large, but we have some leads. We're gonna deal with him. I have a personal score to settle with him, but tonight ..." Shane looked over at his bride-to-be. "Tonight I celebrate the amazing woman in my life."
Derrick nodded. "Again, congratulations." His voice came out low and apologetic.
Derrick's Adam's apple bobbed as he heard that last detail. He nodded. "Yeah, I'll go see her."
Shane gave him a curt nod and turned away. Derrick watched Shane walk back to his table, and observed how the young woman perked up as he put his arm around her.
Derrick's eyebrows rose and fell. "Lucky wretch," he muttered. He walked over to his own table and greeted his guests.
***
King watched the pretty, little thing before him load bags into the back of the family SUV. He caught her name, but kept his mouth shut, and his expression blank while there were other people around her. After loading in five bags she was getting tired. When she went back for the sixth bag, she nearly stumbled, but he moved quickly and caught her.
Everything he knew about women his father and brother taught him. He figured she was the independent type, because she was doing all the lifting, while her little sister stood by chatting with a young guy he assumed was her boyfriend.
"Be careful now," he said, softening his voice. He helped her stand upright.
"Thank you," she said, looking up at him.
King was stunned to see that her eyes were the darkest brown he had ever seen. 'Or were they really black?' he wondered. He stared at them.
Zolah shrugged away from him. "Thanks," she said, and attempted to hoist the bag into the trunk but failed.
"Let me help," King said. He reached out for the bag, but she slapped his hand away. "I can do it," she said irritably. She heaved and swung but the bag hit the back of the car. King grabbed the bag before it fell and dropped it carefully on the trunk floor.
Zolah moved away from him and went back into the house.
"You're welcome," King said quietly. He crossed his arms over his chest.
His phone rang. It was his brother. He answered. "Yow," he said.
"Where are you?" Snake asked. "It's 11:30."
"I'm where I'm supposed to be. Where are you?" King asked.
"I'm coming towards you. I'm about forty minutes out," Snake replied.
King looked up as Zolah came back with another bag. He stepped aside and didn't help her. She scowled at him while she struggled with lifting this one as well. A tiny smirk formed on his lips. He walked away into the garden area near the back of the yard.
"I don't need a babysitter," King said. "This is not my first kill." He placed the phone in his left hand while his right hand checked for a pack of gum in the right pocket of his jeans.
"Don't you have anything else better to do than to watch me?" He used his fingers to pull the wrapper off a stick of chewing gum and popped it in his mouth. He dropped the wrapper on the ground.
"Matter-of-fact, I do. I'm supposed to be doing a mission with Z, but I'm already late for that. But I can help out with this one. It's five of them. Z said he wanted Midnight dead. He said we should spare the wife, daughters and son, but anything can happen."
King hissed his teeth. "I have everything under control. I'm in my car staking out the place. You coming now will just ruin everything."
"Little brother, who introduced you to the game?" Hmm?"
King sighed. "You did, but I have my own way of doing things. Okay? I'm good. You don't need to come."
"Who are you talking to?" Zolah snuck up on him.
King ended the call and grabbed her by the arm. "Never sneak up on a man while he's on his phone call, you hear me! You never know who he's talking to!" He pulled her back to the house. She struggled to get out of his grip. but he held her firmly.
"Mr M!" King shouted. "Mr M, we have to leave now!"
Kyle came out to the car with his phone in his hand. "What is it?"
"He was talking to someone!" Zolah yelled, her eyes wide with fear. "Another man is coming. We can't trust this guy." She looked at him in derision.
King took a deep breath. He let her go and she ran into her father's arm. King picked up his knapsack with extra ammo and a gun he left by the garage doorway, and slung it over his right shoulder.
"What did you do?" Kyle's gaze was murderous.
King sighed, pushing his thumb on the bag's strap. "I didn't do anything except try to deter my brother from coming here, but your daughter interrupted my conversation with him. He now knows something is off. We have to leave now. I was trying to convince him not to come, but your daughter put her mouth in our conversation. Snake isn't a fool. He was already on his way. He's definitely going to come now. I suggest if you want to live we leave right now!"
Kyle assessed him carefully. He believed him. "Snake is your brother?"
"Half brother," King said with disdain.
"Same mother?"
King nodded.
