“His men will be here soon.”
“Those men would be caught soon and our Amelia and Aiden would be with us soon Okay? ”
“No, No, No… ”
“Don’t get the police involved in this. Justin, you don’t know what you are doing. ”
“Amelia and Aiden, don’t get the police.”
“Please ”
I pleaded With him with my two hands together. My head was clouded with worry . All this was happening because of me, because I took a wrong step so many years ago and I wasn’t ready to make another mistake.
For all I knew, Dean wanted me for something and until I fulfilled his wants, my children would remain with him and if I tried to Make any move against him, he wouldn’t hesitate to harm both Aiden and Amelia. He was that ruthless and callous.
“Are you crazy Isabelle?”
“Our kids were kidnapped and you do not want to involve the police? ”
“I know everything. I know they were kidnapped, I am aware of everything.”
Then why do you want to put our kids in danger ?
We were raising our voices at each other. I was raising my voice because I was hurt by the fact that I couldn’t tell him the truth and it was all my fault .
Justin was raising his voice because be wanted to make me understand the danger of what I was suggesting. We were both so tensed and scared about the entire situation. Hiding the truth from him made it difficult to explain. The stabbing pain in my throat was killing me .
“Then why do you want to endanger our kids? ”
“My kids Justin, my kids. ” I yelled out with a finger pointing directly to his face .
“They are my kids. ”
“Were they your kids when you left ? ”
“Why do you care? ”
“Why are you even here? ”
“Walk out of our lives like you have always done. I will find my kids myself and I will bring them home to me .”
“You do not have to interfere. ”
“Isa, I didn’t mean to …….”
“Get out. ” I told him.
“Isabelle I’m sorry ”
“Get out Justin.”
“I will never forgive you if anything happens to my kids .”
“I will never ”
“I know you are worried but you are not thinking straight right now . ”
“I asked you to get out. ” I lashed out with anger. And showed Justin out. He had no choice but to obey my commands. I ordered Nancy out of the house too.
Now I was all alone. I felt guilty for saying those words to Justin. I felt guilty for using the past against him even when I knew all he was trying to do was help out. That was the only way I saw fit, the only way to keep my dirty past hidden and my kids safe .
I knew Amelia and Aiden were with Dean but where? I was helpless and alone in my battle. I looked around my house, I have never felt so lonely. When Justin left me, I had people to turn to. My children. They were my only source of happiness and now they have been taken away .
I cussed myself for being jinxed. Amelia and Aiden didn’t deserve a mother like me. No, they didn’t. Looking back at my past with the dirty things I did to survive, I didn’t deserve happiness. I took away people’s happiness. I killed innocent people for money and now I feared the same thing was going to be done to my kids.
I sat on the floor in Amelia and Aiden’s room with my phone tightly in my hands. Hoping to hear from Dean soon but I didn’t.
I watched the morning sun dawn on me . My phone still had no messages and phone calls from Dean or his men.
My eyes was bloodshot and puffy . I took a look at my phone and saw it was already 6:30am.
I was still staring at my phone when it rang . Immediately it did, my heart started to pound. My pulse increased and my hands began to shake. Another private number.
I picked up quickly and yes it was the long awaited call . Dean’s .
“He…hello ” my voice shook and my salivary gland began to produce excess saliva.
“You are smart. ”
“I always knew you had a hold on men , your beautiful and soothing tone .”
“Ah! I missed that . ”
“Now that Justin is out of the way , how would you like to see your kids again? ”
“Please Dean , they have nothing to do with this. You want me, I’m ready to do anything. ”
“Just let them go .”
We were still talking when my phone beeped.
“There, just like I promised. Your kids .”
Dean sent me a video of Amelia and Aiden in a room. They were both asleep and free from the tapes. The room was secure and arranged with toys.
Seeing them comfort gave me a quick relief even though I wasn’t fully at rest.
“Comfortable aren’t they? ”
“I’m sure you know what I can do to them if you try to play smart with me .”
