Alexander
I wait until I’m sure she’s gone, then I approach the son of a bitch lying on the floor. I grab him by the collar and lift him. He can barely stand.
He’s terrified as I pull out my gun and point it at his face.
“So your boss tried to double–cross me, is that it? He really thought I was dumb enough to hide that here?”
“I’m just an errand boy. I had no choice, you have to believe me. Please don’t kill me. I told her the truth about the address where your IT guy is! She’s going to find him!”
I give him a crooked smile.
“I know you told her the truth. I also know you deliberately avoided revealing too much about what I’m hiding–good, you’re not as dumb as you look!”
“So… you’re going to let me live, then? I did you a favor by not talking in front of her!”
“Tell me who sent you and I’ll consider it.”
He freezes.
“If I talk, he’ll kill me.”
“I’ll kill you anyway, so talk.”
“You don’t get it–he’ll kill my whole family if I open my mouth.”
“It’s Khalid, isn’t it?”
“No.”
I knew it.
“I figured that fool wasn’t smart enough. So who is it? Tell me his name so I can go find him and rip his throat out, the son of a
bitch!”
“I can’t tell you. But just know this person wants you dead and wants to take what you have. They’ll do anything to get it, even if it means leaving a trail of corpses behind.”
“I want a name.”
“You don’t get it–it’s someone mentally unstable. You have no idea what they’re capable of.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“Neither do 1. I’m not afraid of this person, got it? Tell me their name. If I kill them, your whole family will be safe.”
“You have to promise to let me live first–and then protect my family.”
“The name.”
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He’s just about to speak when I see a red laser dot appear on his forehead.
It all happens so fast. A bullet tears through him, and he collapses in front of me. I exhale with frustration.
I look at the window, now pierced by the bullet.
I spot a sniper on the rooftop of the building across, wearing a balaclava hiding his face, putting his gear away.
I pull out a cigarette and my lighter from my pocket, lighting it while watching the shooter. I could kill him in a second if I wanted to
-but it’s not necessary.
I blow out a puff of smoke. I open the bedroom window and wait for him to meet my gaze. As soon as he sees me, I flash him a crooked smile.
“Tell your boss I can’t wait to meet him, so I can show him no one lays his balls down in front of mine.”
I know he heard me–I can see a panicked nod.
Inara
I take the shovel out of my car’s trunk. I shiver from the wind and walk toward the small field in front of me.
I turn on the flashlight on my phone to inspect the ground and look for freshly turned soil.
“Mathieu! I’m here to get you, it’s Inara!”
Luckily for me, the field isn’t very big. I’ll be able to search it quickly, but I have to hurry–every second counts.
“Mathieu!”
I scream. I run in all directions trying to find him. It goes on for a good ten minutes.
I start to panic when I hear faint, muffled sounds coming from a corner.
I finally spot a patch of freshly dug earth, different from the rest of the field.
As I get closer, I hear faint, barely audible cries.
I start digging.
I dig frantically for several minutes without stopping until I feel a leg. I drop the shovel and keep going with my bare hands as fast
as I can.
I finally managed to free him.
He’s unrecognizable. I flash him a relieved smile, then help him to his feet. He’s crying. He’s breathing hard and coughing repeatedly.
I wrap my arms around him and hold him close.
“You scared me so much–you can’t even imagine how much.”
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“I thought I was going to die here.”
His voice is hoarse and broken from crying.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you again, I promise.”
Thug him even tighter, trying to comfort him and let him feel that I’m here for him.
2:35 a.m.
I keep holding Mathieu in my arms for a few more minutes.
He remains frozen and terrified.
I will find the person responsible for what Mathieu just went through, and I will make them pay for every tear he shed.
“Come on, let’s go. We need to leave this place.”
He bites his lip to stop himself from crying.
“Go where? Did you see the state of my apartment, Inara? They… they trashed my place and killed my cat.”
I don’t know what to say. I know what it feels like to lose all your bearings.
“It… it’s going to be okay. We’ll get a hotel room together, alright? I’ll take care of everything, don’t worry.”
He nods. I lace my fingers with his and we walk silently to my car.
I’m about to get into the driver’s seat when my eyes are blinded by a bright light from several car headlights.
I hear engines and tires screeching.
When I see who’s behind all this chaos, I clench my fists.
I grab Mathieu and put him behind me. I can feel him breathing hard and shaking.
Ten men.
Khalid
“I taught you to be more cautious. You should’ve made sure there wasn’t a tracker on your car.”
I sigh.
“Where’s Maria?”
“Safe.”
Khalid snaps his fingers. His men start walking toward us with their weapons pointed at our bodies.
“Tell them not to come any closer!”
His men keep advancing Two of them grab my arms and force me away from Mathieu while two others violently seize Mathieu, who’s paralyzed with fear.
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“Let him go!”
A splitting headache hits me, it hurts like hell. I need to rest or I’ll get sick.
“You want revenge for Hakim’s death, is that it? I know you must think I’m responsible, but I had nothing to do with it.”
He seems disturbed that I would suggest that and bring up the topic.
37%
That’s the only reason I can think of for why he’s coming after me so suddenly when we had an agreement that benefited us both.
“This has nothing to do with Hakim.”
“Then what do you want from me? I didn’t do anything to you.”
He locks his eyes with mine.
“This isn’t about what you did. Your only mistake was being the daughter of a whore.”
I stare at him, disturbed.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your mother’s lucky she’s already dead, because I swear I would’ve had her raped by dogs before killing her.”
I feel all the bitterness and rage he holds toward her.
It’s been sixteen years since she died. Where is all this hate coming from?
He threw away almost everything that belonged to her. He burned all her pictures.
What does my mother have to do with what’s happening now? What does he expect from me?
“Why are you talking about her? She’s dead, let her rest in peace.”
He raises his eyebrows.
“Is that anger I hear in your voice? Do I need to remind you I hold your friend’s life in my hands?”
I stay silent.
“That’s better.”
“She has nothing to do with this.”
“You’re wrong. She has everything to do with it. I’m standing here because of that stupid bitch!”
I turn my eyes away to keep from unleashing my hatred on him.
He doesn’t deserve my breath, and I won’t risk Mathieu’s life just out of pride.
“Not only did she ruin my life while she was alive, but she keeps ruining it even sixteen years after her death!”
I don’t understand.
“She stole from me.”
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Chapter 97
I was very young when my mother died, but I know she was the complete opposite of my