"What's your mother's name?"
"Charmaine Strong," King answered.
An old memory resurfaced in Midnight's mind. "Is Red Man your uncle?"
King nodded. "Yeah, but Snake is closer to him than I am." he answered bitterly.
Midnight smiled. Maybe he could exploit some family drama.
Midnight put away his cellphone. If this young man wanted to kill them he would have already. "Have you ever guarded anyone before?" he asked.
King nodded. He looked over at Zolah, who lowered her head. "Yes, I have," he said.
Rebecca came up behind them. Zuzu, Zane and Brandon were close by.
"I know N must have paid you money or offered you something. How much did he offer to stop you from killing me?" He had a cold glint in his eyes.
"$1.2 million," King answered.
"And how much was Z's offer?" Midnight asked.
"One million," King said.
"Okay, you work for me now. I'll pay you $1.5 million for you graciously saving me and my family's life."
"I was only supposed to kill you," King answered.
"Really?" Midnight let his daughter go.
King nodded. "Just you," he said.
Midnight sighed. "Okay, we don't have anymore time. Can you drive?"
King nodded.
Midnight took a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it to him. "This is $350,000. Get them to the location we discussed for tonight. As you know they'll be leaving early tomorrow morning. Make sure they get to the airport safely and on time."
"Will do," King said, nodding.
"Send me a text as soon as they're safely on the plane. I'll pay you the rest of the money after," Midnight said. He looked at his watch. It was 11: 40.
The men who were supposed to bring the cadavers still hadn't arrived, and they weren't able to source any blood to make the scene look believable. Kyle told him it didn't make sense they fired shots in the wall if the dead bodies weren't present to make it look real.
"Be careful with my family," Kyle said, his gaze boring into the young man.
"I will," King replied. He pocketed the cash. Zolah scoffed and rolled her eyes. King stared at her, his dark eyes perusing her from head to toe. Then he stretched his neck and shoulders. He moved his feet apart and stared towards the house. Midnight saw what he did but said nothing.
He looked at him for a minute then nodded. "Tell me something: if something were to happen to your brother how would you feel?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" Midnight asked, turning his eyes to him.
"If I have to kill him. How would you feel about that?"
"He's not my favorite brother. Let's just say the world would be better off without him." King said, but his right eye twitched.
Midnight smiled at him. He noticed the reaction. He nodded. "Okay," he said. He threw the SUV keys to him. King caught it easily and looped the key ring around his index finger.
Kyle turned to his daughter. "All bags packed?" he asked.
Zolah nodded. "Yes daddy," she said. He opened his arms and she went to him. Kyle held her close and kissed her forehead. "I want you to follow our young friend's instructions, okay?"
"But daddy!" Zolah objected.
"He's gonna make sure you guys are kept safe. So I want you to make sure he gets your cooperation."
Zolah looked behind her father at King who had his eyes on her. His gaze was hard and cold, his mouth set in a thin line. A look of determination was on his face. She blinked and turned her head away from him. Kyle kissed her brow. "Get in the car. I'll come shortly after."
"Daddy no!" Zolah said. She grabbed onto his shirt. He looked behind him at Zane. Catching his drift, Zane looked at Brandon and gestured for him to bring Zuzu with him.
Brandon nodded.
Zane grabbed onto Zolah's waist and lifted her, carrying her to the front seat of the car. He placed her inside. She tried to get out, but he barked at her, "Zo, we don't have time! Dad knows what he's doing!"
She froze and sat back in the car seat. Tears flowed silently down her cheeks. Zane grimaced at her reaction and jumped in the back of the vehicle.
Brandon lifted Zuzu and brought her to the car. She was too shocked to respond. He placed her on the back seat and sat beside her. Zane moved over to give them space. Tears began flowing down Zuzu's face. Brandon held her.
Midnight walked towards his wife. "You heard what the young man said," he said. "Z sent him to kill only me, but to spare the kids' lives and yours. I'm grateful he loves the kids so much, but what do you have to say for yourself?"
Rebecca looked up at him. "Say what you have on your mind, Kyle," she said coldly.
"I know you've been sleeping with Z," he said in a whisper.
"Correction. I used to. I did that after I found out you slept with Danae!" she hissed.
"Keep your voice down!" he whispered fiercely.
