I held onto ducky's hand as we descended the stairs of the church I go to every other Sunday. It wasn't a big glamourous building but it is still a beautiful place in its own humble way.
The building itself was made of stone while the windows had colorful glass making pictures of angels and an old bell kept in perfect condition with actual real diamonds designed on the outside. Back when the church wasn't doing so good, there were loan sharks harassing the priest while territory bosses fought over purchasing the land.
With me having my kind of job and being the best out of the best with one hundred percent satisfaction being the angel of death, I had enough to out buy everyone. Of course, the sharks got double what was owed and the amount for the church didn't have a pretty number either but it was all worth it. The name of ownership is under my name only no one knows or is not allowed to know and I made it a point to let the staff know that nothing is to be given to me.
We walked across the street to the grassy cemetery surrounded by a simple white picket fence with a white wooden archway being taken over by the vines of a rose bush. She began to walk slowly as she observed the many tombstones we passed by decorated with fake and real flowers, "Hey sweetie, guess what?"
She then looked up at me, "Wha?" I smiled facing forward again as I guided us through the maze of graves to the one grave I visited all these years that has now converted to two. "This is the church where grandma and grandpa got married in and maybe when you are way older, you can get married here too."
She looked at me with a sparkle in her eyes then at my parents' graves as she sat down ladylike in front of them. I sat down next to her wondering what could be going on through her pretty head, "Wha bout you mommy? No new daddy?"
Her question caught me a bit off guard and it took me a good few minutes to think of an answer for her first question only, as for the second one well it broke my heart. I gave her a sad smile as I pulled out two sandwiches from my tote bag, "I don't think I could get married sweetie plus I never want to be with anyone else but you and your siblings."
While she chewed she stared at the inscription on my mothers grave almost tracing the cursive writing word for word with eyes full of fascination. I laid sideways with my head on duckies lap as I ate my lunch and she ate hers with a hand on my cheek while we stared at the tombstones.
We enjoyed the peacefulness for a few good minutes until I felt the ground vibrate indicating someone was coming towards us and I knew already who it was by how they were walking.
"It's quite peaceful here isn't it, " Jay said lifting my legs to sit where they were and laid them on his lap. I closed my eyes, "Did you use the tracker on me?" My eyes opened to see Jay looking at my mothers grave with sadness, "You know Skylar, you look so much like your mother and you have a mixture of both your parents attitude."
I sat up straight away glaring at him as he kept his saddened face to the grave, "What do you know of my parents?" It took him a moment to look at me with a smile but his eyes showed a different feeling, "Let us discuss this at another destination where I'm sure you will love, " he said getting up and helping me up as well.
We picked up after ourselves before walking out of the gates of the cemetery to a black jeep Jay must have driven to get here. "I had someone drive your car back to the company's parking garage so we'll take mine," he said opening the passengers and back seat door for us.
A sigh escaped my mouth as we got into the vehicle and drove off towards the border of Jersey then kept driving down the highway closest to the sea. Ducky like the little kid that she is kept asking if we were almost there to where our destination was, then after three hours she shouted, "Oooo I know I know! Almos to Heaven!" Jay turned back to ducky putting a finger to his lips shushing her, "Hush Leah, your mother doesn't know where we are going so its a surprise for him."
She gasped quickly covering her mouth with both of her little hands looking at Jay who now had a smirk then at me who had a brow raised.
"I won't tell," was all she said before facing away from me to the window kicking her legs up and down excitedly. Where we were going, I knew they weren't going to tell me and were going to keep shut about it. Almost thirty minutes later, we arrived at a little deck of a private beach needing a passcode in order to get the car spikes down.
After Jay parked the Jeep by the wooden deck, I got down with Ducky in my arms feeling the lumpy sand under my loafers with every step. The sun still shining brightly as the wind carried the wonderful scent of seawater everywhere and the sound of waves crashing with each other made this a beautiful place to be at.
