Chapter 9

******

The White car drove slowly down the road. the trees waved about in the intense wind accompanied by the rain. There wasn’t a lot of cars on the road, just a car and two other trailing behind from a distance.

The black Bentley seemed oblivious of the car that trailed behind him. the slow music that filled his car, his eyes looked lost in memories.

The car took a sharp turn to the left and drove into the Grave yard. the rain hammered heavily on his car as he drove to a stop. Picked up his black umbrella from the back before opening the door and stepping into the rain under the cover of his umbrella.

He had picked up flowers on the way, so he also took the flowers, shut the door and made his way to the grave his wife and daughter had been buried. This was one of those days where Martin was at his weakest.

his daughter was born with a coronary heart disease and battled with it for 14 years until she died, his wife couldn’t take the news nor deal with the heart break and also died after experiencing heart attack few days later.

He got to the grave and fell on his knees. It’s been almost a year since their death, but he doesn’t fail to drop by from time to time.

I miss you; it’s been pretty rough and lonely without you guys by my side, Martin muttered with his eyes focused on the stone were the name of his wife and his daughter were inscribed.

Meanwhile, the car that trailed behind him pulled over. Men dressed in black suit and glasses stepped out and ran over to the other side, one open the umbrella and raised it up before the other opened the door and Ryan stepped out.

His mother had given him instruction to clear out the loose end who had threaten to expose them if they don’t add to his pay.

“You know one thing about weed, Josh?” Ryan said to the guard who shielded him with the umbrella.

“No matter how you treat them, they are still unwanted” he added and started walking over to were Martin was.

The sound of the water splashing as Ryan stepped on puddles notified Martin that someone was behind him.

“The dead are unconscious of nothing; that’s a popular saying from the Jehovah’s Witnesses yunno” Ryan stated as he pulled out a cigarette from his pocket. He held it out and a guard lit it up for him.

“What do you want from me Ryan?” Martin said, his once sad from now replaced by a cold hoarse voice filled with rage. Martin hated Ryan and his mother. If they had given him the money he had asked for his wife and daughter might still be alive right now.

“Well, my mother told me that you threatened her”

Martin scoffed and slowly stood up to his feet.

“You know, no one threatens a Browne” Ryan added.

“Go home Ryan, I’m just here to spend time with my wife and daughter” Martin stated turning his gaze to Ryan.

Ryan placed the Cigarette on his lips and inhaled it smoke before removing it and puffing it flames in Martin’s face.

“How would you like to meet your family. I mean, your wife and daughter” Ryan said and walked past Martin to the grave. He bent low and touched the stone.

“Elena AND Susan Martin; beautiful names” Ryan said and rose up to his feet, he signaled his men and they held Martin and pulled him down.

“C’mon please don’t kill me. I, I did nothing wrong, please” Martin stuttered as he pleaded.

“You did nothing? You threatened my mother” Ryan yelled angrily as he wore a black glove over his hand and then hestretched out his hand and a gun was handed to him. he pointed it at Martin; “I hope you meet your wife and daughter” Ryan added and pulled the trigger.

Martin dropped dead.

His body was dragged and placed on top of his wife’s grace. The gun was placed in his hands so as to make it seem like a suicide and not a murder.

A note was placed in his pocket. Ryan had written a suicide note and placed in his pocket. He and his men returned to their car and drove off.

“Take me to the club. I need to cool my head for tomorrow” Ryan instructed

“Yes sir!” The driver replied.

*******

Kate dragged Jude by the hand and pulled him out of the room, all the way back to the exit.

“Don’t you ever set you damn foot in this house or think of coming near my best friend” She warned and pushed him out of the house before slamming the door close. Kate sighed and returned back to Lara’s room.

She pushed the door open and walked in. the room still looked empty and quiet.

“Lara, erm Liam!” she stuttered unsure of which name to call.

“Yes” He replied and stepped out from the bathroom.

“Is he gone?” He asked

“Yeah, he is” Kate replied.

“I heard you telling him I wasn’t in, so I got the hint that probably Lara won’t want to see him too, that’s why I hid myself” Liam replied and sat on the bed; “Sit!” He added and tapped the bed.

Kate nodded and sat beside him on the bed.

“Look, occupying my body, puts your friend Lara and much bigger risk than she imagined” Liam stated.

“What do you mean?” Kate asked with a confused look on her face.

“What do you think was the reason I was admitted in the hospital?”

“Well, news spreading at the office was that you were involved in an accident” Kate replied.

Liam scoffed; “Assassins’ were sent after me. I was shot, but because I survived, they told the public I was involved in an accident. I am a target; they want me dead because I am the only thing obstructing them from getting what they want”

“And what do they want?” Kate finally grasping how dangerous the situation is.

“Our family wealth. Thay want to be in control of it, my step mother and my step brother” Liam stated, shifting his gaze from Kate to his feet.

“Oh my goodness; Lara is in danger. I have to warn her now” Kate muttered and tried taking her phone out from her pocket but Liam stopped her.

“Wait, wait. Just hold on a minute” Liam stated as he struggles with her to stop her from telling Lara.

“Why? Or should I leave her to die in the hands of those wealth thirsty monster that would not fail to kill anyone to get what they want? She’s just entered a lion’s den”

“Telling her now will only just freak her out more. We need to bring her here and then we can tell her and figure out something. As long as she acts cool and oblivious to all their plans, she’ll be okay, for now” Liam told her and gently let go of her hands…

Kate sighed as her head hung low on her shoulders.

“It’s already late. Tomorrow, we’ll call her to come over”

Kate nodded and stood up and walked away without saying any other word. Lara was like a sister to her; she couldn’t stand by and watch something happens to her.

She walked into her room, locked up the door and made her way to her bed.

She stared at her phone for a while; “What if they kill her in her sleep?” Kate thought and immediately unlocked her phone and started typing a message to Lara.

She sure did write a long message for Lara. The room had darkened when she finally finished typing the message and hit send…

*****

Lara got the Text just when she was about to go to bed. but immediately she read those words that Kate had sent, Slumber was now far from her. Her brought the phone to her chest and clung on to it tightly as though it wanted to run away. Her eyes scanned the room and then she shut it close and took a deep breath. It was truly going to be a long night.

“How could the life of the rich be so complicated and filled with evil, wickedness and bloodshed. Her life wasn’t like this and for sure Liam would be enjoying the peace and quiet while she doesn’t even get to sleep” she mumbled to herself.

She has to get back to her body, she resolved in her head.

“I take back my wish, I don’t want to be wealthy, at least not in this family” She said to no one in particular as she hoped the mysterious old lady would just show up and reverse everything.

Her heart raced, she started wishing she had not read Kate’s text. At least she would have slept and if they come and kill her in her sleep it would have been much better that not being able to sleep and being scared to death until they come for her. Well that is if she doesn’t die of a heart attack first.