36

The whole of that night, Richard didn’t sleep.
One, he wanted to keep an eye on Melvin and Macy. He knew that Melvin must have been shaken by what happened and Macy needed to go to work the following morning.
But he has Asher call the director to ask for a two day’s leave for her.
“Do not worry second young master, with Macy’s acting, we have saved more time than we thought necessary.
I will, in fact, give the whole crew two days off. So won’t have missed anything,” the Director said cheerfully and Asher was happy.
At least he didn’t have to face his brother’s hurricane with bad news.
Another thing that was keeping Richard awake was the fact that Cash was in the hospital. Cash was one of his best. For someone to put him in the hospital, they must have been good.
May had been dispatched to go and investigate those who wanted to harm them.
At around midnight, she came back and she found Richard in the sitting room of this mansion.
“How was it?” Richard asked even before she could sit down.
They all died and we were taking care of the bodies but one thing was clear, they are part of the Four Star Ninjas of LA,” she said and Richard looked at her.
He was thinking hard.
In his capacity as the number one assassin and extractor in the country, he knew every mafia group and all underground groups in the whole fifty states.
He knew those he had a bone to pick with and those who were after him.
He had never had any dealings or altercation with the Four Ninjas. So, he wondered why they should target him.
The Four Ninjas was a Japanese assassin group. It was called Four Ninjas because it was started by four brothers who started as ninjas and later grew to a group of about fifty very well trained assassins.
“We need someone on the inside. I need to find out why they targeted either me or Macy,” he said and May saluted and wanted to walk out when she stopped.
“Boss, I don’t think they were after Macy. This is because she has never been to LA and why would they?” May reasoned.
“Don’t forget that her sister wants her dead. Have you forgotten the bomb incident? She could have gotten professionals thinking that you and Macy are weak,” Richard reasoned and it made sense.
“Yeah, you are right. We will cover all the basic bosses. I will give you a satisfactory answer,” may said and walked out to find out who wanted their people dead.
On his side, Richard picked his phone and dialled a number that wasn’t saved in his phone book, “yeah. What is Cassy up to nowadays?” He asked and then listened.
“Okay. Email them immediately,” he said and handed it in.
He then went to his room and took out his laptop. He logged in his e-mail account and he did that on time because the mail he wanted had just arrived.
REPORT ON CASSANDRA PARKER – CARTER
That was the subject of the report.
According to the report, after the Carter and Parker families were brought down by Richard, William, Cassy’s husband, had to look for a job in another company and he started as a normal office worker.
The job didn’t get much and they had to move to a cheaper house because he was also supporting the Parker women together with the old Mrs Parker who had got a stroke and was now bedridden.
Because he wanted to be able to cater for all that and save some for himself, he forced Cassy to work.
Cassy, who hadn’t worked even a day in her life, did what she could.
She started a prostitution house that was dubbed ‘Massage parlour. She would sleep with the rich and thus get money.
William didn’t mind as long as she made money. In fact, according to the report Richard helped get her many of his former rich friends who were just happy to sleep with her and pay.
That meant that Cassy had become an expensive whore who people liked to christen ‘socialite’.
Richard didn’t even feel an ounce of pity for her.
If she was still his wife, she would be enjoying his wealth because he was ready to give her the world but all that was the past.
Here he was now and looking at that report, it was hard to believe that William and Cassy could afford to pay the Four Ninjas Association to assassinate him or his own.
He didn’t know what to think of it and so, he called many of his contacts just to make sure that no one had heard anything or made the mistake to target him.
The following morning, Richard was called by Cash’s subordinate informing him that Cash was awake and out of danger.
It was a relief for him because even if Cash was his subordinate, he was more of a family because he and May had been with Richard through thick and thin and they kept his organisation intact for the five years he was away.
He wanted to go and see Cash but he had a more pressing matter to deal with: see and talk to the two girls who were still sleeping as princesses.