He leaned back from her and looked into her eyes. "How did you find out?" he asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know," she retorted, rolling her eyes.
Midnight came closer. "Yes, I do." He grabbed her arm. His eyes were like black darts boring into her. Her blue eyes looked at him coldly.
Midnight took a deep breath. Rebecca wasn't afraid of anything, least of all him. "For the sake of our children, please tell me," he said. He would appeal to her motherly instincts. He knew she loved being a mother.
King watched the exchange between Midnight and his wife, and shook his head. Midnight had no idea that he too had slept with her. He was shocked when he walked into the house and saw her, but she was very good at masking feelings. She pretended she didn't know him and he was glad for that. He wanted nothing to do with her now.
He walked to the SUV, put the key in the ignition and started the vehicle. Zolah sat up front with him. She turned her back to him. He glanced at her relaxed hair settling in the middle of her back. It was jet black and wavy. He wanted to touch it. He looked ahead of him. He honked the horn once.
"Tell me!" Midnight yelled. "Time is running out."
Rebecca looked past him at Zolah staring at them. She looked back at her husband. She nodded. "Okay," she said. "Okay. It was Marcia. One night she called and told me to come to the house. She wasn't there, but I heard you and Danae. After that I gave in to Z. He had been trying to get me to sleep with him for a long time, but I ignored him. Well, after that night I started an affair with him."
Midnight's grip on his wife's arm tightened.
"Does Z know I slept with Danae?" he asked.
"I don't know, but I never told him," she answered. He pulled her to the vehicle, opened the left rear passenger door and shoved her inside. Zane scooted over so that the other two could make room for his mother.
"We'll talk when I meet you in The Bahamas. We have a lot of things to discuss," he said coldly.
Zolah looked at him. "Daddy, what's wrong?" she asked.
He looked at her then back at his wife. "Ask your mother," he said. He turned to Zuzu and Zane who were also looking at him. "I love you children. Soon come," he told them.
He looked at Branno and nodded. Brandon nodded back and put his arm protectively around Zuzu. Kyle smiled at him. As he walked to the house his countenance darkened. He would try to dissuade Snake, but if he had to kill him he would.
King put the vehicle in 'drive' and moved the car slowly up to the gate. "Somebody open it," he said.
"I'll do it," Zuzu said. She opened the car door, jumped out and opened the gate. The car drove out and stopped three feet away, She locked the gate and jumped in. King drove down the main road then took a right turn onto a side road.
"Why are you going down this road?" Zolah asked.
"Because my brother will be coming up the main road," he said simply.
She pursed her lips and stared out the window. King glanced at her sideways then focused on driving.
"What was daddy talking about mom? Are you and he fighting about something?" Zane asked.
Rebecca sighed. She reached behind Branno and Zuzu to touch his arm. "It's a long story. When we get settled in tomorrow I'll explain everything," she said.
Zuzu didn't like what was happening. First, she heard that they had to leave because Z wanted to kill her. She didn't understand why. She didn't do anything to her uncle Z. Just minutes before they entered the car, she heard that uncle Z didn't want to kill her or her siblings, he just wanted to kill her father. And now her parents were fighting about something. She snuggled up to Branno. Why was this happening? At least I have my boyfriend here with me, she mused. She closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.
Brandon looked down at her sad face and kissed her brow. By now the family was used to him displaying affection towards her. They hadn't had sex yet, but he didn't mind. He was happy to wait for her. He squeezed her closer to him.
While his left hand steering the vehicle, King took out his phone and hit redial.
N answered immediately. "Yes," he answered.
"I'm on the road now. I have the wife; the kids and a family friend with me. We'll be staying somewhere safe for tonight and tomorrow the family will go overseas."
"Family friend?" N asked curious.
"Yup," King said amused. "Some lawyer guy's son."
Rebecca stared at King's back in alarm. "Who are you talking to?" she demanded.
"Z's once upon a time number 1 enforcer," he quipped casually. "You should know who I'm talking about," King answered, his voice having a cold edge to it.
Rebecca's mouth flew open then clamped shut. She looked out the right rare passenger side window.
"Who just spoke?" N asked.
"Midnight's woman," King said.
N chuckled.
