Charlotte bolted off the bed when she heard noises downstairs. For the past two days, she has been anticipating telling Lorenzo to allow her go chop for new clothes.Even though he got her some few pieces of new clothes, they turned out not to be her taste.Charlotte has been thinking of a way to escape, but nothing seemed to be coming to her head, until recently, she thought of using the bar as an excuse.She thought she should ask him to let her go shop for some skimpy wears, and immediately he allows her to go, she would carry out her plans.Ever since she began working at the bar, she has been using a two different skimpy outfits to sing every night, and has gotten tired of repeating same clothes.She thought if she comes up with an excuse to shop, he would allow her to go since it's for his benefits, and when he does, she will proceed with her plans.She slowly led her way to the door, and quietly pushed it open. She spun to her both sides, when she didn't see anyone coming, she
Xavier arrived at his duplex where Pablo has been receiving treatment, from Alex's doctor friend who works at a psychiatric hospital. He marched into the house, and hurried towards Pablo. He was laying on the floor with a chain tied over his legs and hands.Xavier painstakingly scans his features, Pablo looks thin and pale. He also has some bruises on his lips."I was about to call you over, what took you so long?" Alex asked, and marched closer to him."I'm sorry, I had a meeting with the employees, there's so much that needed my attention. Moreover, Ms Evelyn has been doing her best, the work is much on her, I had to do others to ease things for her."Xavier rose and spun around to face him, while the doctor continued to check the progress of his health."You must be tired, do you still have other things at the office?""Yes, Ms Evelyn requested to have a discussion with me regarding something, and I have to meet with your sugar mummy later."Alex chuckled but didn't push it, he kne
The giant hurriedly stepped out of the shop and vigorously grabbed Charlotte's hands in his, making her staggered, heading to the ground, but he was quick to hold her.Immediately Charlotte regained her posture, she shoved his hands away, and picked up her bag that fell to the ground. She noticed they were standing inches away from each other, and had to move away from him. "What is your problem?" Why do you have to grab me like that? Do you have a problem with me?" Charlotte breathes out frustrated."I asked you to pick out more cloths, do you have to make me return to pick those outfits for you?" He queried, pointing at the store. Charlotte opened the car door and placed the bag inside. She gazed at him and shook her head."You know what? Forget it, I don't need them anymore, let's just go, I'm exhausted." She got into the car, and closed her eyes.Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. What if he had caught her? What if he got a hint of what she meant by those clothes? She would
They arrived at the location Scott directed them to, and met a few of the cops outside the apartment, using a long yellow tape to barricade passerbys from coming closer.Alex quickly steps out of the car, leaving Xavier behind. He approached a male cop and exchanged pleasantries with him, before asking further questions."Is this Ms Norah's apartment?""Yes, her neighbor called to notify us of what happened, but before we got here with the emergency van, she was dead.""Where is your senior? Mr Scott, I want to speak with him.""Please a minute, I will have to go get him, no one is allowed to pass."Alex nodded, and watched him turn on his heels."She must have been struggling to make a leaving." Xavier said from behind, but Alex did not respond. He understands Xavier must have said that because of how the environment looks like.A few minutes into waiting, the male cop returned with Scott, and excused himself."I had to call you immediately, we got a call from her neighbor." Scott sa
"You should get some rest, let's spend some time together, I have wronged you, and want to make it up to you." Jane whispered, as she massages her husband's shoulders.Antonio had a smile at the corner of his lips, he was happy he got to be with his wife again. He lifts his hands and placed it on hers, making her halt from the massage."You have not wronged me, okay? I have been a horrible husband to you, I should be the one apologizing." He squeezes her hands lightly, and she chuckled."Okay, fine, but are you sure you want to make it up to me? You have to keep to your words.""I will do anything for you, but don't just include my brother in it, I'm still going to get my company and houses." He responded, and made her quickly pulled her hands out of his, and stood up."When is this ever going to stop? You just got released, and you're already thinking of fighting him? When will you accept your father left nothing for you?" She yelled at him, astound at her outburst."I can see you be
Xavier hurried downstairs to meet his Aunt, who had been waiting for him. As promised to take her to Antonio's mansion, he got off work earlier and drove home to freshen up before they headed out. He made it obvious like he was earnestly taking her to his uncle's mansion, but he had a different place he wanted her to accompany him, and have a conversation regarding the whole choas.As he marches into the living room, Bryan came into view with him first, and jerked up from the couch. "Don't tell me you're taking her there? You're only going there to cause a scene." He said, waiting for a response, but Xavier didn't utter a word. He just picked up his car keys from the stool, ready to leave."Sis, I don't think this is a good idea, why don't you stay back and let Xavier go alone." Margaret suggested, perhaps she could be convinced, but to no avail."Are you trying to stop me, Margaret? Do you know how it feels to lose a son? Do you know how I have been coping without him? He is the on
