Rafael stood in the dark shadows with a hard gaze on the woman who tried to decipher him in the dark.
“Who’s there? Show yourself!”
Right in the dark, he saw her reach to the side, she had a gun. One of the men who watched their interaction from the other end of the fence moved closer.
“I asked a question.” Rafael stepped out of the shadows. “Who were you talking about just now?”
“You are not supposed to be here.” The woman gritted. “Get out while you can. Liam will have your head.”
“And what about you?” Rafael asked. “What do you think would happen if he finds you? I’m curious to find out.”
Before the woman could say a word, one of the men tackled her from behind and she fell to the ground, struggling to reach for her gun.
Rafael walked towards the scrambling duo and disarmed her. Soon enough, the woman was held by two strong men while she tried to escape.
“What do you want? Name your price! I could get you a lot of money! Let me go!”
“Didn’t you say they’ve caught on to you? Let’s see how you pay your way through this.” Rafael signalled the men to drag her forward as they tried to get to the estate buildings.
They arrived at the main building with little hassle – It felt too easy. Rafael tasked himself with the job of finding June while the others held on to the woman, pending his return.
Rafael approached the medical center and his drive to be with June increased. He felt his body complain but he refused to give in to the pain.
He could always treat himself later. This time, June came first and hell would freeze before he let her remain under the care of some man.
Carson was inside the hospital room, and June seemed better than ever. Colour returned to her cheeks, but she had yet to wake up.
He stretched his legs and picked up a book he was reading from the corner. There and then, he heard the sound of multiple guns cocking at the same time.
Stunned, Carson left the room and headed out to see what the commotion was about. He got to the main area and was shocked at the amount of armed men standing with their guns pointed towards a direction.
“I warned you not to test me.” Liam walked into the medical centre with a frown. “I didn’t think you’d be this stupid.”
Rafael stood boldly against the men who pointed cocked machine guns at him, waiting for a singular command from Liam to end his life.
Just then, three others were dragged into the centre, cuffed and placed on the ground. Liam smirked.
“These people were found loitering my estate.” He said to Rafael. “Do you recognise them?”
Rafael maintained his silence.
“I must admit. I had fun watching you break into my estate. You even found the traitor by your treacherous ways.” He clapped his hands. “Talk about efficiency.”
“I didn’t do it!” The woman said fretful. “I didn’t poison her!”
“That’s pretty specific for someone who knows nothing of the offence.” Liam turned to Carson. “How is she?”
“Fine.” Carson bit his tongue. He was very close to saying that Rafael looked like he needed a check-up immediately.
Rafael looked pale and it was not out of fear. He looked sick and physically struggling. Liam on the other hand held a confident pose.
“I might be lenient to let the men who found you go with their lives, but you are a different case.” he stretched out his hands and a burner phone was given to him.
The burner phone the woman had used to contact Arnold. The traitor felt her confidence disappear when she saw the phone in his hands.
She lost it while getting tackled to the floor by these men! What’s worse? Arnold’s voice came up as soon as Liam turned it on.
“Tara? Where are you? I sent some men to get you. Hold on, tight love. They’ll be there soon.” Arnold’s voice was soft and compassionate.
Although he was miles away, she still felt her heart flip at the sound. She missed him so much and would gladly do anything for him.
She regretted nothing.
“Hello, brother.” Liam greeted. “It’s been a minute.”
There was a brief moment of silence. “Leave her alone, Liam,” Arnold said, his tone angsty.
“Now why would I do that?” Liam joked. “You ran off and taught me never to miss an opportunity.”
Liam pulled a PSS gun from his underpants and aimed for her head. “I hope you like the taste of revenge. It’s best served hot. Just like her blood will be when it splatters to the floor.”
“Liam! Please! Leave her alone! She’s with child!” Arnold said, stricken with fear. “Don’t do this, brother.”
“Remember this the next time you double-cross me.” Liam fired the gun and put a hole between Tara’s eyes. “I always have the last laugh.”
“No! Nooo!”
Liam threw the burner phone to Tara’s unconscious body. Arnold’s cries could be heard from the phone.
“You will pay for this! I promise! You haven’t seen the last of me! I will repay this a thousandfold!”
“Clean up the trash and put these fools in the dungeons.” He ordered, and they handcuffed Rafael. “A few days in there would teach you boundaries.”
Just then, a security man rushed to the scene. “Sir! The minister of war is on the line.” He handed over the phone to Liam who wore an aloof expression.
“The South City presidency is threatening war against us for abducting their first-class citizen!” the old man sounded distressed. “I will send my men to recover him from the estate.”
Liam smirked. “And if I choose to keep him for some time?”
“Please don’t… for the people’s sake. Let’s end this amicably without violence. Huh?”
Liam handed over the phone and faced the men before him. “You are in luck.” He said to Rafael. “Your country is ready to wage a war to get you back in their country. Good riddance.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Beatrice panicked at the Ambrose family house. After weeks of avoiding her son, she finally sought him out to apologise for her actions.
She was shocked to find he wasn’t in the country. Not to mention when the manager briefed her on the situation.
“Find my son immediately!” She yelled to Rafael’s assistant who immediately figured out the situation and acted accordingly.
Meanwhile, at the medical centre, Rafael refused to leave. “I will not move an inch. Not without my wife and friend.”
Liam didn’t hide his displeasure. “She stays here until she is fit to make a decision.”
“She is my wife!” Rafael roared.
“Ex-wife.” A feminine voice splattered from the other side of the room.
Everyone’s eyes widened as they turned to see the owner of the voice. Rafael felt his heart break all over again when he took in her frail sight.
“She leaves with me.” He said slowly, eyes fixed on June who stood in the corridor, struggling to process everything around her.
Carson rushed towards her. “You shouldn’t be out of bed! Oh dear!”
“You heard the lady,” Liam said. “Get out or I will use other measures. Damn the consequences.”