Richard decided to go to the room and see if they were already awake and he was met by the sight of Macy doing morning yoga.
When she saw him, she stood up very quickly showing her agility because she was in a position that a normal person wouldn’t just stand up the way she did.
She motioned him to keep quiet and walked out and then closed the door behind her quietly and then walked towards the stairs that led to the living room
“Sorry sir. I didn’t want her to wake up. She must have been very tired after what happened yesterday,” Macy said and looked at Richard who was looking at her with an expression that she could not read.
“Thank you,” was what he said.
“Oh, don’t mention it. I am happy to take care of her,” Macy said thinking that Richard was thanking him for that.
“Thank you for yesterday. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what would have happened to her,” he said then walked down stairs indicating for her to follow.
“You sew, Mel has been through a lot,” he began and kept quiet as if thinking of what to say next.
“It’s okay. I know of her operation and sickness and that’s why I strive to be a good caretaker.
Also, she is a good friend to me. It might sound weird but… she is like my own,” Macy said.
She said the last part in a small voice as if she was afraid of what Richard would say.
“For that, I am grateful,” he paused for a while then continued, “has she eve told you about her mother?”
Macy felt awkward. Yes, Mel had mentioned her mother who always scolded her and didn’t live with her and she wondered what to say to this man that she didn’t even know and feared.
“It’s okay. Her mother didn’t want her. I was wary of another person getting closer to her and breaking her little heart again. So, I beg you, for Melvin’s sake, don’t break her heart,” Richard said for the first time, being vulnerable before a woman again.
Something he never thought he would ever do again after Cassandra.
But he had seen how his daughter had grown to live with Macy and if she needed anything, he was ready to give it to her as long as she didn’t leave Melvin.
“I will pay you. I will give you anything you need to continue taking care of her,” he said the only thing he knew.
Macy looked at him and wondered if he thought that every problem could be solved with money.
“Sir, with all due respect, not everyone or everything can be bought with money. I take care of Mel because I love her. I want to be near her because she makes me happy.
So, don’t talk about money and just let me be there for her. When you talk about paying me, you make me feel awkward towards her. Please don’t,” Macy said and before Richard could say anything, they heard a cry from upstairs.
“Oh, someone is awake,” Macy said as she stood up.
“Auntie? Auntie Macy? Where are you? Why did you leave Melvin?” The little girl said as she came downstairs in her sleeping clothes.
“Oh, baby. I am here. What makes you think that I can leave you? Where would I get the guts to leave my love?” Macy reached her and hugged her.
“Melvin has been a good girl. So don’t leave me,” Mel said amidst sniffs and Macy laughed.
“You silly. I will never leave you. Okay. I am here,” Macy told her as she pinched the cute baby cheeks and Mel laughed.
“Look who’s back,” Macy said as she showed Melvin her father.
“Daddy!” The little girl said as she flew down the stairs and they both ran to catch her but Richard was faster than Macy.
He hugged her as he reprimanded her, “why are you running down the stairs? I don’t want you to get hurt,” he said and the girl laughed.
“I knew you would catch me,” Melvin said as she held her dad tighter.
“I missed you daddy,” she said and Richard enjoyed that hug as he put his head on her shoulder and sniffed that baby scent.
“I missed you too, baby. So so much,” he said as he put her down.
“Wanna eat as you tell me what’s been happening?” He asked her and she nodded her head in agreement.
“Auntie, come, let’s eat,” Melvin said as she held each adult in one of her hands and led them towards the dining table.
“Baby, auntie had to go to work,” Macy said trying to get herself out of that situation but Melvin held her tighter.
“It’s okay. Daddy and I will take you. Isn’t it daddy?” Mel asked and Richard had no choice than to hum an agreement.
At that moment, a text message beeps on Macy’s phone and she takes her phone out.
“Two days off? Baby, wanna play after breakfast?” Macy asked and Melvin could never be happier.
Richard looked at the woman smiling lovingly at his daughter and wondered what to make of it.