Ducky squirmed in my arms telling me to put her down, "Mon mommy," she yelled grabbing my hand and leading me to the wooden deck where a run-down boat was that seemed to have an expensive propeller attached to it.
Jay helped Ducky and me on to the boat and had us sit in the middle telling us to wear the seatbelts. When we all got situated, Jay suddenly pulled a lever down making the boat and us jerk back then forward as we speed through the ocean.
He smirked at my expression since this was my first time on a boat but my thoughts went to Ducky as she screamed with happiness at how fast we were going and I couldn't help but laugh as her cheeks were somewhat flapping. It was moments like these that made the troubles of my life disappear for a moment. Just for a moment.
But something seemed off.
For about thirty minutes maybe more you could finally see an island I mean it was hardly noticeable from where we were at but since I deal with long distance targets all the time I was able to make it out.
Another few minutes later we got pretty close to the island and it amazed me how large and small the land was if that made sense. Jay parked the boat at a wooden deck with steel poles and railings decorated with solar string lights.
"Where are we for real, Jay. I'm not one to be at an unknown destination," I said as he helped us off the boat and began to follow him towards the woods. He kept walking forward as Ducky let my hand go and ran off out of sight making me panic, "Ducky!" I started to run after her not caring I was getting dirty with mud and god knows what else.
I ran and ran until I came into a clearing of a beach where a large beach house sat comfortably next to the ocean. It was a two-story house painted a light violet color and outlined with white making it look cozy with an all-around porch. By the ocean, there was a mini porch for outside dining and a small playground but my eyes caught sight of my little girl running up the porch steps and throwing the door open.
I quickly ran after her losing my shoes in the process as I shouted for her making my way up the steps through the door and into the living room. Heh, it all looks the same.....wait, what.
I walked around the place gaining a headache with every step into a not so new room of this not so unknown house of this not so unknown island. Tears ran down my face as I tried to remember where the hell this place was but a gasped left my lips when I saw a photo of me and my parents sitting on top of the fireplace.
Mother looking angelic as always held me in her arms as my handsome father wrapped an arm around us while the other held the camera out. There was another frame with the three of us from another time on the right side while the left side had two photos of...Mr. Blackwood and Jay.....together.
Jay finally walked to the living area with a sad smile on his face with his photos in his line of sight. "Jay....explain where we are." He gestured for me to take a seat on the velvet couch while he took a seat on the one seater still looking at his photo.
"Did you ever wonder why the hell this famous group that's been hidden for years was easily given to you by him along with his only daughter? Why you weren't given a hard time about being the new owner by me or any of the people with top positions in this group?"
I looked down shaking my head allowing him to continue, "There were three children from the Blackwood's, my lover Jeremiah Blackwood, your mother Rebecca Blackwood and her twin sister who died years ago Clarissa Blackwood. You and Leah are the last remaining heirs to the Blackwood group so I expect you to take care of each other and this group."
This was all a shock to me. Why wasn't I told about this earlier? Why didn't my mother leave behind a note at least explaining to me about our family history? There were all these questions in my head that I couldn't help crying. One question decided to leave my mouth, "You and Mr. Blackwood were lovers?"
He laughed at me probably because of how stupid it was for that to be my first question out of this big reveal. "He technically was and wasn't my husband, we met in our middle school years and had a group of friends including your parents. In fact, she helped me woo him though he used to say that he was the first one to love me," he said taking out his drivers license where his last name read Blackwood.
Wow was all I could say and he continued his story, "He confessed to me by playing the ukulele and singing the song "Can't help falling in love" while we walked in central park on our fifth friendship anniversary."
A tear escaped his eye as he told me his love story and I couldn't help but hug him. Ducky must have heard because she came in between us to hug him as well making him finally cry for the death of the love of his life.