"By the way, the undertaker didn't show up," King said. Zolah waddled on the seat while pulling her skirt down to partially cover her knees. King's eyes drifted down and caught a glimpse of the brown, creamy texture of her skin before she covered her thighs. He refocused his attention on the road.
"I see," N replied. He needed to find out what that was about.
"Keep silent after this until they're safely in the air. No more phone calls, not even to your baby mother. You're more than capable," N said.
King smiled on hearing those words. "Thank you. I will do my best," he replied, a feeling of pride surged through him. "And I don't have a woman."
Zolah's back straightened. Her head cocked a little to the right. King noticed and a mocking smile quirked up his lips.
"Did Midnight give you any money?" N asked.
"Yeah," King answered.
"Good. That's yours, but I will pay you what I said I would, don't worry."
"I'm not," King said coolly.
"Alright. I appreciate you calling and letting me know. Be careful," N said.
"Will do," King said before ending the call.
"I can't believe this!" Rebecca said angrily. "Don't you know who you're talking to?! That's N! He works for Z!"
"He used to," King said "As we speak N's gonna make sure he kicks Z off his throne."
Rebecca's eyes widened. "Does Z know about this?" she asked.
King laughed. "Right now your concern should be your husband, if he'll be alive after tonight. My brother is a very cruel man. I may have some conscience left, but my brother does not."
Rebecca laughed vulgarly. "Conscience? Oh please! You mean loving money and putting your services out there for the highest bidder. Neither you or your brother have any sense of loyalty."
King lifted his gaze and stared at Mrs Wellington through the rearview mirror. "You're one to talk about loyalty," he said, a knowing smirk formed on his lips. Rebecca caught his look and turned her head away. She spoke no further words, and King was relieved he could shut her up.
Zane watched the exchange between them, a feeling of unease rising in his chest. He glanced at Brandon who happened to be looking his way at the same time. Brandon did an irritated expression with his face and Zane nodded. So his friend also noticed that something was off. He wondered even more what issue his parents had with each other.
The rest of the journey in the car was quiet. Zuzu, Rebecca and Zane had fallen asleep. Brandon however, was still awake, but scrolling on his phone. His right arm was slung protectively over his girl. He had headphones in his both ears.
Meanwhile, Zolah rested her arms on the open space of the passenger window and stared at the passing landscape. The window was rolled all the way down so she could experience the cool, crisp night air. She felt tired but was afraid of falling asleep. Yes, she remembered what her dad said about cooperating, but she did not trust this stranger. Maybe if they all fell asleep he would take them to a secluded location and kill them. Someone needed to stay awake.
***
"The scouts detected movement along Bling Lane," Tulloch said, after he got off the phone. N turned to Druz and said, "I'm sorry about Dom, but now I need your help, for the sake of your niece and grandchildren."
Not if I get away with Izzie first, he thought, but he just nodded and said, "Understood."
Druz stared at him and shook his head. "You're not afraid to die, Nes, or are you already dead inside?"
N gave him wry smile. "Probably," he said.
Druz grunted and moved away from him. He called one of his guards over. "Tell the men to get ready. Tell them we're doing Tactical Move Z and this is not practice." The man nodded and walked away.
N's left eyebrow lifted as he looked at Druz. "Tactical Move Z?"
"We do business with Z," Druz said, "but he doesn't control us. I knew a day would come he would try to invade and kill me. But it seems you are the instrument that has brought it to my door. No matter. We are ready."
N sobered up. He nodded. He moved to leave the conference room to head towards the sleeping quarters of the Estate.
"Where are you going?" Druz asked. N stopped at the door.
"To see Izzie," N replied. "You plan to kill me, but Z might beat you to it. I need to see her just in case ..." He stopped speaking. His head bowed a little as he thought about all that had happened.
Druz nodded. "Understood," he said.
N left the room.
She was laying on her side, her back to the door. He sat on the bed and touched her hair. She turned but when she saw it was him she hissed her teeth, and turned away from him.
"Izzie, honey, I'm sorry for everything. For all that has happened. I am truly sorry. I didn;t know the guard was Druz's nephew. He brushed his hand on her braids. "Baby come tho think of it. He's your uncle."
She whirled around to look at him. She was angry. "I know Lequan wouldn't deliberately hurt anyone unless you or my uncle told him to."
