"Vincent, keep an eye on them. I have some business to take care of."
Before he could agree to my command, I left to go to the basement. It was time I paid my client another visit. He needed to talk if he wanted to live. I wasn't willing to negotiate, but if he said the right thing I might let him live a little longer.
The pin to the basement took a little longer than usual to put in than I expected. Weird. Either someone had tried to get in before or I was just putting it in too fast. Upon entering the room, the lights clicked on. It flooded the space with bright light. The man's head snapped up and he glared at me.
"You've been missing for awhile, you know," I pointed out. "No one's missing you yet. I don't think they ever will."
He said nothing.
"I got a call from some friends and they asked about you. They want you for themselves."
I snapped on a pair of latex gloves and smiled. It felt good to be in charge and in this room again. Big enough to let my client run but small enough to make him feel claustrophobic. Soundproof. No one outside could hear us, but we could hear them.
"Should I give you to them? Do you want to leave me? I don't blame you if you do. Just remember that I treat you better than they will treat you."
"Go to hell," He snarled.
"Only if I can drag you there with me."
⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕
The children were in the hospital lobby and I was in Lexi's room when the earthquake hit. I had just finished talking to her and was heading out. The sudden tremors made me stumble and fall. I didn't come to until I heard panicked voices calling out to me.
A doctor was shaking me and lightly slapping my face. I slowly sat up and looked around. The room was coated in a thin film of white dust. I could only assume that the earthquake hadn't been too bad.
"Sir, can you hear me?" He asked. "Hey, hey! Look at me. Can you hear me?"
A high pitched whine muted my hearing for a couple of seconds.
"Can you hear me?" A light shined in my eyes. I flinched and covered them. "You okay?"
"I-I'm fine," I said. "What about Lexi?"
"The doctors are tending to her now. Did you come here with anyone?"
That's when I remembered the children. I struggled to stand to stand and stumbled/bolted from the room. I couldn't let anything happen to them. Vincent was a good kid, and hasn't been with them for too long. How was I going to explain anything to Luca if something happened to them?
I was suddenly shoved into a room. The door slammed shut and I was left in the dark for what seemed like thirty minutes. I blindly searched for a light switch. The light flooded the room revealing that I wasn't alone. I'm surprised all the power hadn't been knocked out.
"Do you not care for the safety of the people you associate yourself with?" He asked. "Do you not remember what happened to Angela? I'm sure you don't want the same thing to happen to Lexi."
"If you lay one hand on her I'll murder you myself," I growled.
He was quiet for a moment as if he was searching for something to say. I watched him silently in hopes of figuring him out.
"I used to love our conversations," He said suddenly. "Why don't we ever talk anymore, Kelman?"
Flashbacks of the things he and I used to do together rushed back to me. My hands flew to my head and I urged myself not to fall to my knees. All of these were too painful to remember. They seemed to sear my mind. I grimaced and fell to my knees. No!
"Lexi was once so beautiful and innocent. Just like your mother before she...you know. How is she doing anyway? I doubt you know anything, do you?"
"Go away," I moaned. "Get out of my head!"
"Don't you think those women felt the same way when you placed your mind games with them," He snapped. "Don't make me hurt her."
"...You wouldn't."
"Of course I wouldn't."
"What?"
"Of course I wouldn't hold back, Kelman. I live to see others in pain."
I struggled to my feet and glared at him. He wouldn't dare touch Lexi. I needed to protect her and get back to the kids as fast as I could. Suddenly he was in front of me. I took a step back in surprise. He grinned and pulled on a pair of black latex gloves.
"We used to be really good friends, Kelman," He said. "What happened to us?"
"Don't call me that," I bit back.
"So close," He continued as if I hadn't said anything. "I promised your mother I'd forever take good care of you, but...look at us. Not all promises are made to be fulfilled. Some are meant to be broken."
Why? I thought bitterly. Why did I decide to come here today of all days? The kids could be watching a movie right now. We could be under the table in a fancy restaurant. I love Lexi and all, but it seems like she attracts trouble with all the deals she made in the past.
"Why are you doing this to me?" I demanded. "Why are you willing to hurt me...uncle?"
"It's been awhile since you called me that." He seemed to sigh in content. Uh... "I can still kill you."
My mind reeled. I thought that would work with him. "Connerie!"
"Surveille ton langage," He snarled. "You can call me Jackson. No need to make me sound like a nobody."
"You are a nobody. All the respect I had for you years ago has gone from me." I pushed him back.
"You want to die, don't you? You want to join Lexi, huh?"
I was caught off guard as Jackson's hand shot up and grabbed my neck. He grinned and my instincts suddenly kicked in. I brought my palms down on his wrists, forcing them to fall to my chest. Before he realized what I had done I kicked him in his lower abdomen. He slid back like a cat and pulled out a knife.
"There's no point in waiting if Lexi is already brain dead. No one is around to stop me. Even if Luca cared, which I'm sure he doesn't, he and I go way back." Jackson smiled and stood up.
"You know nothing," I growled. "Luca would care because his family is involved."
Even after I said that I knew it wasn't true. As much as Luca pretended he loved his family, I knew he didn't. The earthquake only ended some time ago. If I were him I would be here seeing if my wife was okay. I'd call the man I put in charge of my children to see if they needed any help. He hasn't done either of those things.
I mentally face-palmed myself. Why did I just say that? Jackson surely thinks I'm still weak. Then it dawned on me.
"What have you done!" I yelled.
"I haven't done anything," He denied with a light chuckle. "Kelman, your aunt and her daughter-in-law are strong women. What if I happen to disrupt their lives?"
"Don't you lay a finger on either of them."
"I won't, but hey will." The door opened and two men filled the doorway. "Take care of the Monteil branch. Don't let them out of your sight."
"You won't get away with any of this!"
"Sure, sure. I'll be getting somewhere though." I charged at him, but stopped me by pointing the knife at me. I stared down the end of it as he snatched my necklace. No! I tried to take it back, but he smacked me with the flat end of the blade.
"No one is going to stop me, Kelman. Take the first flight to Lyon. I'll take care of this Monteil."
⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕
"I can't believe you!" I screamed. "Where is my family? What did you do to them?"
Of course I got no response. I was being held here against my will. I'd broken a promise I knew I couldn't keep. I didn't know where the children were or where I was. Were they hurt? Alive? Why does everything happen to me? Every. Bad. Thing! Why? Why? Luca is going to murder me.
Not unless you kill him first.
I stopped struggling against the ropes and looked around the dark room.
"Who said that?"
I did.
"Where are you?" I frantically looked in every direction my neck allowed me to look. "Who are you?"
I'm in your head, Asher. I'm you.
"Me..."
Yes. I knew it wouldn't be long before you fully broke. Luca would never know what hit him if you killed him first.
"What are you suggesting?"
You're dumber than I thought. It wouldn't be fair to you if you're blamed for what happened.
"...No one is going to blame me."
They will if they find out that Luca willingly handed them over to you and you suddenly disappeared. Even Kathryn will leave you.
"She would never."
Believe what you want, Asher. I'm only here to help you. Remember when your father almost killed that man for touching your mother?
"Of course I do."
I was with him. I was the one who told him what to do.
"What does that have to do with me?" I closed my eyes.
Asher, I'm here to make your life easier than it is. To do that you must let me help you. We must first eliminate all your enemies.
"Jackson, espèce de bâtard!" I growled.