Little time passed as he explained that my mother wanted nothing to with the Blackwood group and instead helped out my father and his small group since it was small and did nothing that was too illegal. When she died my uncle was told not to bring me into the family business thus leaving me alone with my father and didn't know of the abuse going on that his men reported nothing unusual happening to me. I learned that he knew what my code name was when he had apparently met me the first year I went to the ball.
My Aunt Clarissa was sadly killed with her boyfriend while on a date in an assassination car explosion burning their bodies. While we cooked dinner he told me stories from our time when we were a whole family making me cry, laugh and smile.
While sitting down taking a bite of the steak after giving Ducky a bite, Jay cleared his throat, "What do you intend to do about that relationship with that man?"
I gulped looking down, "I know I have deep feelings for him even if I haven't spent much time with him as most couples do before marriage. There is just a sense of peace and happiness I get when together but.....there is a part of me that believes being alone is the best option.
Jay, I don't know how to feel about this at all, do I want to be alone or with my person who fills my heart. It's all too confusing because when I get too comfortable I'm always here to remind myself of how disgusting I am to be in another's presence including the children."
"The children are lucky to have a parent like you and that man is lucky to even have laid eyes on you," Jay said after wiping his mouth and collecting his dirty plate.
"It's not nice to tell lies, Jay, especially to family," I replied collecting the rest of the dirty items and began to wash them up. He quickly turned his head away from the fridge to look me straight in the eye, "You think of me as family?"
I laughed turning my attention back to the dirty plate in my hands, "Since the day we met again, I unconsciously made you my father so, yes you are part of my family mentally and physically."
I looked over at the other room to see ducky secretly listening to our conversation while watching a cartoon with popcorn. "Although I've forgotten my time with the family, I know I won't forget my time with my family now and I'm happy to have you all by my side so what I want to say is thank you for putting up with me...ahem....uncle," I added finally done with the last dish.
As I turned around to start getting ducky ready for a bath, Jay suddenly had me wrapped up in his arms and a few tears smeared on my cheek. "It's been hard seeing everyone go especially the one I love at the hands of a bitch I warned him about but I'm thankful for the little one who is a part of him. It just saddens me I couldn't tell anyone any final I miss you.... or I love you. So thank you for accepting me, I wish to be by yours and Leah's side for as long as I can," he said crying and chuckling after releasing his hold on me.
I smiled at him while motioning ducky to come over to us so I could pick her up, "Family sticks together no matter what meaning we will always care and love one another," I pulled him closer for us to have a group hug and gave them a kiss on their heads. Ducky giggled wrapping her little arms around our necks so she could give us kisses back, "Mommy happy, Jay happy, Ducky happy."
My smile couldn't help but become bigger knowing I have so many people I can call family to cherish and although I know I'm going to hell for all the lives I've taken, right now it feels like heaven with this warm feeling I haven't felt since I was a child with my mom and dad.
I don't hate my dad for what he did to me in my life and I don't feel too sad about my mom passing anymore, I think the weight on my shoulders feels a bit lighter than before, or maybe the weight is just going to start building up in my stomach.
A laugh left my lips causing them to look at me weirdly, "Let's not forget the new additions to our family," I said giving my temporary flat stomach a rub. "These two are going to be very popular coming from four good family's, two of them being the king groups," Jay said giving my belly a poke everywhere around. Wait.
"Wait did you say, four families, as in me the boys and Zach? Is that a way to tell me you accept the engagement?" Jay stopped and looked at me with wide eyes, "You must have heard me wrong. Go wash up and clean your ears."
"Oh no no no Jay you admitted to the babies having four families's so you can't take it back!" He scoffed walking away to the stairs, " I'm old Skylar, I don't know what I say nowadays.....see I can't even remember what it is we are even talking about!" I couldn't help but smile knowing things were becoming calm almost but remembering Jay say how the twins would be popular made my stomach hurt.
Them coming from four big shot families two being the tip-top means threats....threats like that letter. I need to talk to everyone because not only are my babies in danger but the "Kingdoms" as well.