N released a sharp breath. "Baby, I'm so very sorry. If I survive tonight I promise you I will walk away from everything. I need to tell you something." He paused.
With a heavy sigh she sat up and looked at him. "What is it?" she asked, impatiently.
"Your uncle Z will be coming here. No doubt he's coming to kill me and take you back with him. He's probably very angry with you," N said.
He touched her face. She closed her eyes. "I love you very much. Whatever happens to me tonight I want you to know I love you very much."
"I-I ..." She bowed her head.
"I know you still love me Izzie. I also know you're angry with me. I have no problem with that, but promise me if you are pregnant you won't hate this baby--"
"What kind of person do you think I am?!"
He cupped her face, but she pulled back. "I would never hate him or her, if I am. I will love this baby the way I love ..." She stopped speaking as realization hit her that this may be the last time she would see or hold him.
Her eyes filled with tears which spilled over. She reached out for him, and he grabbed her and tucked her in his arms. "I know you love me. I love you Izzie."
"Nes, I love you. I'm sorry," she breathed, Her lips sought his, and he crushed them on hers, kissing her fervently.
She tore her lips away and took a deep breath. "Promise me you will be safe. I overheard the men calling you Sentinel," she said, her eyes wide.
"That was years ago. I'm old and cranky now," he said chuckling.
"You have the wisdom of an old man," she said, chuckling softly. He smiled at her. She touched his face, then took his hand and placed it on her tummy. "For the sake of our baby, promise me you will come back to me."
He looked down at her tummy and squeezed it gently. Taking a ragged breath, he brushed his hand across her left cheek and nodded. "For the sake of our baby, if you have one in here, and you, I will do my best to come back to you."
"That's what I want to hear," she said. "As for my uncle's threat I would rather die than let him hurt you," she said vehemently. "I wont let him take you from me."
Nes held her close and caressed her back. "I love you Isabel Marx," he said.
Izzie looked at him. He had never called her Isabel before only Izzie. She placed her hand on his chest. "I love you Nesbeth Grant."
He tenderly kissed her lips then stood up. "I'll come for you and we're gonna get out of here. If I have a daughter or son to look forward to meeting, death won't keep me from being their father." He kissed her brow. "Keep the door locked. It's re-enforced steel. No one can get in unless the lock is shot off. If anything go through this door."
He walked to the wall and pressed and patted the part with a slight bulge. It appeared to be solid concrete but it was a wooden panel painted in the same color as the walls. He pushed at it and it creaked noisily open. She got up and went to investigate. She looked at him, her eyes showing her doubt.
He looked at the secret passageway, and stared at her. He could see she was fearful, then he remembered it was like a maze in there. She would get lost, but he knew the way. "On second thought," he said, "wait for me. If things get too hot I'll come back for you and we'll get away."
She hugged him. He kissed her then walked to the door. "Keep the door locked," he said. She came to it and said, "Okay." He touched her face then opened it and stepped outside. She turned the key and locked the door.
"Don't let anyone in here except me or your uncle Druz. Not even Dom's woman, and not Zavier," N told her. He took a deep breath. "I love you," he said, lifting his voice.
She nodded. "Okay," she said loudly. "I love you."
She heard his retreating footsteps and sighed. She took up her bags from the floor and put them on the bed. She started stuffing some clothes she had placed in a makeshift closet space in one of them.
***
"Boss, the place look like a ghost town," Karey Browne aka Brownie said aloud.
N sneered. "Of course, they would know by now that we're coming," he said, through gritted teeth. He turned to a tall man they called Mountain and said, "Send a scout ahead," he said.
Mountain whistled and one of the young men stepped forward. The young man's eyes were black as pitch, his face partially hidden by a navy blue mask. "Go and check out what's before us," Mountain said.
The young man nodded and moved off quickly.
In a house across the street a teen boy picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Corporal Stewart?"
Ryan rolled onto his back as he registered that it was his little friend, Lamar on the phone. "Yes Lamar, what is it?"
"Corpie, Mr Z and him man dem a move into the community. War a guh start yah now!" he whispered.
He ducked down when he saw one of the men looking at his house.
"Where are you?" Ryan asked sitting up. Wedging the phone between his neck and face, he reached for his watch and tied it onto his left wrist. It was 12:21 a.m.
