His prey, his payment.

" Don, she's damn pretty. Her skin is so fragile and soft. " This was Robin Lester talking. He was a talented killer and a very faithful underboss to Don. He was aged forty-six but looked younger and stronger than his age.

" I want to see her, " Chad said frantically.

" Why not? Come with me, " Robin said.

They began to go. They went into the room the young lass was bound in.

" She's really pretty. The guys can't take their eyes of her____ "

" No one is permitted to touch her, " Chad said in a low voice. " I made a promise to her father. Even if that's the only thing I can do for him, I will do it. Has she eaten? "

" She refused food and fell asleep. She wants her father and she won't hear of food. "

" I hope her disappearance didn't attract the FBI? "

" No. We were very careful with her. Her and her dad are not insured. "

" Does she know, her father is dead? " Chad asked in a very low undertone.

" Of course no. She doesn't even know who we are. " 

" Okay. You can leave. I will like to have a conversation with her in private, " Chad said, there was a strident note in his voice.

" Okay Don. Just letting you know, her name is Chloe, " Robin said and left.

" Chloe, " Chad called as he walked to her.

Chloe opened her eyes. She could see a figure approaching get from the dim light. She raised her head up. She couldn't see him clearly. " Dad is that you? "she asked. The only family she ever had was her dad. Her mum died two days after she had given birth to her. Her dad was her everything.

" No it's not daddy, " Chad said, there was a calm in his voice. " Daddy is never coming to you. " 

" It's a lie. My dad loves me a lot, " Chloe said hurtfully and yawned.

" Your dad shot himself, yesterday, " Chad lied.

 The bombshell dropped.

Chloe's face was a smug. " My dad would never think of a thing like that, not to talk of doing it. Just let me go, I know where to find my dad. Tell me, why am I here? Where am I? What have I done? Who are you? How do you know me? How do you know my father? "

" I don't think I am in the right position to that. But let me tell you this, I'm taking care of you on behalf of your dad. You are now my responsibility. Your dad really loved you but he hated himself and that was why he killed himself. Probably because he didn't deserve_____ "

" Enough! What are you saying? My father will never try to commit suicide. My father will never want to leave me. Please just let me go. What you are doing to me, is certainly unfair. "

" You tell me what is fair. My dear, you are still very much young and naive. It's certainly going to be hard for you to understand the truth and accept it. "

" There is no truth in what you said. My dad cannot kill himself, " Chloe cried.

Chad walked closer to her and knelt down in front of her. She was seated on a chair. She was tied to it too. " Listen Chloe, I am not going to hurt you. "

" Then stay away from me. I don't want you anywhere near me, please, " Chloe said giggling.

Chad touched her hand.

She shivered.

" I do not bite. I am just a man like your fath____ "

" No. My father would never stoop so low. He would never play some cheap stunts, " Chloe said, rather rude and disgusted at Chad.

Chad kept his cool and stood. He moved backwards. " I only want to have a conversation with you but you're being so mean, " he said smartly.

" No, you are the one being mean to me. How can you take me against my will and bound me? How can you lie to me, saying my father killed himself? You're being so mean to me. "

Chad laughed. His laughter was so passionate and daring, that one will fall in love with him at the hearing of his laughter. " Some truth are bitter, while some truths can never be accepted. What do I gain by lying to you? "

She considered his question for a while. Then she adjusted to becoming reasonable. " How do you know my father? "

" Your father knew my father, and so did I know your father and now you know me. Truth be told, your father worked for my father. "

She listened carefully. She was a good listener and a slow judge.

Chad was talking non-stop, saying the same thing over and over again. At once he stopped and looked at Chloe, he didn't see her face clearly, but, he pictured a ferocious mask staring deep at him.

" Why did my father kill himself? " Chloe asked straight forward. 

" He betrayed me. He felt so ashamed at himself for betraying me. He hated himself more than anything, so he killed himself. "

" Just like that? " Chloe asked, finding it hard to believe Chad.

" No, " Chad said. " Believe me, if I knew he would result to killing himself, I would have stopped him on time. Infact, I loved your father like he was my father and even when he turned out to be a traitor, I never stopped loving him. The only thing that changed was the trust. Your father loved me, the same way he loved you, I would say, even more. So definitely, there was a tendency that he would die for me, if necessary. Seeing he made a very big mistake, he thought the only way out was death. But how could he? He was like my father and I loved him more than he loved me. I was ready to accept and overlook his mistake, I had forgiven him already. Why did he have to leave me? Before your dad died, his life was at stake, " Chad lied. 

Chloe was sulking as she listened.

" Some people were after his life. Not just his, even your life. He confided in me and I tried everything in my power to protect him and you. But he's dead, " he continued to lie. " So I have to take care of you now. You are quitting School. I have a lot of money for you. You don't need to worry about your future. You are safe with us. You will be working for me personally and I will be protecting you. I promise I won't do anything to you except you ask me to. "

Chloe was quiet for a minute. Then she spoke up, " Where is his body? What have you done with his body? "

" It's going through quarantine, afterwards, they will treat the body and bury it. It's gonna be a quiet burial. No cops, no FBI, just I, you and him. I don't want his enemies knowing he's dead and I don't want them coming after you. "

" I don't wanna stay here, " Chloe said peacefully. " I just wanna go home. I want to be close to my dad's pictures. No one can take his place in my life and heart. It's only him. But staying here in this dark room, makes me feel suffocated, makes me visualise my father's death. And I do not want it. "

Chad didn't respond, instead he began to leave. " You know what, dear Chloe? You are free to leave after your dad's burial, I promise I won't stop you, but until then, you are staying with me. It's up to you, what you wanna do after the burial. I promise you, I won't force you to stay. I want you to be happy Chloe. in fact after the burial, I'll be the one to remind you to leave. "

" And when is the burial? " Chloe asked.

" In two weeks time, " Chad said, as his voice echoed.

" Am I gonna be tied up like a thief till then? " Chloe asked.

" No, my dear Chloe. I have a house for you but promise me, you won't try calling anyone____ "

" Why wouldn't I? " Chloe asked.

" Why would you? " Chad asked. 

 " I have friends out there, " Chloe said desperately.

" You have got enemies too. Please Chloe, don't make this hard for me. You won't call anyone. "

" You mean, for the next fourteen days, I will be alone with no one to talk to? " Chloes' face was disappointed.

Chad nodded. " You have got me. I will be visiting. "

" I don't even know you. What if you try to kill me? "

" Oh please Chloe. If I really wanted to kill you, I would have killed you since, " Chad said stressfully.

Chloe shrugged. " Just know this, me and you will never relate well. Fourteen days and I am back home. I just hope you are not lying to me. "

" I promise you baby, you will be out of here sooner than you think if only you will cooperate. I will give you your phone but no calling. You can't answer calls, you can only chat back but make sure to tell them you are out of town. I don't need anyone tracking your location. "

" Why? Because you are a criminal? "

" That was harsh but truthful, " Chad said, laughing and left.

Chloe was speechless, expressionless and thoughtful. " This guy is a maniac. "

" Don, you like her right? " Lance asked.

" I'm taking her to my leisure house. She will be safer there, " he turned to go but he turned back. " One last thing, make sure to keep an eye on her friends. I don't want anyone reporting her missing to the cops. Do you get me? "

Lance nodded. " I found out one of our associates are being cornered by the FBI. "

" If eliminating him is the only option, pick it. Sometimes money can make us his enemies, " Chad said periodically.