I just killed my best friend's wife!!
As soon as that thought came to my head, I gasped and went outside. Alex and Andrew came out to meet me.
"Is her death associated with the mission you went for, last night?" Andrew asked me. I couldn't respond, and the twins took that as the truth. Alex covered her mouth immediately.
"Mum did you kill her?"
"No. She was part of the victims of the bomb explosion" I replied while hoping silently that it was the truth.
They nodded and went back inside. I went to my car and sent Tasha a message. I told her to send me the names of all the victims of the bomb explosion, and to my relief, Allison's name was the first on the list.
I only knocked her down, leaving her in danger zone when the other bombs exploded, she died.
I didn't kill her.
But I could've saved her.
If only I didn't knock her down, she'd have left that region.
I put my head on the steering wheel and cried. I cried for my best friend because he didn't deserve any of these at all.
Suddenly I saw Mason walk out through the side door; he was about getting in his car when I rushed over to join him. I sat down and buckled my seatbelt.
I looked at him and held his hand that was gripping the brakes tightly.
He didn't say anything; He just drove. He drove to a certain park in the outskirts of the city. As the car stopped, he remained on his seat.
"Mason. I know how this feels" I said to him.
"No. You don't. I told her not to go to that party. She refused and served me divorce papers"
I opened my mouth. "What?!?!"
"Yes. She told me... She said..." He broke down in tears. Mason broke down in tears. I've never seen him cry, ever. Even when his elder brother died, he didn't cry. I was with him all through. In fact, I cried the most because Jethro was such a nice guy. He tried so many unsuccessful attempts to matchmake Mason and I together. So I knew that this must really hurt him so much.
"It's alright" I squeezed his hands. "You don't have to say anything yet. Just know that I'm here with you and I'm never leaving you"
"No it's fine. She told me she was planning to take a revenge on my, for all the years I'd been with you".
I stilled. "I thought she was cool with us. Hell, I thought she liked me" I was on the verge of crying out at this point, because it was almost the same thing with Jared. He was cool with me and Mason being friends until after our marriage, he started complaining that we were spending so much time together. I didn't even know what to think at that point.
"She was having an affair with Jared"
I pretended like I didn't hear. I waited for the words to take effect in me. And then I exited the car, and stood at the bank of the river, watching the children playing so happily and freespirited. I longed for my childhood, when my dad and mum were pretty cool between each other, before all the unending problems in my life started.
I thought they would end at adulthood, but I thought wrong, because they're still with me.
I felt soft hands on my back. It was Mason.
"It's alright honey"
"I saw her at the carnival last night" I looked at Mason to see if he was listening. He had a stone-faced expression.
"I have every reason to believe she's a part of the terrorists I've been going after since on Monday"
"The ones who almost got you killed?" His jaw hardened.
"Yes, and since you said she confessed to having an affair with Jared, then that makes sense that they were both working together. But the question is why?"
"Would you blame two people for falling in love and being so brave enough to work on it and find a way to be together despite obstacles that are preventing them?" He asked, looking down at me.
I looked at his face, wondering what he meant. That was in no way related to what we were discussing about, except he was talking about something else.
"I'm sorry Mason, and I really mean it when I said I'll be with you no matter what"
"The children will grow up without a mother" He stated dejectedly.
"They have me. So, don't worry about that. I mean... Don't get the wrong idea... I don't mean to replace Allison, because no one ever will, but I mean that..."
"I understand what you mean Laura" Mason, interrupted as he looked at me with admiration. "And I'll always be there for your kids too, most especially the twins. Speaking of twins, how are they holding up with everything? How are they doing?"
I sighed.
"We still haven't talked. I know they have a lot to say to me; they have a lot of questions. But I don't know if I'm prepared to answer them" I said sadly.
"It's alright Laura. You're a strong woman. You've handled a lot of fully armed terrorists. Two teenagers shouldn't be a handful for you" He said with a smile.
"You wish. These two teenagers are actually a mini version of me, which means I have to tread carefully"
"Everything's going to be fine, Laura. I promise" He said and hugged me, pulling my head to his chest. I savoured the moment. Even when the gentle breeze came and blew a few strands of my hair to my face, he tucked those loose strands behind my ears and kissed me on the cheeks. It was meant to be a friendly kiss, but then he turned my face to his and captured my lips with his.