The steps from behind got his attention. He halt from what he was doing, and spun his neck around to see his father, and mother. This was a bad timing. He knew that, yet he came to the living room to work.He stood up, and cast his gaze down, staring at his laptop. "Father, welcome home, I didn't know you were around, I would have come and see you.""You didn't know I was around? Why have you been coming home late, Scott? You defied me and went ahead to become a cop, now you come back to my house whenever you feel like? Why didn't you get an apartment when you moved back?""Sweetheart, please not now, it's late to be doing this, you know how his work is like, he has to be at the station.""Don't you side with him, I have had enough of this, I can't watch him come back home whenever he feels like it. He should get an apartment and move out.""Father, what is your problem? What have I done wrong that you can't forgive me? I chose to be a cop because that has always been my dream, I had
As soon as Charlotte heard everywhere was quiet, she eased her step down the bed, and carried her legs as quiet as she could to the wardrobe in her room.She stood still, her eyes scanning here and there like a thief, praying not to hear a sound or voices. When she heard nothing, she stretched her hands out, and opened up the wardrobe.Charlotte rummages the few clothes she had Inside, and pulled out a baggy pants and hoodie. She quickly changed into the outfit and turned towards the door.She had plans to run away when she returned from the bar, after hearing the manager's conversation over the phone a few days back. They planned to fly her out of the country tomorrow, and instead of waiting, she decided to run away tonight.Lorenzo has been planning to fly her out of California to work for him elsewhere, and she couldn't stay one more night before she ran away.She asked for a favor from a female bartender at the regulars to get sleeping pills for her to use for sleepless night.The
ONE YEAR LATERToday marks exactly one year since they lost Antonio. Also, Mr Xi's sentence ends today. Xavier, Alex, and the girls stood outside the prison waiting for him to stride out of the gate.They stood there with smiles on their faces waiting for him, and soon the gate slowly crept open, expecting him to march out, but no one came out.Zarah spun to the back, and looked up to Xavier, "Daddy, why is no one coming out?" She asked, perplexity laced over her face.The other girls quickly turned around with the same look, waiting for his response. "Ahh, I'm not certain, but let's wait, if he doesn't come out in the next five minutes, we will go inside.""There he comes…" Hilda yelled, pointing at him, and they all ran up to him with excitement. Alex and Xavier beamed, turned on their heels and followed the girls behind."Good morning father." Alex greeted, and Mr Xi let go of the girls, and pulled him into a hug."Alex, I'm thrilled to see you are in good health, your father must b
The Lawyers defended their client's base on the little evidence they got, and there made up stories. It went on for about two hours, and the judge's just listened, while writing down some note.Thirty minutes later, the lawyer's rested their cases. The magistrates whispered to themselves, and one of judges cleared his voice to talk."Before I give my Verdict, Mr white, I have a question for your client." He said, and continued."Mr Salvador, the evidence we have here shows that you murdered Ms Arya. My question here is: What was her offense? You were keen for revenge, what those her death got to do with your revenge?"Salvador's lawyer abruptly stood up to defend him, but one of the judge's quickly hit the desk to shut him up."The question is directed to your clients and not you, sit down." The lawyer respected himself, and sat down while they waited for him to talk.Five minutes into waiting, Salvador couldn't utter a word. He has so many regrets, even after everything, he did not su
TWO DAY'S LATERThe incessant knock from the house gate got Charlotte's attention from the girl's room. She paused and listened, to be sure it was from their gate, but the knock never came, which made her shrugged and got back to picking out clothes for the girls.Immediately she was done and turned to them, she heard the knock again. She dropped the clothes on the bed, and strode out of the room, heading to the balcony at the last stairs. You can see whoever is at the gate standing there.Charlotte got to the balcony, and came into view with Sofia and her mother standing close to the gate, and it made her heart skip. But then, the guards were outside, why were they not doing anything about it? She thought.She hurried to their bedroom, and pushed open. "The gate, she's at the gate with her mother." Charlotte rushed out.Xavier furrowed his brow's, and marched close to her. "What are you talking about? Who's at the gate? I have been hearing the knock, why are the guards not doing anyt
