The first thing I did when I landed was eat a full filling meal. I hadn't eaten in hours and all my energy was drained. I slept throughout the four hour long flight so when I unlocked my phone, I saw countless calls and texts from Leo. I mentally face-palmed myself. He must be so worried and agitated. I should have just told him I was going somewhere with my mom or Hellen for small work, now if I try to make an excuse it would sound so odd. What do I tell him? That I am all the way here in Seattle risking my life? I sighed impatiently, trying to contact him again and come up with an acceptable excuse. The freaking signals were insufficient and the call didn't reach him. I threw my phone back in the purse.
I ended up staying the night in a nearby five star hotel, next morning I would finally take my role as Kiara; hope she is enjoying her last night. The night was pretty restless, full of undesirable dreams. I tried calling Leo again and this time it rang but he didn't pick up. He usually sleeps really late, was he ignoring my calls on purpose? I felt so guilty. I chugged in a few sleeping pills and drifted into an uneasy sleep yet again.
I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock, no it was my call ringtone. I nearly threw myself off the bed and readily answered the call. But it was not Leo. "Woah that was quick. I am happy you are awake early. The quicker the better. This shouldn't take long. You did not inform anything to Leo, did you?" Jay's voice was like a thorny cactus through my earlobe. Irritated, I hung up without a word. I have had enough, I quickly got up and shut down my phone, leaving a message to Jay that there was no signal. I knew Leo won't be calling just yet, or I hoped so. I got in my car and drove straight to the designated location, not far away. I had bribed some people in the building to cut off the power. Some members in Jay's team would be assisting and helping me in keeping Kiara safe somewhere for as long we need her. Soon enough I was standing in front of a prodigious establishment. This all happened so quickly that I still needed time to cool off. Kiara worked here. It was really early so I decided to park my car in the basement parking. She worked here on a high rank and today was an important event so she must be arriving earlier than others. This vast business was under close control of someone in the bloodline of one of the leaders of the Southern mobs and Kiara was a secret assistant to these crimes, resulting in her higher position than other workers. I waited for ten more minutes before a black BMW slowly parked next to mine. I was in luck today so a cunning looking lady stepped outside the car. I instantly recognized the undeniably pretty face, wish she took some good use out of it. She passed me a crooked smile and asked, "You don't look familiar, are you new here?"
"No, I work as a manager here."
She laughed, "I am the manager."
"Exactly," I said as I launched myself forward and in that instant, the lights went out. I took out my hand gun and aimed it on her forehead, fading down her screams for help. "Don't make it difficult for both of us. Step in the car, slowly and quietly," I whispered in her ear. I pushed her in my car trunk and drove towards an old warehouse. Tying her tightly to one of the barrels, I looked around. This place reminded me of the dream that night. I shuddered and thought of Leo. I rushed to the car and turned my phone on. I wanted to call him but I knew I couldn't. As soon as the screen lit up again, my heart clenched seeing no texts or calls from him. I should have called him yesterday.
As Kiara woke up again, I made sure to ask her all the needed questions. She was so boring that she blurted out all needed facts and details without any effort. "Tsk... wish they knew they were trusting someone as non assertive as you. No fun," I rolled my eyes. I called one of the helping agents to keep her safe. As they drove off I messaged Jay all the details that I had gotten. I made sure to collect all her identity related cards with me so I could convince the mafia assistant that I was indeed Kiara. They were first time landing in North America, so they hadn't yet met Kiara. In the evening after fetching some more confidential files from her office with the help of some more corrupt workers, I drove to the place Kiara was kept. It was an old library, no longer functional. Ruins scattered all over the floor, there were two men guarding her. I stepped in the room, hearing me Kiara shot open her eyes. "Please let me go. You can't do this. I will do whatever you say."
"That is exactly why you are still alive. The south doesn't know you yet, but I need you stay active in your office because I can't do it myself. But don't think of this as an opportunity to escape. There will be devices all over you body so I will be able to hear all that you say. Some of your 'employees' are under my control as well. As soon as any unenviable words leave your filthy mouth, another device attached to you will blast and trust me you don't want to survive after that." I leered at her. "I will let you know what you have to do. I'll leave now, take care." I laughed leaving her there again. She was then shifted to a room in a cheap hotel with more people guarding her. Everything was going as planned but it still felt like something was incomplete in my life. I didn't want to call Leo, I thought it would mess up things more. I wanted to talk to him face to face but I couldn't resist it anymore. I dialed his number and he picked after a few rings. My stomach lurched forward as I waited for him to say something.
"H-hello? Leo?" I voiced.
"Wow you sound like you are alive."
"Why are you talking to m-"
Leo interrupted me, "Where have you been?"
"I-I am in umm.. in New York, my mom announced I had to go there urgently. I am still trying to cool down and process this, I am so sorry I couldn't tell you. I did try to leave a message but I just..." My voice trailed off, I felt so lost.
"You just thought I wasn't important enough."
"Don't say that! I have been dying to talk to you for days. I am sorry."