I pulled away, shocked at his actions, but then he pulled me back to him and kissed me again. This time, I kissed him back. He moved his hand to my waist immediately and the feeling was indeed superb. I had no idea that could turn me on. Well, nothing that Jared did, ever turned me on at all. This feeling was very new. I let my hands wander to the back of his head, pulling him close to me, not wanting to break apart.
"Mason" I said, panting.
As good as this felt, it was very wrong. His wife just died; my husband died two days before. We were supposed to be mourning our spouses together and not moaning together.
"Let's just enjoy the moment" He said and hugged me closely. It was at that moment that my phone chose to ring. I looked at it and it was an unknown number. I wondered who was calling, considering the fact that it was a new SIM.
Mason held my hand.
"You and I both know that unknown numbers like this are usually bad signs. Don't answer it"
I looked up at him and trusted him.
"Okay" I put the phone back in my pocket. But then it rang again and I'd be damned not to pick up the call.
"I guess I should congratulate you on last night's victory, right?"
I closed my eyes as I recognized the voice.
"Alfred, what is it?" I asked in a cold tone.
"Cassandra Chloe Anderson has been wanting to meet with her daughter, and last night I showed her a picture of her grandchildren and she begged to see them too"
"My mo... My mother is a-live??" I asked, not wanting to believe it.
"Yes. Hale and hearty. You need proof of it?"
Before I could say anything, he switched the call settings to video call, and my mum's face came into view. She was bound hands and legs. She looked exactly the same, except for a few wrinkles that were on her neck.
"Oh my God mum!!!" I cried out. The tears were rushing in full.
"Laurie baby!!! Is that you??!! You're truly well" She said in a sad tone.
"Mum, how did you...?"
The video call was changed to voice call immediately and Alfred's grumpy voice came in contact.
"I'm sorry to break the contact again, but I'm willing to let your mother go"
I shut my eyes tight wondering what inhumane treatment my mother could be receiving there all because she was related to me. Knowing Alfred and the people he was involved with, he definitely wants something back.
"What do you want?"
"1 million naira. The FBI, which includes you, have frozen all my accounts, destroyed my reputation and caused my legitimate businesses to dwindle. So as it seems I'm broke" He said with a laugh.
I found myself laughing too.
Mason looked at me. "Do you trust that guy?"
I nodded to Mason. Alfred was another person I was actually close to. While he was still living in New York, we were quite close and we could have been best friends too if Jared had not stopped us from talking to each other because he thought we were having something together. Shortly before he left New York, he was arrested for fraud. It was later realized that he was framed, and because of that, he was deported. I had a feeling that Jared was behind that.
"Alright. 1 million and I'll get my mum back?" I confirmed.
"Yes. And please do not involve the authorities. You know I actually do miss you, Laura"
"I miss you too Freddie" He chuckled at the nickname I used for him. I could see Mason clench his fists at his side. I smiled.
"Alright. Will Sunday be okay?"
"A million dollars is not the same as a hundred dollars. When I have the money, I'd let you know" I replied. "Can I talk to my mum again, please?" I asked.
"Laura" My mum's voice came up again
"Are you okay, mum? Are you fine? I'm gonna get you back soon, okay? Just be careful. I'm gonna get you back"
"Alright Laura. I love you Laura"
"I love you too mummy. I can't wait to see you'
I exchanged a few pleasantries with Alfred and then he ended the call.
I looked at Mason to see that he was fuming.
"Aren't you getting a little too cozy with your brother-in-law?" he asked.
"Aren't you also getting cozy with your best friend?"
He laughed and hugged me again. My phone rang again and this time around it was Andrew. I didn't even bother picking up the call.
"We need to leave now" I said to Mason with an air of urgency.
I got to his place to see his children eyeing me up and down with disgust. Apparently my kids had left, I got in my car and drove off.
I was expecting a lot of things, but what I was seeing was not even in the list of what I was expecting from them.