The girls ran up to Alley, and pulled her into a warm hug, which she instantly reciprocated. As soon as jasper reached out to her, and told her the girls were back with their Dad, Alley couldn't keep calm, and had to hurry back to the house."I have missed you girls, hope you're not hurt?" Alley asked, and they bobbed their head in response. She disentangled the hug, taking a look at their body, one after another, to be certain there's no injury on them."You must have been excited, it hasn't been long they arrived, but you're here already." Matilda said, watching her as she continues to scan their body for injuries."I miss them, Aunt, I couldn't wait to see them. Where is best?" She asked, and halt when she realized she has not seen her."They are upstairs, you know how she behaves, she got mad for missing him too much." Matilda responded, shaking her head. 'Charlotte still acts like a child' Matilda thought."I thought as much, she couldn't stop crying her eyes out. Girls, I brou
The day went by quickly, and it was almost time for their plane to depart. But before then, Xavier made sure his girls were looking neat, and clean. He bought clothes for everyone and got the cab driver a new car after selling the one Pablo came with to Miami.Xavier went far ahead, and made a second attempt to convince the cab driver to come with them to California, but he still declined. After much persuasion, he gave up and asked for his house address instead, which the driver gave him."It's time to get going, girls, are you ready?" Xavier asked. "Yes Daddy." The girls chorused excitedly."Alright, let's get going, Pablo, guide them to the plane, I will join you soon.""Bye Grandpa." They waved at the cab driver, and Pablo bowed his head in respect, before they marched to the plane."I wish you would come with us, I booked you a flight already, all you have to do is join us.""Mr Xavier, I have told you no amount of persuasion will make me change my mind. Thank you for everything
Xavier stood at the edge of the cliff looking at the giant's soak in a pool of blood. He blinked his eyes, and tears ran down his cheeks as he thought of what his daughters must have gone through.He spun around, hurried towards them and pulled them into a hug for the second time. "How are my angel's doing? Do you have any injuries? Are you hurt? Are you starving?" He rushed out, the tears still running down his cheeks.The girls disentangle the hug from him when they heard him cry. Mariyah cupped his face in her hands, and used her thump to wipe his tears."Daddy, you are a hero, you're our superhero, why are you crying when you came to save us?""I'm sorry I came late, I don't know what I would have done if I had lose you. I don't know what I would have told your mom. You girls are all we have, I can't be separated from you again. You all are my life, you are all I have gotten.""But Daddy, we are fine? You saved us. At first, we were scared this will be the end of us, not until y
The nine hours drive finally ended, though they arrived late, it was already 10am. The cab driver brought him to the hotel the GPS directed them."This is my card, that's my number, please be patient with me until I get my girls back. I will fly back to Atlanta and make sure I pay you."The cab driver looked down at his card and back to his face. "I don't think it's necessary, just give me the wristwatch, that's enough for my payment."Xavier looked down at his watch and back to the cab driver. "I'm sorry I can't give you a broken watch, if you want the watch as your token, I don't mind buying a new one for you."The cab driver stretched his hands down to his, and pulled out the watch from his hands."Don't worry, I will get it fixed, you can go now, you have to save your kids."He spun to his left, pulled out a knife from his chair, and handed it to Xavier."You don't have a weapon with you, take this, you have to protect yourself."Xavier collected it with a thank you, and stepped o
"I can't believe all this has been happening, and neither you nor father told me. How could you consent him to go out there without back-ups?" Bryan was disappointed in his parents, they kept such thing away from him.He had his doubt in days, and went ahead to contact jasper, who told him the girls have been kidnapped, and Xavier was out of California to go find them.Margaret could barely talk loud, this pass few days have been hectic for them. "Bryan, don't tell me you took the night plane just to come question me about this?" She mustered the courage to speak as loud as she could."Common mother, I have every right to question you. You call me every day and each time I ask you about him, you tell me he is fine.""I had to do that, I can't tell you what's happening, besides your father said not to let you know. How is that my fault?"Bryan heaved a loud sigh, he thought as much, it was all his father's idea, there's no reason for his mother not to tell him what was going on with th
A loud growl slipped through Xavier's lips, as he felt someone hit a heavy object on his legs. He scrunched his face, chew the pain back trying to help himself off the floor.Xavier pressed his hands on the floor for support, slowly lifting himself up. As soon he was up, the object landed on his legs, but this time he didn't growl or cry in pain.His head and legs ache extremely, but he will himself to stay strong, even though he kept feeling the legs were being ripped out of his body.Xavier lifted his head up, with a squinted eye, not able to see clearly. He opened his eyes more, and came into view with a silhouette of some men in the room."Were you planning to keep sleeping? Don't you have to save your daughters?" They mock, scanning his features disdainfully.His head was banging, but he ignored, and slowly snapped his eyes open fully. He saw three men standing in front of him, barricading him from seeing the person behind them."Who are you people? What do you want from me?" He