“I will send an address.”
“Be there by 9. ”
He ended the call and the message came in. It was an abandoned clothing warehouse. An hour drive from my house .
I kept on watching the forwarded video of Amelia and Aiden. I was so glad they were safe and comfortable, at least for now .
7:00, I took my bath, picked up my bag and left for the warehouse. I was ready for whatever it was Dean had installed for me. My eyes were filled with desire to rescue my children. I showed bravery and confidence even when I was shaking on the inside.
I asked the driver to drop me just a few houses away. I didn’t trust anybody and I wasn’t ready to trust anybody. I want to tread carefully and cautiously.
When I saw that the man drove off, I proceeded to the warehouse. The old rusty Gate was filled with cobwebs, the compound was messy and covered with fallen dry leaves from the trees planted, Cartons and empty barrels were all over the place. Indeed it was an Abandoned warehouse.
I pushed the old squeaky Gate and went inside. I had barely taken two steps In when my phone rang again.
I picked up With my eyes examining the environment.
“Good.”
“I will be waiting for you inside. ”
He ended the call. I tried to look around the building to see if anyone was looking at me but I saw nothing. The warehouse was as silent as a graveyard.
I looked around in search of a passage. Then I saw The roller shutter door was half opened. The dope waa just as rusty as the Gate. I had to bend over just to get in.
The inside was dusty and dirty. I could barely see a thing. I used my sleeves as a handkerchief over my nose. Carefully finding my way amidst all the junk .
Finally, I found my way to them. Dean and his men. Hefty fearless men all with guns
Dean was seated in a wooden chair. It’s been so many years. 15 years since I last set my eyes on him. He looked old now . The hair was white, his herds were white and black. Perfectly out of shape with his slightly bulged out tummy and flabby face skin.
He still had one habit. An habit anyone could easily recognize him with, the tobacco by the side of his mouth.
Seeing him again filled my head with those memories of the past.
Just like yesterday, the memories were still fresh.
DEAN saw me having a heated argument with a man that touched my boobs without permission at the bar I worked in. He was misbehaving after having so much to drink and he thought I was his next available victim to please him sexually. We started to exchange words and I got furious and broke his head with a bottle of beer.
I guess he was amazed to see how fearless and determined I was to teach him a lesson that he picked interest almost immediately. That night I was fired and luckily for me , Dean was there to offer me a job with an upfront payment. I was in dire need of money and the money he offered was a huge amount.
I accepted without even knowing what it was. When I found out I was getting paid to assassinate people, it was already too late to back out.
I went on several missions for Dean. I killed innocent people for money , until 15 years ago . I Absconded and started a new life . A few years later I meant just and I thought I was freed . I wasn’t……
“My darling daughter. ”
‘Beautiful and feisty. What took you so long to come back to me ?”
Dean stood up and moved towards me slowly. I swallowed deeply and curled up my fist .
“Why did you run off like that?”
“I missed you . ”
“We all did . ”
He touched my face with his cold old fingers.
“You ungrateful bastard ”
“Why?” He yelled. I was frightened but I still maintained a straight face regardless. One rule of the SHADOW’S was” never show weakness ” I held unto that rule and waited for the worst.
“What do you want, Dean ?”
“I have no business with you anymore nor does my children ”
“Let them go .”
“I will Aisha , I will but …..
He gave me a wicked smirk and paused.
“Ah! I missed you .”
“But what Dean ?”
“Easy… don’t be In a hurry. ”
“Dean, I swear to you, if anything happens to my children, I will kill you. ”
I said to him with gritted teeth and a ferocious tone.
“You see, this is why I like you .”
“Fearless and courageous. .”
“This attitude of yours made me fall in love with you all those years ago .”
“It also made me come back. ”
“I need you Aisha . You have a mission to execute. ”
“Listen to me .” I snapped my fingers.
“I will never go on another mission for you. ”
“I will not kill people just for you.”
“Then get ready to mourn the death of your children Isabelle ….”