Introduction- Part Three

The man was the first to come inside the room, he had a deep scar on his forehead and it made him look menacing. His eyes searched the room for the presence of people or something valuable. All that was in sight were shattered pieces of glass, fallen books and disarranged furniture and upholstery. The rest of the men that followed 'Scar-Face' entered into the room.

"There." One of the men pointed out. He pointed at the briefcase laid on the floor. 

"That briefcase. Could it be it?" He added and 'Scar-Face' hummed a reply before going over to check it out. He opened the black briefcase but there was no diamond in it. What struck his attention was that the pouch in the briefcase was specifically shaped like a diamond, that is to show that this briefcase was made to house a diamond but the diamond wasn't in it. Someone was with it and surely that person hadn't gone far.

"Empty." 'Scar-Face' said then flung the briefcase away and it flew across the room.

"Search everywhere. Whoever's with the diamond is still in this room. I could swear I heard crying in here." 'Scar Face' instructed and the men nodded before beginning the search.

     Behind the bookshelf, the two families cowered in fear hoping the men won't find them because if they did, it would be brutal. Sapphire's legs were cramping. She needed to stand upright and stretch out her legs a bit. As she rose to her feet, she mistakenly used her hand to knock out her brother's pacifier and it fell to the floor.

"What was that?" 'Scar Face' asked abruptly on hearing something drop on the floor. He had a keen sense of hearing, it was his selling point as a gangster and it had just sent him a tingle that indeed someone else was in this room. 

   He moved his eyeballs towards the left direction were he heard the sound come from, behind the bookshelf to be precise telling his comrades that someone was there and they nodded, taking the cue and with stealth, advanced to the bookshelf.

Just as one of them was about to peer his head behind the bookshelf to see if anyone was hiding there, Fernando stuck out his gun and drove a bullet down the unfortunate man's forehead. They were three men. One on the floor, his body shaking vigorously as blood profusely emitted from the bullet hole and life slowly ebbed out of him. The other two became on guard with reckfulness. 

In a rapid and quick motion, Fernando used the butt of his rifle to hit the head of the remaining two gangsters and they fell to the floor, groaning and moaning in pain with their palms covering the hit spot as blood trickled down their faces

The gun shot and masculine groans alerted 'Scar Face' who had previously been looking round the room for clues. On hearing these, he immediately turned back and his eyes met with gory scene. 'Scar Face' immediately brought out two pistols from his back pockets, one from each pocket then pointed them at Fernando.

Williamson came into the limelight then cocked his gun and aimed at 'Scar Face'. Before one could process the swift emergence of Williamson, he took advantage of the distraction he had created and shot at 'Scar Face.' The two guns fell from the muscular male, his left hand quickly finding the bullet wound and resting on it as he slowly fell to the ground.

    Williamson then proceeded to shoot the other two men then made a beck, indicating to Fernando that it was time to move. Fernando hastened up the wives and the kids that it was time to get going, quickly.

    

"We'll have to split up. If we stay together, it'll be easier for them to catch us." Williamson said at the corridor.

"Yes. Into three groups. Beatrice, Belinda and Gareth. Williamson, Jackson and-" A bullet was fired. Fernando's statements was halted. The bullet hit him. Fernando's eyes widened, his jaw dropped, a stifled groan escaped his open mouth as he slowly fell down flat on his face, his upper body touching the terrazzo tiles before his legs did. The bullet wound was vivid, it had grazed his back.

"Fernando!"

"My Love." 

    Both Williamson and Belinda spoke at the same time. Belinda lunged herself at her husbands body, one hand resting on her bulge as the other vigorously shook her husband in a hopeless bid to bring him back to life. She began to wail, blubber and cry. She had lost her husband, the crown over her head.

    

Williamson bowed down his head and shook it side to side in sadness and disappoint. That bullet wasn't the one that killed his bosom friend, he was. He was the one who endangered him and his family and now, he was gone. Gone forever. All because of him.

Everyone was shocked and scared, traumatized by not only this but the recent spree of bloodshed. Beatrice had shielded her daughter with her hand and used the other to cradle her son. Fernando's two sons began to cry for their dear dad. 

    No one knew where the bullet had come from, it could be anywhere. And that guaranteed that more shots may follow. They had to leave this place immediately.

    

"Belinda get up. We have to leave." Williamson said to the bereaved woman. She ignored him.

After waiting a while with no response, Williamson decided to speak again. "Belinda I said we have to-"

"Leave me alone. Leave me alone Williamson. Because of you and your stupid diamond, I lost my husband today."

Belinda was right. It was his fault. Williams shut his eyes tightly and a tear streamed down his eyes. 

"I know Belinda."Williamson spoke with a softened voice. "But we have to leave now. If you stay here, they might kill you." He added.

"Then let me die." Belinda said sternly, serious as ever. It seemed like she meant every word. Williamson didn't bother protesting, he simply nodded respecting her decision.

"Belinda you should come with us." Beatrice pleaded. Belinda ignored her and faced her husband, probably dead by now and continued crying.

"Let's go. Quickly." Williamson told the rest and they ran down the hallway. Few moments later, a gunshot was heard . It must've been Belinda. She was gone, alongside her unborn baby. Everyone thought she was shot down by one of the men but no, she had used her husband's rifle to commit suicide. Sad.

"Let's split up okay. I'll take Sapphire and Gareth and you take Jackson and our son. I'll go East and you'll go west. Try your best to safely make it down to the back exit, I'll meet you there and then we'll escape." Williamson told his wife and she nodded. Tears had already started fogging up in her eyes. There was a greater chance that she would die in this house than she would make it out alive. But she had to be strong. 

"I love you." Williamson said and placed his palms on either side of her face and planted a kiss on her forehead. She clutched her husband's hands and the tears flowed freely.