"Me and my family are at home. My mommy and sisters are asleep," Lamar answered.
"Okay, Lamar stay where you are. Lay low. Lie flat on the floor. Are all the lights off in the house?" Ryan asked.
"Yes, boss," Lamar said.
Ryan nodded. "Okay, I'll report this. Don't leave the house, okay?"
"Okay," the young boy replied.
"Good boy," Ryan said and ended the call.
He called his station and told the desk officer on duty what was happening, then made a report to the polices' central communications network. He hurriedly got dressed in police gear and jumped into his vehicle.
***
N decided to dress in full black: black shirt, hoodie, black boots and a black ski mask. Strapped to his left leg was his hunting knife in a leather sheath. He was definitely going hunting. He smiled wickedly to himself. He moved among the abandoned building, his body slightly crouched, his eyes alert. He offered to take point while Druz's men followed a few meters behind.
Schande, Baker would be part of the ambush with twenty of their men. They were on the east side of Druz's territory waiting to move in on his signal. Tulloch had fifteen more men with him. They were the last line of defense to protect the women and children hiding inside the Estate.
N crouched down and closed his eyes. He went on his knees and took a deep breath. It was dark. It would be difficult for him to see all movement with his naked eyes. He relaxed his muscles, flexing his shoulder and neck slowly. He took slow, deep breaths: breathing in slowly; exhaling quietly. He willed his thoughts to go blank as he listened. In the distance he heard the yowling of a cat in distress, the soft rustling of leaves in the wind, and silence.
Motionless and alert, he continued to breathe slowly, evenly, until ... in the distance he heard the uncanny cracking of a twig and the very faint movement of an animal, or maybe a man. Nesbeth concentrated on the sound. His heart rate slowed down, his breathing--gentle.
He could hear Druz's men nearby, but he was very aware of the unfamiliar movement coming closer. He listened to the pace of each step taken: careful, unrushed--deliberate. Nesbeth opened his eyes and looked in the direction the sounds were coming from and stood up slowly. That was a man not an animal. He moved off quickly, stealthily--taking short, but cautious steps.
It was times like these he wished he had Snake's ability to see in the dark once there was enough light available to decipher movement. There were a few street lights still working but they were behind him. He listened, his breathing relaxed. He calculated that maybe the person was about twenty yard away. The footsteps sounded more clearer. Nes decided he would wait for him. He looked around and decided to climb an ackee tree. He perched in the tree top waiting.
***
The house was pitch black. Snake hissed his teeth. Obviously his brother was lying to him. The house was in total darkness, and his brother was nowhere to be seen. His vehicle was parked across the road, but King wasn't in it.
He took a black balaclava out of his glove compartment and drew it over his face. He closed his driver's side door and armed his vehicle. Tucking his keys in his pocket, he took a deep breath and walked towards the house.
Quietly, he opened the gate, immediately his phone began vibrating. He looked at the screen. It was his butterfly. His brow furrowed. He wondered why she was up so late.
"Hello," he answered, trying to whisper, but his deep, gravelly voice sounded more like a growl. He heard her make a breathy sound then giggle. He smiled a little. "Pretty butterfly, what is it?"
"Your voice. It's so deep," Kadian mumbled softly.
The smile on his lips widened. "Everything okay?" he asked. His eyes scanned the dark house before him.
"Dante?" she said hesitantly.
"Hmm?"
"You said I should call you that?"
"Yes I did." He smiled. "We're friends now."
"Dante, I had a bad dream," Kadian said.
Snake chuckled softly. "You want me to come back and tuck you in?" he asked, teasing her.
"No," she said giggling. "No, it was about you." Her voice got lower, more somber. "Dante in my dream someone tried to kill you. He was a tall man and his skin was black, as black as night. I'm so scared, please be careful."
Dante's aka Snake's hand tightened around the phone.
"I'll come see you tomorrow, okay? Nothing is gonna happen to me."
"Where are you?" she asked.
"I'm home."
He heard her sigh. "Okay Dante, sleep well," she said airily.
"Sleep well, little butterfly," he replied, and hung up.
He thought of what she said. 'Was it a dream or premonition?' he wondered.
He had two choices: He could move further into the yard and attempt to fulfill the contract King botched, or he could turn around and go home. He stared at the house, thoughts swirling in his head.
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