They made it to the restaurant without issue and Gabriella was greeted once more by Giselle with a big hug and kisses to both cheeks. Ben also got the same treatment as Giselle was so impressed with his heroism. She’d seen the stories on the news and asked if she could take a picture with him to put on her wall of fame. Near the entrance was a wall of picture frames each showing Giselle standing with the celebrities who had visited her restaurant. Ben argued that he wasn’t a celebrity and didn’t belong next to these famous people. Giselle insisted he was more worthy of being honored than most of the people who adorned the wall. It was Gabriella’s request to do it for her friend that finally made Ben agree. He stood next to the grinning woman with his arm over her shoulder while one of her staff took the picture.
The service was extremely attentive and as they were on their first visit their meals were delicious.
Ben noticed Catherine flirting with Chanel who was giving as good as she got. He had to hide his grin because from the flush on both their faces he could see how effective the teasing was. He shared a smile with Gabriella who had also picked up on their friend’s activities.
Sophia and Rachel seemed to be in deep conversation. Then the two women smiled at him and he suddenly caught on to what they were talking about. He blushed and looked back to his plate to see if he’d missed anything.
The hour grew late and they finally ate the last morsels of their desserts. With a round of kisses and hugs they left the restaurant. They saw there were very few people walking on the streets in the neighborhood. Feeling a little uneasy they walked in a tighter group than they had been on the way there. When they reached the middle of the block they heard a loud voice.
“That’s far enough!”
The group stopped and gathered a little tighter together. A large man stepped out of the shadows pointing a small nasty looking machine gun in their direction. It was the bodyguard.
“Please, nobody move or I will be forced to start shooting and there are children present. This would be… very bad,” the man stated.
“So you aren’t here to kill us?” Ben said, hoping to ease the fears of Daniel and Miriam at least.
“Mr. Shepherd. Let me get straight to the point. My employer is very upset with you. You cost him a lot of money. The twins were worth millions in ransom and twins are in high demand in our market. His ship has been seized and he really liked that ship. But the worst thing you did was take his property from him. It is a matter of principle. No one steals from him.”
“I didn’t take anything-”
“Sharmuta and Zebala.”
Ben rocked back then his face contorted into rage. “They’re people not property!” Ben growled and Gabriella gripped his arm to hold him back.
“Move again and I will put a bullet through the pretty head of the smart lady holding your arm,” the bodyguard said with a cold voice.
Ben glared at him. “What do you want?” he growled.
“It is simple. You and only you will walk back to the hotel with me and I will retrieve my employer’s property. You will then buy us a lovely new yacht which we will use to leave. Once we are at sea I will shoot you dead.”
Several voices were raised in protest. “Quiet!” barked the man with the gun.
“I’m not that keen on that idea either. What if I don’t?” Ben said.
“Then I kill you all here and take a hit team into the hotel and kill as many women and children as I have to on my way to get his property. I think a hero like you will choose the first plan.”
Ben stared at the man and realized he had no options. “The police guards-”
“Will be the first to go and just so you don’t get any stupid ideas about being a hero again your women will stay here. If they move or try to alert the authorities my employer will see this and he will make a simple phone call. Each one of them will be dead within the week as our hired killers take their lives one by one. You won’t see them coming.”
“So Shakir is here,” Ben said.
The bodyguard seeing defeat in Ben’s eyes raised his fist and a small figure stepped out of an unlit doorway well down the street. He had to be at least 30 yards away. Ben frowned in puzzlement.
“Why the hell is he so far away?” Ben asked.
“You have proven to be a very violent man. Mr. Shakir wisely does not wish to take any chances.”
Ben felt something cold pressing along his side between his torso and elbow. Ah. He wondered if it would hurt.
“Ok. I’ll go. The women will be safe?” Ben asked.
The man snorted. “Women are no threat,” he sneered and turned slightly to give a signal to his boss.
Chanel’s shot struck him on the temple. The far side of his head blew out taking most of the grey matter with it. His legs were folding before the brains splashed to the sidewalk. Chanel and Catherine stepped out from behind Ben and Gabriella. They watched as Shakir spun and began to run away.
“Fuck! I can’t hit him from here,” Chanel grimaced.
“Give it!” Catherine held out her hand and Chanel gave her the pistol. Catherine aimed, froze and two seconds later there was a loud crack. Rachid pitched forward face first to the sidewalk beside a car but out of sight. The two women kicked off their shoes and ran forward as fast as they could on the street to make sure the bastard didn’t get away to make that call.
As they approached Chanel held out her hand and Catherine handed the gun back. They heard an odd gasping noise on the other side of the car and Chanel ducked around it gun extended. The man was weakly clawing at the sidewalk to crawl forward. A large pool of blood was forming under his body. His arms were extended out and his cell was on the sidewalk three feet ahead.
Rachid turned his head and the women grimaced. A portion of his throat was gone as well as half of his jaw. Pain filled eyes stared up at them. They tracked Catherine as she slowly walked past and picked up the phone. She looked down at the dying man and realized she felt nothing at all for taking his life. He had ruined the lives of so many others, Penny and Karen included, that he didn’t deserve to live.
Sirens could be heard in the distance. A lot of sirens.
“If he lives we’re always in danger,” Catherine said. Chanel nodded and stepped on the back of the man’s neck. He tried to move but the hole in his throat began to gush. He wheezed and went still as the life went out of his eyes. She stepped back.
“Go back to your family. Remember, I did the shooting. Tell them,” Chanel said. Catherine nodded then grinned. “What?”
“Your pussy’s showing,” Catherine snorted.