"Come Sapphire, Gareth. Let's go." Williamson told the children and they joined him then they began to advance eastward. 

"I love you too."Beatrice yelled back and watched her husband leave. That was the last time they saw each other.

    Williamson didn't really have any exact idea where to go. He had only been around the house a few times and being that he's in a panic mode now, he couldn't exactly wrap his head around where to go. But he has to try, his wife would be waiting for him at the exit.

    

    After a while of running, It started dawning on him that he might not make it out. These people were looking for him because they knew that the diamond was with him. But what if the diamond was with someone else? Someone they couldn't suspect or easily hurt? Perhaps, a child.

    

"Wait." Williamson abruptly called for a halt and the two children stopped then he brought out the locket from his pocket.

"Sapphire my child." He called out to the young girl as he knelt down to her height.

"Take this necklace and put it around your neck." Williamson said to the girl and handed the locket to her, she nodded and collected it then wore it.

"Keep It Safe. Never take it off, no matter what. Do you understand my dear?" Williamson questioned and the child nodded. Little did she know she had a billion dollars around her neck.

"They'll come after you someday. But by then, you'll be strong enough to fight." Williamson added and she nodded not really understanding what her father meant.

He smiled at the girl then drew her in for a hug. And ideal father and daughter moment. 

"Okay. Let's go." Williamson said and rose to his feet then they continued their race. A race to life. Gareth was slightly ahead and Williamson held his daughter's hand.

   Gunshot! A bullet was fired into Gareth's arm. The little child screamed in uttermost pain as he dropped on the floor. From behind, one of the rogues took advantage of the distraction and knocked Williamson's rifle from his grip. The rogue locked Williamson's neck in a tight arm bar.

"Sapphire run!" Williamson told his daughter and the smart child picked up the pace but another rogue sprang out from a corner and dragged the girl by the hem of her skirt, causing it to rip and tear bringing to the limelight a deep scar on her left hip she got from crashing her bicycle. The rogue held the girl's hand tightly and she struggled to set herself free.

"Now tell me Williamson. Where's the diamond." The rogue holding Williamson demanded as Williamson wriggled and struggled to set himself free from the arm bar.

"I'll never tell."

"Come on Willy. You'll make this a lot easier for both us if you tell us now." The rogue said with a chuckle and placed the barrel of his gun on Williamson's temple, threatening to shoot him. The rogue was muscular and heavy built. His bicep print showing through the body-tight shirt he put on. He was strong and so was his hold on Williamson nevertheless, Williamson struggled. He struggled to set himself free.

   Outside the mansion, the atmosphere had quietened down. The gunshots and explosions had ended and the battle had been moved to the interior of the Mansion. The only thing that had to show for the earlier chaos were fairly large holes that indicated where the grenade balls had hit and bullets lying around on the ground.

    Brock, the one put in charge of this ruthless mission and two other rogues, his assistants, sat at the back of one of the black vans that transported the gangsters down to the mansion. They were the 'bosses' and the bosses don't do do the dirty, bloody and dangerous work. No, they sent others to do it for them and then they take the glory. A typical situation displaying here tonight. If the rogues inside by any chance manage to get the diamond tonight, Brock and his assistants would be the ones taking the credit and definitely not the ones holding the guns and doing the dirty work.

    

Brock's phone rang. He dropped the glass of Smirnoff he had been taking occasional sips out off to answer the phone call. It was Pablo calling, Costello's assistant.

"Yes Pablo." Brock said on answering the call. His two assistants on hearing it was Pablo speaking, channeled their attention to the budding conversation. It was going to be something serious off course. Pablo wouldn't be calling mid-mission for something mediocre.

"Have you guys gotten the diamond?" Pablo asked. His speech came out stuttered and his voice seemed to have been struck with anxiety. One could sense the fright and anxiety in his voice. Something was definitely wrong. 

"Not yet." Brock answered and Pablo groaned on hearing that the diamond hadn't been stolen yet. They've been there for almost an hour now, what's taking them so long?

"Then we have to abort the mission now." Pablo was blunt and spoke curtly with a slightly raised tone. Brock arched his brows at this. He was confused. Why would they abort the mission? What went wrong? 

"What?" Brock questioned with a dazed look on his face. 

   The inkling that something was indeed wrong was fueled to a confirmation after seeing Brock's demeanor change. The rogues made becks at Brock asking him to tell them what made him so surprised but Brock waved them off.

"Why?"

"Stop asking questions and listen to me." Pablo yelled over the phone and Brock sighed leaning into the seat.

"Boss just told me that the SWAT team is unto you guys and they've gotten a fix on your location. They're currently coming over to the mansion to bust you guys with many helicopters, squad cars and motorbikes." Pablo explained and Brock's jaw dropped as he swiftly rose to his feet in shock. This action of his heightened the assistants' level of curiosity as they both shared confused looks at each other.

"What? How were the able to track us down?" Brock instantaneously asked but then something hit him that Pablo may not want to go in details so he quickly moved on.

"Uh, so what do I have to do now?" Brock asked in a calmer tone as he used his hand to wipe down his face while pacing in anxiety.

"Do I have to call the men and tell them to abandon the mission and come outside or-"

"We don't have time for that. The SWAT team are close, very close. You won't be able to get everybody out of the mansion and leave the area in time before they get there." Pablo answered not allowing Brock to complete his question. 

"That's true, that's true. So what do I have to now."

"Call James. He has a timer bomb." Pablo began and paused for a while. Brock's eyes widened in shock as he had already gotten the insight of what Pablo was going to say next and it surely wasn't going to be good. 

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A/N: Hello! Sorry for going AWOL for so long. I'm back and I'll update regularly. XoXo!