"I doesn't matter Lia. What matters is for you to reach here safely. I miss you. We'll talk when you are back." Saying this Leo hung up.
His voice felt so distant and woeful. I left him when he had just opened up to me. I am well known for destroying good things for myself. I wanted to get back as soon as possible now. The southern mob was going to land in Seattle tonight. This should only take about 5-6 days. Just thinking about it made me restless. Why did I agree to this? Oh god!
* * * *
In the most presentable dress I could find, I drove towards the airport. There plane should be landing in less than fifteen minutes now. As soon as they arrived, I was determined to put up my best acting skills. I headed them to the their opulent chambers in a limo. The son of the lead mafia, Charles, along with his trusted men was only here. Kiara had previously told me that Charles had planned to visit Jay, and while his intentions were not clear from his words, his acts told otherwise. More of his skilled men were arriving directly in LA this week. Jay and I were obviously not happy about this. My main mission now was to make sure their flight is disrupted, making Charles change his mind. I knew he is nothing without his men and meeting Jay now would make no sense. Inside the limo, I heard Charles order a fine suit for his visit to his 'friend' in LA. As if he is getting the chance to meet him. He had a thick French accent, which was nauseating to hear.
Once I finally got the chance to call Jay again I asked him to direct a few men to somehow crash the plane. Postponing it would only prolong my stay in Seattle which was not what I wanted.
For the next few days, I truly abetted Charles, going with him everywhere and trying to figure out any change in his plans. "Make sure no one knows your men are arriving here or that you are in the North," I warned him but he seemed optimistic. This made me wonder whether he had a backup plan but nor Kiara or Jay could tell any such details. I tried to stay a little in touch with Leo too but I had to keep my guards up and didn't get much time. I could tell Leo was unhappy but he was involved in some other work which kept him busy.
One day as Charles was getting ready to meet Jay, one of his men informed him about the plane crash. Hearing this Charles was unnerved, slowly considering the idea to not go. But he knew this was not a simple accident and had something to do with Jay or more underlying enemies. "I think somebody knows that you are here. I don't think it's safe anymore. Things aren't going well for you back in the South, you shouldn't stay here. Jay's army is powerful, I think they know too much." I tried to convince Charles as much as I could. And due to the unfavourable conditions in his country, he did consider going back. Just as things were going smooth, they took turn for the worse.
I didn't rely on Charles words and neither did Charles trust me enough to announce his plans to me (disguised as Kiara). So the next day I snuck into the team office to see any emails he sent through the computer. His computer was empty and I supposed he used one of the office computers. I was trying my best to restore any deleted files from the computers. It was pitch black in the rest of the room, only blue light radiating from the glass screen. My breathing was heavy, I was alone in there trying to be as quiet as a church mouse. I dabbed my fingers on the desk waiting for some results. It was taking forever. "God, I wish I wasn't alone," I mumbled.
In that instant I heard a gun loading and a raspy voice saying, "Your wish my command."
I looked up to find one of Charles' men standing, aiming his pistol at me. Not one but two. I gulped, taking a step back. "You think only you are clever? Tsk.. poor Kiara, or should I say Lia-ra," I was stunned. "It was only a step to regain control over the cameras." The man announced, proud.
Jay had the sway of the office cameras to monitor my safety, the footage inside the security room was cleverly pre recorded by some coworker bribed by us. "Any last wishes? So we can send them to your lover, Jay," The men laughed. "They think they are smarter. Hah!"
'Lover?' I thought. Just then Leo's image flashed in my mind. 'I will never see him again. This is it. It's the end'. But I wasn't going to die crying, or die easily. I had secretly turned on the oil lamp on the ground. It wasn't in a working condition but the oil did heat up. The lamp was expired and could be very dangerous. I swiftly grabbed the lamp and threw at the two. I ducked beneath the table as the disarray began. One of them dropped their guns, the other fired aimlessly, his clothes on fire. The fire was not spreading as I wanted it to. Then my eyes landed on the shining metal, giving of rays of hope. Now I had two guns. I took out mine and as the man bent down to get his, I shot him. As soon as I did, there was silence. I was petrified of getting up and seeing for myself. I could hear more footsteps approaching. It seemed like they were echoing in my ear from all sides, making my head spin. All I could think of was getting home safely to Leo.
"Don't move!" I heard a stern voice. I slowly rose up to see Jay holding a gun along with his men to fight off any enemies. I saw the other man was frozen, petrified already. I guess he had a fear of fire.
"You never fail to impress me," Jay sighed, relieved that the situation hadn't gotten any worse. "Charles is still in Seattle. He doesn't know we are also here, go back home. I will handle it from here."
On the way to the airport Jay explained how he realized the cameras were showing pre recordings and he knew something was up. Kiara had escaped somehow. "That stinker! Make sure you finish her off," I yelled in frustration. "You did great though, Lia. You really are cool," Jay said fist bumping me.
I was happy to finally go back home. The last week was a rush and my mind was in mayhem. The first thing I did arriving home was call Leo.