After spending three days at the family island called Heaven, I arranged a private meeting at my office for everyone to attend and made it so that our floor including the floors above and below were deserted in case I have people who I can't trust working for me.
Ducky was at school, which I learned was bought by Zach in order to keep us safe, while I waited in the elevator to the company building with Jay by my side.
We both wore a casual suit and tie even though I only wanted to wear sweaters and sweatpants, this meeting needed me to show these guys that I mean business.
"Apparently the boys were anxious for this meeting they came almost an hour earlier than the said scheduled time," he said tapping his foot to the floor periodically. I stared ahead of me at the shiny reflective elevator doors not knowing how to get back to normal with the boys but I was still a bit hurt with Ryan's comment. I can't let this little thing get in the way though because there are more important matters.
We finally came to a stop and exited walking straight to the conference room everyone was in waiting for me only Leo was waiting for me at the door while smoking a cigarette but quickly put it out as he fanned the air, "Hold your breath I don't need these babies to be more damaged than they already are with the DNA of those hormonal teens."
I laughed greeting him with a kiss to the cheek as he held the door open for me to enter, "Thank you for coming Leo. You should definitely stay over tonight so we can talk about baby things." He smiled, "Of course, we will order some pizza and make some homemade popcorn that Leah will love."
The silent awkwardness overtook me as I saw Zach, Danny, and Ryan all sitting at the round dark wood table dressed as if they were heading to a funeral. Zach stood up and pulled the chair next to him out signaling for me to sit next to him, "You are looking as beautiful as ever my angel." I gave him a genuine smile before we kissed for a few seconds but those few seconds were heaven.
I sat down holding my hand in his taking a look at the boys one looking happy to see me and the other looking away from me with furrowed brows but kept stealing side glances thinking I wouldn't notice. "I know things aren't in the right place right now but what ill say in these next few minutes will only rock the boat more and I need you all to think with your head straight because as of right now we are at war."
Everyone was looking at me now with a serious expression, the expressions of killers and bosses was present at this table in this room including mine as well. "As of right now we are at war with one of the two other Kings of the mafia," I pulled the letter out of my suit jacket tossing it onto the table, "Not only are they threatening the "Kingdoms but our children's lives as well and momma bear is ready to gouge out some people's eyeballs and shove them down their throats."
The room was getting darker not from lack of light but the killing aura emitting from everyone only got heavier and heavier with each passing second as my words sank into our minds. Zach held onto my hand tightly and Ryan slammed a hunting knife into the table as Danny clenched his hands too tightly, he began to bleed while Leo and Jay looked at each other as if they were having a mental conversation.
Ryan looked at me and Zach angrily, "Anyone who dares to hurt you or the children will die slowly. I'm going to tell you right now that you nor Leah are being left alone so you better pack your fucking bags so you can live with me."
Zach stood up, "Look here pipsqueak, He is living with me not only for his safety but because he is my fiancé and he should have done it in the first place instead of renting that apartment. My place is safer considering I am a king meaning I have tighter security than you fools put together."
I internally laughed remembering how I was able to escape from his bedroom so easily. Danny looked at me with a blank expression, "I agree with Mr. Henderson, he will be safer wherever he lives but I think we should all be under one roof not only for protection but to easily hold meetings such as this to plan things out."
It was quiet for a minute but Zach looked at me then back at the others, "As the seed donners i'll allow it but it doesn't mean we will all get along especially since this boy over here was on my hit list before his comments to Skylar the other day." With a sigh from everyone, we came to a conclusion of safety matters and I was not going to go against them since the children's lives are at stake meaning ill go to hell and back for them.
They all sat down again silently, "Okay guys now let's discuss how to get rid of a king who was suppose to be dead along with his kingdom." The killing aura was back and I knew I along with the others had many ideas on how to kill and the thought of being able to do it sent good shivers down my spine.